LAWS 2370 ‑ Sentencing: Principles, Law, and Policy

CREDIT HOURS: 2

Sentencing is at the core of the criminal justice process, as it is the means through which society punishes those found guilty of a criminal offence. The implications of sentencing are very high, both from a legal, a human, and a societal perspective and the sentencing process raises a range of important philosophical, procedural, and policy-based questions. This assignment-based class directly engages with these questions. The course will explore the current state of sentencing law by investigating the principles and objectives of sentencing, the legislative regime, available sentencing sanctions, the rights engaged by the sentencing process, particular procedural aspects that may arise, specific deficiencies in the current sentencing process, and proposed solutions to these issues. In doing so, the course will explore the ways sentencing interacts with other aspects of law and society, such as constitutional law, aboriginality, legal ethics, and youth and the law. In this way, the goals of this class are to provide a thorough, nuanced understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of sentencing law.

Prerequisite(s): None. LAWS 2091 Criminal Procedure is strongly recommended as a prerequisite but not required.
Co-requisite(s): None.
Assessment Method: Three written assignments and class participation. 
Restrictions: None.