Federal Sentencing (SC) (Judge-Taught)

This course will provide an overview of federal sentencing policy and practice. Students will be introduced to the history and goals of sentencing, the types of sentences available to judges, the collateral consequences of conviction, and the sentencing reform movement that led to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. We will review the method and application of the Sentencing Guidelines and examine the factors that affect the length of terms of imprisonment. We will explore the sources and limitations of sentencing discretion. Finally, we will discuss the impact of the development of constitutional limits on sentence enhancements and the role of the Sentencing Guidelines post-Booker. (Issues surrounding imposition of the death penalty and the availability of habeas corpus are beyond the scope of this seminar.)