This course explores the nature, causes and prevention of environmental crime.  Specifically it examines the many ways in which governments, corporations, military apparatuses, criminal organizations and individuals routinely harm ecosystems, humanity and animal life.  Eco-criminology assumes that environmental crime and the failure of our laws to improve the quality of our environment are attributable to our collective beliefs; it does not accept at face value the notion that “environmental crime” is simply about breaking the law.  Thus, we will examine the cultural and social structural foundations of environmental crime, including the social control institutions, as well as the power dynamics involved in defining, prosecuting and officially sanctioning environmental crime.  We will systematically explore the dynamics of racism, sexism and class as they impact perceived realities of “environmental crime”.  We will look at alternative definitions found in philosophy and legal perspectives and we will look at environmental crime theory for fuller understanding.