This course provides an introduction to community studies and the major components of community-based approaches to justice. The course first establishes a common understanding of critical concepts such as community, social capital, neighborhood effects, asset mapping, political economy, community economics, mediation, community courts, and restorative justice. In studying community institutions, organizations, and practices an interdisciplinary approach will be used that will draw on criminology, law, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, family studies, international studies, Africana studies, and gender studies. Such an approach will provide students with the skills necessary to understand the interactions between and among factors such as race, ethnicity, and gender on the practice and the effectiveness of community development and community justice strategies.