Criminal Sentencing Seminar & Workshop

SLN #: 71732
Course Prefix: LAW-791
Course Section: 007
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Popko
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 will complete two papers, each approximately 10 – 15 pages in length. Students will select topics from among those provided by the professor. Students will also be 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, November 21. Workshop participants will include all students enrolled in the seminar and six sitting Maricopa County Superior Court judges. In preparation for the workshop, students will read materials from actual criminal cases and prepare memoranda describing their views on appropriate sentences in those cases. Students will also 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 to enroll in this course.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: 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.