UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT DARTMOUTH

SYLLABUS
CJS 400 - SPECIAL TOPICS - DEATH PENALTY.  3 credits

January 30, 2008 through May 21, 2008
Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Liberal Arts Bldg. Rm. 206

TEXTS: 

A Life and Death Decision: A Jury Weighs the Death Penalty.  Palgrave Macmillan, Scott E. Sundby (2005)
Don't Kill in Our Names:  Families of Murder Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty.  Rutgers University Press,  Rachel King (2005)


INSTRUCTOR:
   ATTORNEY DONALD A. BRISSON
Tel. (508) 999-9694
                Email: don@donbrisson.com

 

This course is open to SENIORS electing the criminal justice option, or by permission of the instructor.  Students should have a basic knowledge of the criminal justice system.  All students will be required to participate in class discussions.  All reading assignments must be completed prior to each class.

Grading:

Class participation:         40 %
Midterm:                        20%
Final:                              20%
Attendance:                    20%

GRADING:
The Midterm and Final will be based on class lectures; class discussions and the reading.   Both examinations will be a combination of multiple choice and essay type questions.  

Attendance:   This class meets one time per week for 2.5 hours. Missing a class is the equivalent of missing 2 classes.  You should make every attempt to attend each class.  If you do miss a class you must get the notes and any assignments from a classmate.

PARTICIPATION:
Students are expected to attend class regularly and to have completed all assigned readings prior to the date for which they are assigned (see below). Students are expected to participate in class discussions and demonstrate that they have completed the assigned reading. 

Class participation is an indispensable, integral, and mandatory requirement for all students. 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

The college's academic integrity policy, which can be found in the college catalogue, will be enforced in this class. Using other students' work or committing plagiarism are considered extremely serious offenses that can result in a tarnished official record or even expulsion from the university. Students are encouraged to read UMD's plagiarism policy and follow it.  If you are in doubt about what might constitute plagiarism in an assignment, please check with me or you can refer to an article by the UMD Library, Avoiding Plagiarism.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations in the class are encouraged to contact the Disabled Students Services Office, as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Special accommodations will be made upon notification from that office that they are required. The Disabled Student Services assists students with physical and learning disabilities by providing support and services to accomplish academic success. All concerns regarding a student's request for assistance or services must be directed to Carole Johnson, Director of the Disabled Student Services, at x8711.  The Office of Disabled Student Services is open from 7:00 AM to 3:30 p.m. daily; evening appointments can be arranged on request. If you are in need of any accommodations for events, classes or other University related programs or services, please contact the DSS office to make arrangements. The office is located in the basement of Group I, Room 016, 508-999-8711.

SCHEDULE:

Assigned readings must be done PRIOR to the date where they appear. The schedule outlined below represents my intended timetable, but adjustments may be made during the semester.   If you lose your syllabus you can find a copy on my website:  www.donbrisson.com.  Look for the link CJS 400 Syllabus
 

January 30 Overview of the course; Overview of the court system; Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution; Article XXVI of part 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Article CXVI.
February 6 Don't Kill in Our Names:  Families of Murder Victims Speak Out Against the Death Penalty.
Preface, Intorduction, Forgiveness.   pp. ix - 81
February 13 Executing the Vulnerable.     pp. 83 - 162
February 20 Grave Injustices.  pp. 163 - 220
February 27 Restorative Justice; Afterward.  pp. 221 - 276
March 5 A Life and Death Decision: A Jury Weighs the Death Penalty.     The Idealist.  pp. 1-28
March 12 The Chorus.  pp. 29-58
March 19 Spring Break:  NO CLASS
March 26 .Movie:  DEAD MAN WALKING.  Discussion
April 2 MID-TERM EXAM.
April 9  The Hold Out.  pp. 59 -104
April 16 The 12th Juror.  pp. 105 - 132
April 23 Movie:  DEADLINE.  Discussion
April 30 Looking Into The Kaleidoscope.  pp. 133 - 160
May 7 LAST CLASS.  Conclusion.  pp. 177 - 188.     Wrap up of course.  Review for Final.
May 14 or 21 FINAL
   

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