CJ 4000 - Critical Legal Studies

Credits: (3)
Typically taught:
Not currently being offered

Critical Legal Studies comprehends the development and application of the criminal law and criminal justice institutions in the United States from a critical perspective. The course begins with a short review of slavery and race, civil rights and civil liberties, and the transformation of legal thought in America. Readings provide a perspective for how the criminal law and justice system are used to bolster the lives of the affluent classes while remaining oblivious or acting as a detriment to the lives of disadvantaged, under-represented and marginalized members of society. The course concludes with readings that provide an understanding for the meaning of justice, the role of the law in fostering a more just society, and the legal tools available to the advocate of social change to propose changes through legal reform.