Select Topics in Judicature: Federal Sentencing Law and Policy

This one-week course will examine various aspects of the sentencing process, with an emphasis on the federal system. We will cover a variety of topics, including an overview of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, how the federal system contrasts with non-guideline sentencing systems, the legal and societal objectives underlying the imposition of sentences, and the factors deemed relevant to sentencing decisions.  We will also discuss various aspects of sentencing from the perspectives of the key players involved: the prosecution, defense, the court, and victims. Last we will cover the forms of punishment that comprise sentencing; the role of mandatory minimums; and sentencing policy reform.