Rutgers Law

601:619. CIVIL RIGHTS LAW & POLICE MISCONDUCT 2 (WI)

Oxman

The course entitled “Civil Rights Law & Police Misconduct” will focus specifically on civil rights litigation regarding all aspects of police misconduct including Illegal Arrest and Detention, Warrantless Arrests, Duty to Investigate, Malicious Prosecution and Excessive Force. Students will be exposed to the particular law and legal precedent, including the defenses of qualified immunity  and State Tort Immunity.

Students will perform writing tasks including memos regarding initial investigation/evaluation of a case, drafting a complaint, and understanding discovery. All writing tasks will be based on case files provided to the students which will include criminal court documents, videos, officer personnel files, court and discovery transcripts. The text will be “Police Misconduct” 3^rd Edition by Avery, Rudovsky, Blum and Laurin.

Students will perform four graded writing tasks memos:

1.       An initial case investigation/evaluation.

2.       A complaint

3.       A discovery Memo

4.       A Settlement Memo