NCJ Number
79392
Journal
Journal of Legal Education Volume: 31 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1981) Pages: 164-182
Date Published
1981
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined the criminal justice curriculum in U.S. law schools by analyzing the course catalogs of 167 schools to determine what classes were being offered, the number of classroom hours available, and when the student is exposed to criminal law courses.
Abstract
The problems encountered in catalog analysis are first detailed, as are methods used to equate courses offered by schools on both the quarter and semester systems. The term substantive criminal law was used to describe a course dealing with general principles of criminal law, whereas a procedure course focused on the fourth, fifth, and sixth amendments. A class which contained both elements was categorized as substantive/procedural. The survey first revealed that 158 schools required a criminal justice course for graduation. Types of required courses varied, however, and only 72 schools required exposure to both substantive and procedural criminal law during the 3 years of study. Of the 148 courses in criminal law required during the first year, 89 were substantive, 55 were substantive/procedural, and 4 were purely procedural. Data on classroom hours is broken down by schools, type of course, and time of the year given. The most popular criminal justice elective noted in the catalogs was criminal procedure, which covered police practices, indictment, discovery, trial rights, and sentencing. A total of 81 schools offered a course in juvenile law while 37 gave criminal trial advocacy as an elective. Seminars or courses in sentencing and corrections were found in 48 institutions, and courses in postconviction relief were given at 19 schools. The 167 schools are categorized according to the hours of criminal justice instruction they provide. The appendix lists course titles and identifies specific schools which offer these classes.