Provides a sociological analysis of law in modern society, including discussion of legal theory, sociological and feminist criticisms of law, law as a means of social control and change, socio-legal research into the processes used by the legal system and its alternatives (such as mediation, restorative justice models, victim-offender reconciliation programs) to resolve disputes, and the abilities of the legal system and its alternatives to offer justice to the disadvantaged. NOTE: Credit can be obtained for only one of CRIM 4355 and SOCI 4355.