Criminal Justice Reform Movement Seminar

3 units

Over the past decade and a half, "criminal justice reform" became a rallying cry, attracting voices from across the political spectrum. On federal, state, and local levels, the criminal system came under fire. Commentators decried the expansive reach of substantive criminal law, racial disparities in policing and prosecution, and dramatically expanding prison populations. Activists, academics, attorneys, and politicians worked to craft critiques of criminal law and to shape policy solutions. This seminar explores contemporary criminal justice reform movements. Discussions will focus on a range of pressing issues in criminal policy including bail reform, progressive prosecution, policing, and wrongful convictions. Throughout the course of the semester, we will learn about various systemic critiques and proposed policy solutions. We will trace the theoretical literatures that underpin contemporary activism. And, at each turn, we will ask what role lawyers can and do play in institutional change. Final grades will be based on in-class participation, weekly discussion questions, and a 20-25 page paper. [This course contains 5 or more hours of BCCCR instruction.]