LAW 712 - Sentencing Law and Policy

Course Type: Upper Level Elective
Credits: 3

Description: This course examines the development, purposes, and administration of sentencing, with a focus on the United States and its immense sentencing apparatus, often called “mass imprisonment.” We will study capital punishment, guideline and non-guideline systems, and truth-in-sentencing laws and discuss the role of mandatory minimums. How to structure discretion, by police, prosecutors, and judges, will be an important aspect of our discussions. We will look at the array of possible sanctions available, including so-called “alternative sanctions,” and the offense and offender factors that often determine the choice. The course will also explore the impact of race, class, immigration status, and gender on case outcomes.