Open Educational Resources
Document Type
Assignment
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
In this sociology final project, students take the role of a sociologist working with a public defender and analyze the records and social history of a client facing sentencing for a felony. They write a report for a judge explaining how structural factors and sociological concepts illuminate the case, then recommend responses that include alternatives to incarceration. A reflective essay examines the limits of the available information, ethical considerations, and how the project shaped their understanding of justice.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Included in
Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons
Comments
More model assignments in the John Jay Distinguished Teaching Academy can be found here: https://johnjaydistinguishedteaching.commons.gc.cuny.edu/
Creative Commons License