A Blind Eye To Justice: Blind Pleas In The American Courtroom, Meghan Koza, Makayla Nolen, Stuti Kokkalera

Journal of Criminal Justice and Law

Over 90% of criminal court cases are decided through plea negotiations, rather than through a jury or bench trial. Within the broader context of plea negotiations is the use of a “blind” or “open” plea, where defendants consent to the court’s decision without a chance to participate in the bargaining process. In entering blind pleas, defendants must waive constitutional trial rights with the hope that they will be given a more lenient sentence but are largely left in the dark during the process. This study aims to provide a national overview of the utilization of blind pleas in the United …

Calvip Cohort 4 Local Evaluation Report: Peace And Justice Law Center’S Legal Services To Support Gang Desistance, Nyla Baxter-Williamson Ma, Kirsten Chaplin Ma, Tori Luna Ma, Topher Mcdougal Phd

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

This Local Evaluation Report assesses the implementation and outcomes of the Peace and Justice Law Center’s Legal Services to Support Gang Desistance (LSSGD) project, funded by the California Board of State and Community Correction’s California Violence Intervention and Prevention Program (CalVIP) Grant, Cohort 4. Through LSSGD, PJLC sought to provide direct legal services to current or formerly gang-involved individuals, as well as those treated by law enforcement as gang-involved, to reduce legal obstacles to desistance, expand access to lawful employment, promote family stability, and improve trust in legal institutions. The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (Kroc IPJ) …

Policing Sex Trafficking: 'They’Re Never Taught, You Know', Anila S. Duro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Research shows that victims of sex trafficking are most likely to first come in contact with the police (Baldwin et al, 2011; Twigg, 2017) and at times police have not been able to categorize cases of prostitution as trafficking even when trafficking elements were very clear (Dank et al, 2017; Dempsey, 2017; Farrell & Cronin, 2015). Despite the legal definition of trafficking, the terms prostitution, sex work, and sex trafficking are sometimes used interchangeably by law enforcement, whereas at other times, these words refer to different sets of circumstances and have different criminalization outcomes.  Research in this area is limited …

Legal Ethics Of Ai Snake Oil: Navigating The Hype, Harm, And Hope Of Legal Ai, Drew Simshaw

Michigan Law Review

A review of AI Snake Oil.By Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor.

The Three (3) Eras Of Compstat, Through Cultural Change. Lessons From The Past, Present And Future, Kevin Brown

Student Theses

Abstract

Using data and information from respondent surveys of current and former NYPD police executives, this study examines the cultural change, impact, and effectiveness of the NYPD’s CompStat system from the perspective of superior officers who have participated in it since its inception. CompStat was introduced in 1994 by NYPD, Police Commissioner, William Bratton.  Achieving cultural change in any police organization can be a monumental task, requiring CompStat’s transformational methods of data-driven accountability and four core principles that are aligned with organizational transformation evidence: timely intelligence, rapid deployment, effective tactics, and relentless follow-up.  This research explores how these principles have …

Originalism And Saving The Constitution, Michael Vitiello

University of the Pacific Law Review

No abstract provided.

The School To Prison Pipeline From The Inside Out: Survivor Narraitves, Nina M. Koufalias

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of two Latino men who traversed the school-to-prison pipeline in the 1980s. The purpose of this study is to investigate how intersecting systems of racism, ableism, poverty, and exclusionary school practices shaped their educational trajectories and contributed to their incarceration. Three overarching research questions guide this inquiry: (1) What can be learned from the stories of two formerly incarcerated relatives that sheds light on how the school-to-prison pipeline is lived? (2) How do their narratives illustrate the impacts of exclusionary discipline policies, such as zero-tolerance, on educational opportunities and life outcomes? (3) How does …

Investigating The Detection Ability Of Presumptive Bloodstain Testing Through Concealment Obstacles, Skye E. Lehr

Student Theses

Bloodstain detection can provide valuable information on the ability of presumptive tests. When perpetrators seek to alter the scene of violent crimes to interfere with investigations or flee from justice, crime scene investigation becomes more complex. In this analysis, scenarios where bloodstain evidence is attempted to be removed by household cleaners and covered up by acrylic or oil-based paint, are tested using luminol and Kastle-Meyer direct testing. These bloodstains have been altered by bleach, dish soap or all-purpose cleaner and covered under multiple layers of acrylic or oil-based paint. Evidence is documented both photographically and visually to simulate crime scene …

Ndls Communicator: Week Of 06.01.26, Notre Dame Law School

NDLS Communicator

The Latest News

• Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Clinic Advises Catholic Dioceses on Best Practices for Organizational Governance

Student News

• The Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic (EJC) hosted a welcome picnic yesterday for this year’s cohort of students joining the EJC’s summer internship program
• Perla Khattar, J.S.D. candidate

Alumni News

• Thomas Curtin, ‘68 J.D.
• Batul Ather, ’24 J.D. 

