Criminal Sentencing Seminar & Workshop

SLN #: 26330
Course Prefix: LAW-791
Course Section: 009
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Hessick
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
This course has two distinct components: a seminar and a sentencing workshop. The seminar will meet once a week. It will cover issues in sentencing theory and policy, including theories of punishment, aggravating and mitigating sentencing factors, mandatory minimum sentences, and the Supreme Court’s Sixth Amendment sentencing cases. Each student is required to complete three written projects: two 10-15 page critiques of a law review article on sentencing theory or policy, and a short (700-1,000 word) independent opinion piece. Students are also required to create discussion questions for a number of seminar meetings, and to lead at least one class discussion during the semester. Attendance and class participation are mandatory.

The sentencing workshop will meet all day on Friday April 16. Workshop participants will include all students enrolled in the seminar and six Maricopa County judges. In preparation for the workshop, students will be asked to read materials from actual criminal cases and prepare memoranda describing their views on appropriate sentences in those cases. In anticipation of the workshop, students will also be required to engage in a simulated oral argument for one of the cases. Students will receive either written or oral feedback from the instructor on each of these assignments. Students MUST commit to attending the workshop in order to enroll in this course.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: Numeric Grade or Letter Grade Only
Written Assignment: Yes
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: Yes
Skills Requirement: Yes
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Prerequisite: Criminal Procedure is highly recommended. Advanced Criminal Procedure is also recommended.
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 16
Final Exam Given: No
Mid Term Or Other Exam: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Yes
Participation Points: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: Yes

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.