Study

This course will study the substantive law, policy, and practices of the federal criminal justice system. Students will learn the constitutional and statutory bases for federal jurisdiction and study the federal justice system’s unusual legal and institutional features. We will discuss major categories of federal crimes including firearms, fraud, drugs, conspiracy, violent crime, immigration, terrorism, civil rights, and sexual offenses, focusing on substantive law as well as policy objectives and controversies. We will conclude by learning about federal sentencing and—time permitting—restitution and forfeiture.

This class will be heavily discussion based. Learning objectives include understanding what makes the federal system unique, becoming familiar with major federal crimes and their elements, and engaging in broader debates around federal criminal enforcement. We will probably touch on some current cases percolating in the federal system and the Supreme Court. And hopefully a guest visitor or two will discuss their real-world experiences.

Course evaluation will consist of a short, midsemester writing assignment; a take-home exam; and class participation. (The expectations for the writing assignment and exam will reflect that this is a two-credit class.) The course will touch on topics like criminal policy, incarceration, racial disparities, sexual assault, and drug abuse and overdoses. Students enrolled in this class should be prepared to discuss sensitive and controversial topics professionally.

Fall 2025

Course Number	Course Credits	Evaluation Method	Instructor
330.01	2	Take-home examination Oral presentation Practical exercises In-class exercise Class participation	Erin Blondel