Faculty Briefs

• Paolo Carozza
• Paolo Carozza & Msgr. John Paul Kimes
• Paul Miller
• Carter Snead
• Derek Muller
• Lloyd Mayer
• Daniel Slate
• Devan Patel, 20' J.D.
• Dan Kelly, former colleague

Around the Watercooler

• Happy Birthday to celebrants in May
• ND Well-Being Reminders …

Rehabilitation Or Retribution? A Socio-Legal Comparison Of Criminal Sanctions And Social Reintegration In Indonesia And Spain, Ridwan Arifin, Izan Mateo Cassandro

The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies

This study examines the legal, institutional, and socio-cultural mechanisms influencing the social reintegration of ex-offenders in Indonesia and Spain. Despite a global trend toward rehabilitative approaches, practical implementation reveals significant divergence due to structural, cultural, and economic factors. Indonesia’s penal system, guided by Law No. 22 of 2022 and the new Criminal Code (KUHP), emphasizes statutory rehabilitation and vocational and spiritual programs. However, challenges such as prison overcrowding, limited post-release support, and societal stigma constrain effectiveness. Judicial decisions indicate cautious application of restorative provisions, reflecting both public expectations and institutional limitations. In Spain, rehabilitation is constitutionally entrenched under Article 25(2) …

The Once And Future Freedom Of The Church: Three Stories, Steven D. Smith

BYU Law Review

This Essay, prepared to be delivered as a lecture at Brigham Young University, discusses three historical stories as a vehicle for suggesting that the concept of “freedom of the church” (or libertas ecclesiae) has not only a colorful and momentous past but an important future as well. Part I discusses how the Supreme Court’s decision in Hosanna Tabor v. Evangelical Lutheran Church helped to revive the venerable theme of freedom of the church. Part II considers the relation between freedom of the church and political authority during the centuries between the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and modernity. Part …

The Martha Wright-Reed Act: How The Fcc Took One Step Forward For Communication Equality For Deaf Individuals In Correctional Facilities And How It Could Be Expanded, Ashley Seebold

Seattle University Law Review

For decades, phone companies preyed on incarcerated individuals and their loved ones due to the lack of regulation of jail phone calls.2 In 2021, the average cost of a fifteen-minute jail phone call was about $3.3 In 2022, the average cost rose to $5.74, while some individuals faced an extreme charge of $24.82 for the same amount of time.4 In the early 2000s, consumer advocate and concerned grandmother Martha Wright-Reed called upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to fix the imbalance so she could speak to her incarcerated grandson.5 Eventually, in 2023, the FCC answered her call to action and …

The Court And The Killing State, Eric Berger

Michigan Law Review

A review of Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection. By Corinna Barrett Lain.

استخدام تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي في إجراءات الاستدلال والتحقيق "دراسة مقارنة", حمد مصبح اليليلي

Theses

The Use of Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Reasoning and Investigation Procedures: Comparative Study

This research aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the stages of criminal investigation and inquiry through an applied analytical study. It focuses on the use of these technologies to support law enforcement and investigators with advanced scientific methods, particularly in analyzing digital evidence and accurately linking it to suspects. The study also explores the future development of these systems through their integration with AI technologies to enhance the efficiency of criminal investigation.

The United Arab Emirates has consistently been keen to develop …

Brief Of Evidence – Bill C-16 Protecting Victims Act, Emma Cunliffe

All Faculty Publications

This brief focuses specifically on the proposal in Bill C-16 to create a new criminal offence of coercive control and the absence of any correlate defence for offences committed by a person who is subject to coercion. Reviewing evidence from research in other jurisdictions that have adopted such an offence (Scotland, England and Wales, and the Australian jurisidictions of NSW and Queensland), as well as Canadian research, there is abundant evidence to suggest that more criminal law, including new offences, will not necessarily increase women’s safety; and in fact, can be predicted to expose women to greater risk of harm …

2026 Commencement Exercises, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Commencement Programs

Order of Exercises

Processional:

Felix Wu, JD, PhD, Vice Dean, Professor of Law, Herald

Presiding: 

Selma Botman, PhD, Provost and Vice President for  Academic Affairs, Yeshiva University, Chief Marshal

