CRIJ 5320 Death Penalty

This graduate seminar provides a comprehensive exploration of capital punishment in the United States, emphasizing advanced analysis of its legal, empirical, and ethical dimensions. Students will critically examine the historical development of death penalty statutes, the constitutional framework established through landmark Supreme Court decisions, and the evolving standards of justice that define its modern application. The course also interrogates wrongful convictions and death row exonerations through the lenses of forensic reliability, prosecutorial discretion, and systemic bias. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship and contemporary case studies, students will evaluate the role of innocence organizations, legislative reforms, and public opinion in shaping the future of capital punishment. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation of legal doctrine, data-driven policy analysis, and scholarly research contributing to evidence-based reform in the administration of justice.