This course has two distinct components: a seminar and the 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 one paper, at least 15 pages in length. Students will select a topic either from among those provided by the professor or their own topic with the professor’s prior approval. 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, April 9, 2021. Workshop participants will include all students enrolled in the seminar and five or six sitting Maricopa County Superior Court judges. In preparation for the workshop, students will read materials from selected criminal cases and prepare memoranda describing their views on appropriate sentences in those cases. Students MUST commit to attending the workshop to enroll in this course. DO NOT enroll in this course if you cannot attend the April 9 day-long workshop.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: Yes
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: Yes
Prerequisite: Criminal procedure is highly recommended. Advanced Criminal Procedure is also recommended.
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 15
Final Exam Given: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Yes
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Teaching Method: In Person

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