Criminal Justice Reform

Exploration of contemporary criminal justice reform efforts, in particular “progressive prosecutors.”   Prosecutors hold significant discretion to make policy and control the enforcement of criminal law. A movement of “progressive prosecutors” seek to use that discretion in reforming the criminal legal system and reducing mass incarceration. The course will familiarize students with the nuts and bolts of the criminal system and dive deeply into the world of modern prosecutors, who are using varied policy approaches to address violence, substance abuse, and racial disparities in the criminal legal system.  Grading will be based on class discussion and a research paper.