Looking for a course for Summer I?
Want to learn how the criminal courts really work?
P302, Courts and Criminal Justice
Summer I
M-F, 10:10-11:35 am
"Courts and Criminal Justice" looks at criminal courts in the United States. Arguing that courts must be understood as political institutions, we begin by considering the place of courts in the political system, the structure of the federal and state court systems, and the selection, roles, and working environments of the major participants. We will consider the court both as a community itself and the court in relation to the wider community that it serves. Against this background, we will focus on key stages in the processing of criminal cases -- the decision to prosecute, bail, pleas and trials, and sentencing.
In a small class setting, students will have the opportunity to discuss courts with respect to what is and to consider what should be. Materials for class will include readings by social science researchers, lawyers, and journalists; documentaries, including video of a real-life jury; and an in-class simulation.
Readings:
Baum, Lawrence. 2008. American Courts: Process and Policy. 6th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Feige, David. 2006. Indefensible: One Lawyer’s Journey into the Inferno of American Justice. New York: Little Brown and Company.
Selected readings available in a class reader and on-line.
Evaluation:
Students' performance will be evaluated through participation in class discussions and in-class exercises, a review essay, mid-term and final exams
Instructor:
Professor Mary Lee Luskin, Criminal Justice Department
Questions: Contact luskin@indiana.edu
