LAW 7761 - Criminal Penalties

This course will examine the rules that govern the determination and administration of criminal sentences. More specifically, we will consider 1) sentencing procedures, which govern the choice of the penalty for an individual offender; 2) sentencing policies, which shape legislative choices of penalties; and 3) the administration of prison sentences. Within these three broad areas, we will examine specific topics such as federal and state sentencing guideline systems, the choice between incarceration and other forms of criminal sanction, prisoners' rights, and the extent to which the Constitution restricts sentencing choices.