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Academic Year 2003/2004

Selected Problems in American Criminal Law
ECON 129 SP

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 First-Year-Initiative 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 close case analysis characteristic of legal argument. It is thus not a course in law and economics, or law and philosophy, or law and government, but a course in law itself, much as it is taught to law students. Topics include the legal definition of criminal acts, causation, the mental element of crime, basic principles of justification, criminal responsibility and mental abnormality, and the law of homicide. Readings 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 readings are dense and intensive, and students will be asked in class to address difficult issues and defend their answers against rigorous critical questioning. Course requirements include active participation in class discussion, several short, graded written assignments, a mid-term examination and a final examination. The text for the course is Bonnie, Coughlin, Jeffries and Low, CRIMINAL LAW, Foundation Press, 1997, and supplementary materials to be distributed in class.

Economics 129 may not be used as a substitute for Economics 101 or 110, and may not be counted toward the economics major.

MAJOR READINGS

Bonnie, Coughlin, Jeffries and Low, CRIMINAL LAW, Foundation Press, 1997, and supplementary materials to be distributed in class.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Course requirements include active participation in class discussion, several short, graded written assignments, a mid-term examination and a final examination.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

ECON129 may not be used as a substitute for ECON101, ECON110, ECON111, ECON112 or ECON105, and may not be counted toward the Economics major.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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-19-2004

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