Environmental Crimes

Catalog description

This course will prepare future state and federal prosecutors and defense lawyers as well as environmental and business lawyers to respond to the complex issues surrounding the investigation and prosecution of environmental crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice and New York’s Attorney General have announced that the prosecution of environmental crimes is a top p)riority. Environmental laws provide stiff penalties for criminal violations, including substantial jail time, large fines, and forfeiture. Topics covered will include the constitutional law governing criminal investigations of suspected environmental criminals, sentencing and enforcement alternatives, and criminal air, water, and land violations. The course will cover federal and New York law. Through skills assignments, students will develop depth in New York grand jury and criminal pleading standards and substantive environmental criminal law.