Sentencing Policy

2 Credit Hours

This course focuses on how the law approaches central sentencing questions, such as how much discretion the sentencer should enjoy; how much weight to attach to the nature and consequences of the offense, the offender's criminal record, and personal background; and how much the criminal justice system should rely on incarceration as punishment. In addition to examining the technical and doctrinal answers to these questions, the course will engage students in one of the most urgent debates of our time - what fueled mass incarceration, and how can and should we decarcerate?