Saint Martin’s College
Department of Criminal Justice
Spring Semester 2004
Criminal Justice 410: Law and Society
Professor: Victor M. Kogan
Office: Room 307
Classroom: 310
Time: 01:00 PM-01:50 PM
Days: M-W-F
Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 M-T-W-TR-F
Office Phone: 438-4348
E-mail: vkogan@stmartin.edu
PURPOSE:
This course is designed to provide a foundation in the study of law, judicial process and criminal justice. It will introduce you to the main explanations of the purpose of law, the legal professions, community participation in the legal process, conflict resolution, using ideas and data taking from legal, sociological, psychological sources.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
1. Hilaire McCoubrey & Nigel D. White. TEXTBOOK ON JURISPRIDENCE, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, N.Y. 1999.
2. M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
You will be invited to actively participate in learning rather than passively absorbing information.
1. Each student will be assigned writing a short essay for each discussion so that concepts based upon the source materials may be formulated, tested and mastered. You have to have a blue folder to keep your essays together. These essays will be presented orally to the class. If your essay is late you get minus point. The later your essay is the more points you get off.
2. You are expected to attend class in order to actively participate in class discussions. Your grade will be lowered for each absence with no excuse more than once.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as-soon-as possible.
MID-TERM PAPER AND FINAL PAPER REQUIREMENTS:
Your Mid-term Paper and Final Paper on the topics that will be offered to you must include
a) An introduction outlining the issue or problem,
b) A presentation of opposing viewpoints using at least three additional references,
c) A conclusion summarizing your point.
The length of a Mid-term paper has to be 5 typed double spaced pages. The length of a Final paper has to be 10 double spaced pages.
GRADING SYSTEM:
1.Participation in class discussion, including essays–40%,
2.Mid-term paper - 20%,
3.Exam (Final paper) - 40%.
There will be 500 possible points and grades will be assigned as follows:
95-100% = A
90-94% = A-
85-89% = B+
80-84% = B
75-79% = B-
70-74% = C+
64-69% = C
60-64 = C-
55-59% = D
54 and below = F
COURSE OUTLINE:
01.Jan.14.W.
What is Jurisprudence? – Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 1, p.1-10.
02.Jan.16.F.
ISSUE 4. Do People Have a Legal Right to Clone Themselves? – Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.64-73.
00.Jan.19.M. Martin Luther King’s Birthday: No classes
03.Jan.21.W.
Classical Positivism: Bantham and Austin, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence,
Chapter 2, p. 11-31.
04.Jan.23.F.
ISSUE 1. Do “Standardless” Manual Recounts Violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the U.S. Constitution? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.4-15.
05.Jan.26.M.
Modified Positivism: H.L.A. Hart, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 3, p. 32-58.
06.Jan.28.W.
ISSUE 5. Does the Sharing of Music Files Through the Internet Violate Copyright Laws? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.76-97.
07.Jan.30.F.
Classical Naturalism, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 4, p. 59-85.
08.Feb.02.M.
ISSUE 8. Do Religious Groups Have a Right to Use Public School Facilities After Hours? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p. 138-155.
09.Feb.04.W.
ISSUE 13. Is Drug Use Testing of Students Who Participate in Extracurricular Activities Permitted Under the Fourth Amendment? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p. 234-251.
10.Feb.06.F.
The Naturalist Revival, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 5, p. 86-105.
11.Feb.09.M.
ISSUE 6. Should the Insanity Defense Be Abolished? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.100-117.
12.Feb.11.W.
Islamic Jurisprudence, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 6, p. 106-119.
13.Feb.13.F.
ISSUE 11. Is It Constitutional to Impose the Death Penalty on the Mentally Retarded? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.196-215.
00.Feb.16.M. President's Day: No classes.
14.Feb.18.W.- 15.Feb.20.F.
Marxism and Post-Marxism, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 7, p. 120-143
16.Feb.23.M.
ISSUE 3. Are Restrictions on Physician-Assisted Suicide Constitutional? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p. 40-61.
17.Feb.25.W.
Pure Theory, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 8, p. 144-156.
Mid-Term Paper is due
18.Feb.27.F.
ISSUE 2. Is Abortion Protected by the Constitution? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.18-37.
19.Mar.01.M.
Dworkin and the Rights Thesis, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 9, p. 157-177.
20.Mar.03.W.- 21.Mar.05.F.
Mid-Term Paper Discussion
22.Mar.08.M.
ISSUE 7. Are Pretextual Stops by the Police Constitutional? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.120-132.
00. Mar.08.M. Mid-semester grades due in the Office of the Registrar
23.Mar.10.W.
Scandinavian Realism, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 10, p. 178-201.
24.Mar.12.F.
ISSUE 10. Are Laws Requiring Schools and Public Libraries to Filter Internet Access Constitutional? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.176-193.
00.Mar.13. - Mar.21. Spring vacation
25.Mar.22.M.
American Realism, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 11, p. 202-223.
26.Mar.24.W.
ISSUE 12. Is a Sentence of Life in Prison for Stealing $150 Worth of Videotapes Constitutional? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.218-231.
27.Mar.26.F.
Critical Legal Studies, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 12, p. 224-249.
28.Mar.29.M.
ISSUE 15. Are Blanket Prohibitions on Cross Burnings Unconstitutional? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.284-301.
29.Mar.31.W.
Postmodern Legal Theory, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 13, p. 250-274.
30.Apr.02.F.
ISSUE 17. Are Public School Officials Liable for Damages in Cases of Student-on-Student Sexual Harassment? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.326-339.
31.Apr.05.M.
The Economic Analysis of Law, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 14, p. 275-296.
32.Apr.07.W.
ISSUE 18. Should Children With Disabilities Be Provided With Extraordinary Care in Order to Attend Regular Classes in Public Schools? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.342-351.
00.Apr.09.F. – Apr.12.M. Easter recess: No classes
33.Apr.14.W.
Justice Theory, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 15, p. 297-311.
34.Apr.16.F.- 35.Apr.19.M.
ISSUE 16. Are Laws Criminalizing Homosexual Conduct Unconstitutional? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.304-323.
36.Apr.21.W.
The Concept of Injustice, Read Textbook on Jurisprudence, Chapter 16, p. 312-324.
37.Apr.23.F.
Final paper completion: No class
00.Apr.26.M.
Final paper is due
38.Apr.26.M. - 39.Apr.28.W.
ISSUE 19. Do Race-Conscious Programs in Public University Admissions Policies Violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Guarantee of Equal Protection under the Law? Yes or No. Read M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose (Eds.) TAKING SIDES. CLASHING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL LEGAL ISSUES, Eleventh Edition, Dushkin /McGraw-Hill, 2004, p.354-371.
00.Apr.30.F. St. Thomas Aquinas Day: No classes.
00.May 03.M.FINAL EXAM from 1:00 to 03:00 PM (room 310)