CRIM 490: Special Topics

CRIM 490-011: Capital Punishment
(Spring 2017)

01:30 PM to 04:10 PM F

Section Information for Spring 2017

This course will look at the death penalty in the United States in a global context, including at relevant Supreme Court case law on sentencing, mental illness, and wrongful convictions. On a global level, discussion will also look at methods of execution and the application of capital punishment to political crimes, terrorism, and drug trafficking. Although the death penalty is in decline, a global resurgence of authoritarianism may ensure that the death penalty has life left; certainly, in China and several Islamic countries, executions continue in high numbers. In the United States, states are experimenting with new lethal injection drugs and passing new secrecy laws to avoid scrutiny. What is the future of the death penalty in the United States and the world? If abolition of the death penalty is a mark of "progress" or "civilization," why do mature democracies such as the United States, India, and Japan continue to use it? The course will also consider the role of international institutions, such as the United Nations, European Union, Catholic Church, and human rights organizations in the death penalty debate.

This course is approved to apply to the following concentration(s):

Criminal Justice (CJUS)

Law and Society (LAWS)

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 1-3

Recent developments in the field. Notes: Topics vary. May be used to fulfill requirements for different concentrations in the BS in criminology, law, and society depending on the topic. May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 15 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: CRIM 100
Schedule Type: Lec/Sem #1, Lec/Sem #2, Lec/Sem #3, Lec/Sem #4, Lec/Sem #5, Lec/Sem #6, Lec/Sem #7, Lec/Sem #8, Lec/Sem #9, Lecture, Sem/Lec #10, Sem/Lec #11, Sem/Lec #12, Sem/Lec #13, Sem/Lec #14, Sem/Lec #15, Sem/Lec #16, Sem/Lec #17, Sem/Lec #18
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.