While the majority of the students who enrolled in this summer course were upperclassmen, it was designed to be appropriate for students in any class year, provided the Composition class had been completed since writing was an important required element. The course acts as an elective and would be most appealing to someone with an interest in the criminal justice system or legal studies but could also be of interest to a student wanting to learn more about the field. In recent years, there have been quite a few students who have expressed just such an interest, making this course an appropriate new offering based on that feedback. Even for those not looking to enter the field, the class provides beneficial information so students can know and understand their legal rights.
In one class session, the focus was on the legal concept of conspiracy. Using the case example of a drive-by shooting of a 15 year-old boy during the commission of a different crime, students debated whether a person could be guilty of planning when the action is impulsive and there is no opportunity to plan ahead. Students learned that the legal definition of conspiracy is that two or more parties must have an agreement to commit a crime. In an example regarding two women deciding over lunch to start selling illegal drugs, it was determined that this fits the legal definition of conspiracy to commit a crime. When it was revealed that one of the women was actually an undercover police officer, the
In this class session and every other during the May term, students not only learned more about the legal system and the laws governing society, they also had ample opportunity to analyze and critically consider the fairness of such rules. The foundation that was created in their understanding of the legal environment will potentially serve them in future studies but also will be beneficial in their everyday lives.