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Crime and punishment are constantly in the news, and lay observers of the American system of criminal justice are often puzzled by its procedures and outcomes. What exactly is the criminal law trying to do? Why does it seem so difficult to convict criminals? What are the governing principles of American criminal justice, and how are they actually applied in the courts? This course is intended to address these questions through a close analysis of cases and related materials concerned with the substantive criminal law, and at the same time to introduce students to the legal method itself and the style of instruction characteristic of introductory courses at American law schools. It is thus not a course in law and economics, or law and philosop hy, or law and government, but a course in law itself as it is taught to law students. Topics will include, among other things, the legal definition of criminal acts, the mental element of crime, basic principles of justification, criminal responsibility and mental abnormality, and the law of homicide. Readings will consist entirely of judicial opinions and related materials, and in class we will analyze these readings in detail to expose their logic and consider their practical implications. These rea dings are dense and intensive, and students will be asked in class to address difficult issues and defend their answers against rigorous critical questioning.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE Grading Mode: Graded
Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-26-2001
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459