Curriculum

Wrongful Convictions: Causes and Remedies


This course will examine, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the principal problems that lead to the conviction of the innocent and the leading proposals for reform. Topics covered include mistaken eyewitness identification; false confessions; junk forensic science; the role of forensic DNA testing; post-conviction remedies for innocence claims; the use of "jailhouse snitches" and cooperating witnesses; incompetent defense counsel; police and prosecutorial misconduct; the problem of innocence and the death penalty; and the legal, practical, and ethical issues that arise between journalists and lawyers investigating claims of wrongful conviction. Drawing on these topics, students will work in teams to investigate North Carolina prisoners’ claims of actual innocence/wrongful conviction.


This course has an irregular meeting schedule. In order to present the necessary underpinnings of the investigations of cases of wrongful convictions, it will meet twice a week for the first three weeks and then only once a week after that.


This class meets from 3:50-5:40: on Mondays and Wednesdays for the first three weeks, and then on Mondays only.


For the first three weeks, the class will meet in Room 4049.


Beginning Monday September 13, the course will meet in Room 3032.


Evaluation: There is no exam in this course. Once the investigations begin, periodic progress reports will be completed, assessing the overall performance of the team and, to the extent possible, each of its members. Each team member will be required to critique the contributions made by the other members of the team. The final product of the course – a complete investigative memorandum and file – will be worth 70% of the grade. The interim progress reports count 30%. The faculty retain discretion to increase or decrease individual students’ final grades by up to two-tenths of a point for exemplary or substandard performance during class meetings and in the conduct of the investigations.


Please note that course organization and content may vary substantially from semester to semester and descriptions are not necessarily professor specific. Please contact the instructor directly if you have particular course-related questions.

View Past Sections >