Unit II: The Rights of Due Process

Tues. 9/20/11 INTRODUCTION TO THE JUDICIAL   SYSTEM

DUE: 1) Read pp. 103-107 “Protecting Individual Freedom” in the reader and 2) this analysis of the politics of gun control 



Thurs. 9/22 DUE PROCESS RIGHTS: PROTECTION FOR THE INNOCENT AND GUILTY?

DUE: Read Ch. 1 Actual Innocence

Mon. 9/26 EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS AND FALSE CONFESSIONS

Due: No homework weekend.

Wed. 9/28 “PRESUMED GUILTY”: WHAT IS “ADEQUATE” COUNSEL?

DUE:   1) Read all of Ch. 2, and 2/3rds of Chapter 3 in Actual Innocence (In my edition, p. 45 to middle of p. 86) Stop reading at the break in Ch. 3 which ends "Let me know when you have the twenty thousand". 2) Bring in completed permission slip.

Mon. 10/3 "PRESUMED GUILTY" CONCLUDED

DUE: pp. 86-137 Actual Innocence 

Wed. 10/5 WHEN CORRUPTION ENTERS THE SYSTEM: SCIENTIFIC FRAUD AND SNITCH TESTIMONY

DUE:  pp. 138-177 in Actual Innocence

Fri. 10/7 "Actual Innocence": the Movie! (maybe)

DUE: read pp.177-221 Actual Innocence (and permission slip, if you haven't yet turned it in!)

Wed. 10/12  FIELD TRIP to Alameda Co. Courthouse, Oakland

DUE:  DUE: Read pp. 222-249 in Actual Innocence


Fri. 10/14 Debrief trip

DUE:  Read pp.250-288 in Actual Innocence.  

Wed. 10/19  RACE AS A FACTOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

DUE:  Read 309-328 in Actual Innocence.

Fri. 10/21 COD: Civil Rights in France: Head Scarf Laws and Democracy

DUE: TBA. Meet in the theater and check in with me before the session starts. Bring in 2 thank you notes.



Tues. 10/25  What can go wrong in our justice system?


DUE: TBA


Thurs. 10/27 In class essay today



MEET IN Downstairs Lab in Founders
IN CLASS ESSAY assignment: Information below

We’ve learned a lot about what can go wrong for a defendant in the criminal justice system. Using information gained from the readings, class discussion, “Presumed Guilty”, and the field trip, answer the following question:

In what ways does our criminal justice system seem to be stacked in favor of the prosecution? In your essay, be sure to include lots of supporting evidence and cover the following issues:

Treatment by police
Gathering of evidence
Discretion: Police, Prosecutor, Judge
Decisions for the Accused (who can’t make bail)
Representation
Trial
Sentencing
Appeals

I will give you these categories in class, and you can bring in a 3 x 5 index card, one side filled with notes,  but otherwise this is a
closed-book assessment.