The course examines criminal justice processes from a legal and
social science perspective. The course proceeds in three parts. Part
I explores the place of social sciences in efforts to investigate
and apprehend criminal suspects; topics range from suspect
identification, searching and seizing, to interrogating suspects.
Part II examines the place of social sciences in determining
defendants’ guilt; issues range from whether and how to detain and
press charges, bargain and plead guilty, assemble juries, prove
guilt, provide expert testimony, and consider defendants’ mental
states, to protect witnesses. Part III investigates social sciences’
role in the law’s formulation of criminal dispositions; topics range
from sentencing those deemed criminals as well as treating and
controlling them, to terminating their lives. Our primary text will
be court decisions supplemented by "law and society" research and
scholarship addressing core concerns.

Tentative course requirements will be

Three exams (100 points each)

Four one page papers (50 points each) analyzing key social science
issues

Participation (100 points)

Class Meeting:  R, 2:30-5:00, SY 146

Instructor:  Professor Roger Levesque, Criminal Justice Department