Wrongful Convictions

Catalog description

Students will examine how human psychology can contribute to the conviction of innocent suspects. Topics such as junk science, misconduct, eyewitness memory, false confessions, and jail house snitches will be discussed. Students investigate various elements of psychology, with an emphasis on cognitive, social, and developmental psychology as they apply to the law. Students learn to read and analyze empirical research, specifically journal articles, to support the concepts discussed in class. Spring.