Study

This seminar focuses on lawyers working in the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Through historical and practical considerations of policing in the U.S., existing and proposed legislation, articles, and opinions, the course will work to deepen students’ understanding of some of the intricacies of police accountability and transparency.  After beginning with foundational concepts on policing, the course then delves into some of the specific legal issues relating to police accountability and transparency in the United States, such as reporting misconduct, internal investigations, internal disciplinary processes, the process and challenges of prosecuting police, and the interplay between local governmental entities and prosecutorial offices.

This seminar focuses on lawyers working in the criminal justice system and law enforcement. Through historical and practical considerations of policing in the U.S., existing and proposed legislation, articles, and opinions, the course will work to deepen students’ understanding of some of the intricacies of police accountability and transparency.  After beginning with foundational concepts on policing, the course then delves into some of the specific legal issues relating to police accountability and transparency in the United States, such as reporting misconduct, internal investigations, internal disciplinary processes, the process and challenges of prosecuting police, and the interplay between local governmental entities and prosecutorial offices. Students who took Law 611.59, Readings: Police Accountability may not take this course.

Syllabus: 509-01-Spring2025-syllabus.pdf139.9 KB