This course critically examines the relationship between race and criminal justice through the lenses of politics and policy, delving into the historical legacies of race, crime, and inequality that continue to shape experiences with the carceral system in the United States. The course proceeds in three parts. First, it examines the institutions that make up the carceral state: criminal justice policies, those who enforce them, and the mechanisms by which they are implemented, including courts, prisons, and other oppressive structures. Next, it considers how the public, the media, and politicians relate and respond to issues of criminal justice. Finally, the course concludes by examining the prospects for reform and even abolition.