Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Julie O'Sullivan

J.D. Course 455 | 4 credit hours

This advanced criminal law course covers selected substantive and procedural areas of importance in "white-collar" criminal practice. A portion of the class will be devoted to the study of certain statutes and their applications, including examinations of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, false statements and money laundering prosecutions. We will also study the United States Sentencing Guidelines applicable to individuals and to corporations, and will explore the principles governing entity liability. The balance of the class will be devoted to an examination of subjects of particular concern to prosecutors and defense counsel in "white-collar" or business crime cases, including investigative and grand jury practices, privileges applicable in a corporate setting, immunity, plea bargaining, cooperation agreements, discovery, and the interplay between civil and criminal proceedings.

Students will be required to complete a number of short written assignments relating to the application of the Sentencing Guidelines, and the class will conclude with an examination.

Prerequisite: Criminal Justice (or the equivalent Democracy and Coercion) or Criminal Procedure. Recommended: Criminal Law.

Students may not receive credit for both this course and Role of the Federal Prosecutor or Federal Investigations and Prosecutions.

Students may take this course and Advanced Criminal Procedure, but it is not recommended.