Criminal Law

What are the main reasons societies punish crime—deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution, public safety—and how do they differ? How should we weigh the suffering of victims, the rights of accused people, and the broader interests of society when designing punishments? In what ways might long prison sentences fail to achieve the goals they are supposed to serve? What alternatives to traditional punishment—like restorative justice—offer different ways of responding to harm? How do personal beliefs about justice shape whether someone favors harsher or more forgiving criminal policies?

How do lawmakers decide which behaviors should be criminalized and which should be handled in other ways? Why do criminal laws often require both a harmful act and a certain mental state, such as intent or recklessness? What kinds of defenses—such as self-defense, insanity, or necessity—recognize that context matters when judging actions? How can vague or overly broad criminal laws be misused against disfavored groups or political opponents? Can you think of something that is illegal but widely practiced, or legal but widely considered harmful? What does that say about how laws are made?

What powers do police and investigators need in order to effectively prevent and respond to crime? How can legal systems protect people from wrongful searches, coerced confessions, or discriminatory enforcement? What role do body cameras, data analysis, and other technologies play in modern policing—for better and for worse? How can communities hold law enforcement accountable while still relying on them for safety? What experiences or stories have most shaped your own view of the police and the criminal justice system?

Why is the presumption of innocence such an important principle in criminal trials? How do rules about evidence—what can and cannot be shown to juries—shape trial outcomes? What mechanisms exist to protect accused people from unreliable witnesses, biased juries, or ineffective legal counsel? Why might many criminal cases end in plea bargains rather than full trials, and what are the consequences of that pattern? How should legal systems respond when new evidence suggests that a person was wrongly convicted?

What daily realities do people in prison face, and how do those conditions affect their chances of rebuilding their lives afterward? What programs have been shown to help people in prison gain education, skills, or emotional support for life after release? How do criminal records shape a person’s access to housing, employment, and community life when they leave prison? What would a justice system look like if rehabilitation and successful reentry were treated as central goals rather than side issues? How can victims, communities, and formerly incarcerated people all be included in discussions about reforming prisons and sentencing?