CRM 2100 - Criminal Courts and Sentencing

Credits: 4

This course is intended to provide students with a better understanding of American criminal courts. We will focus on the structure and jurisdiction of criminal courts in the US, how criminal courts operate, who the important actors are, and the most pressing issues facing US criminal courts today. Over the semester we will cover a variety of topics ranging from the organization of criminal courts, varieties of law governing behavior, criminal prosecution, judicial discretion, sentencing policies and reforms, disparities in court proceedings, and the connection between criminal courts and the US correctional system. Guest speakers with experience in criminal law will be invited to demonstrate careers in criminal courts. Students will be expected to understand the stages of court proceedings as well as consider both theoretical perspectives and empirical research evidence regarding criminal court operations. Additional focus will be given to recent criminal court reforms and current policy debates. Students will think critically about how our current knowledge about criminal courts and sentencing can help inform the future development and amelioration of the US criminal court system.
Prerequisite(s): C- or better in CRM 1000