Spring 2013
    Law No.: LAW9179
    Sched. No.: 113218954

Profiling*
Section 1
X
Hellman, Deborah



Administrative Information:
During SIS enrollment, check on SIS for real-time enrollment numbers
Days, Times (Room):W, 1600-1800 (WB104A)
Credits:3Type:Seminar
Capacity:10 **This information is current as of 05/24/2013 06:18:32 AM**
Current Enrollment:10 **This information is current as of 05/24/2013 06:18:32 AM**
Syllabus: View Syllabus (requires LawWeb account)



Course Description:

This class will examine the moral and legal permissibility of profiling. It will ask what profiling is, when and why it is morally troubling, and how it is legally regulated. The term “profiling” is usually used to call attention to a particular form of statistical generalization – in particular, when race, sex, ethnicity or some other traits is used as a proxy for another trait, often for a propensity to commit crime. The course will focus on analyzing what, if anything, distinguishes this form of statistical generalization from other more benign forms. When, and in what context, does the law require that we are treated as individuals? And what does this mean? What values – privacy, equality, autonomy – could support an objection to profiling? This course will focus on this issue from both a moral and legal perspective. We will read both philosophical accounts of what makes profiling wrong and legal analysis and case law that assess the legal permissibility of profiling, especially under the equal protection clause and the Fourth Amendment.

COURSE REQUIREMENT: Ten-page critique (50% of grade) and class participation, including an “author’s defense” responding to another student’s critique (50%)