CRIMINAL LAW REFORM: POLICY, POLITICS, AND ADVOCACY
(LAWW-4110) - 1 UNIT
Over the past century, criminal law in the United States has expanded exponentially, covering greater forms of conduct and substantially increasing punishment. This has resulted in a country where 2 million people wake up in a prison or jail every morning, while another 4 million people continue living their lives under some form of correctional supervision. These stark realities exact a heavy human toll across society, but particularly so on the most vulnerable populations in the United States. All too often, the costs of mass incarceration have been concentrated on the poor, the underserved, and communities of color. These problems were all made possible by legislative decisions about criminal codes, which establish the basis for criminal liability and punishment in the United States. This seminar focuses on understanding these legislative decisions about the criminal law - in terms of both how those decisions are made and the societal consequences they produce. In the process, we will: study the history and politics of criminal law reform in the United States; learn how to analyze criminal policies; and practice engaging in legislative advocacy for criminal law reform.
Pass/Fail:
Yes
Prerequisites:
None