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President, Yeshiva University

National Anthem: 

Cantor Ira W. Heller, JD, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Class of 2008

Remarks: 

Melanie Leslie, JD, Dean, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Class of 1991

Commencement Address: 

Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Judge of the State of New York and the New York Court of Appeals

Student Remarks: 

Quentin Decurnes, LL.M. Class Speaker, Class of 2026

Basya Bates, …

Critical Geopolitics And The Reconstruction Of Meaning: A Discourse Analysis Of The 'Terrorism' Label Applied To Hamas By Western Hegemony, Cahaya Mulyani Sakti, M.Hamdan Basyar

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The emergence of Hamas in 1987 cannot be separated from the configuration of modern colonialism and the continuity of occupation that shaped the political reality. Hamas’s early phase was rooted in socio-religious activities through education and community empowerment programs, before evolving into armed resistance against the occupation. The labeling of Hamas as a “terrorist” organization began in the mid-1990s in U.S. legal documents, which subsequently generated debate and gave rise to counter-narratives. This study employs the frameworks of critical geopolitics (Ó Tuathail & Agnew) and the Discourse-Historical Approach (Wodak) to analyze the labeling of Hamas as “terrorist” by Western hegemony. …

The Class Of 2026'S Achievements Celebrated At Commencement Awards Ceremony, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law honored members of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding academic achievement, leadership, public service, legal writing, advocacy, and contributions to the law school community. The ceremony celebrated recipients of numerous faculty- and donor-sponsored awards prior to commencement.

Extra Omnes: Analyzing The United States’ And Ireland’S Methods Of Quelling The Criminal Clergy Sexual Abuse Scourge, Dana Aprigliano

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

(Excerpt)

In late 2008, an Irish businessman was successful in legally preventing sexual assault claims from being brought against him. In explaining why one “victim” should be discredited, the court cited a threat she made against the businessman to make allegations of a sexual nature against him if he did not pay her a sum of money. In particular, she told him that if he did not pay her, she would “have him . . . ’plastered all over the front of the Evening Herald like those p[e]dophile priests.’ ” Although the businessman was not a priest or, as it …

The Shadow Corroboration Doctrine In Sexual Violence Cases, Chris Cox

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Policing Course, Adrian Bordoni

Open Educational Resources

Policng course divided in 8 modules: includes readings, videos, interactive assignments, discussion boards Final ppaer and presentation to support topics

The Jurisprudence Of Humanity, Tyler Rose Clemons

Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

(Excerpt)

It has become common for Supreme Court Justices—the most powerful legal actors in our society—to explain why “the law” requires them to facilitate, or at least tolerate, terrible human suffering. Such claims are wrong, not just morally but legally. More specifically, they expose the decisions of the Roberts Court as a based on a jurisprudence of nihilism, one that justifies human suffering through vague appeals to the rule of law. These appeals, in turn, thinly conceal a substantive political and moral project.

To support this claim, I proceed in five parts. Part I introduces Albert Camus’s account of nihilism …

Opening Symposium Remarks: Celebrating 100 Years Of Scholarly Impact At St. John’S Law, Jelani Jefferson Exum

Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

(Excerpt)

In times of uncertainty, legal scholarship provides essential guidance. It offers a perspective grounded not in the politics of the moment, but in research, doctrine, and theory—helping us navigate complexity and pointing us toward outcomes that are just.

So, as we celebrate 100 years of St. John’s Law, let us commit to work that is courageous in its thinking, inclusive in its reach, and faithful to our mission of service. And let us imagine the next century with confidence that the scholarship born here will continue to shape the law in ways that matter—ways that endure.

Thank you, and …

Read The Writing On The Wall: Why Confederate Messaging Matters In Tennessee Courthouses, Hon. John G. Browning

Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender, & Social Justice

No abstract provided.

“I Have A Voice”: Bridging The Communication And Sensemaking Gap Between Restorative Justice Practice And Program Implementation, Stefan Cocorelis

Dissertations

Restorative justice (RJ), a philosophy, practice, and movement inspired by local, largely Indigenous traditions, has increasingly been introduced in modern criminal justice systems as an alternative process to more comprehensively address harmful incidents, heal harms, and meet victim’s needs. While RJ implementation growth is encouraging for its advocates, there remain significant questions around formalized RJ practice. Specifically, little is known about the decision-making process in implementing and administering RJ programming within criminal justice. This dissertation aimed to contribute to the understanding of RJ practice and implementation efforts within criminal justice systems by putting emphasis on practitioners already working directly in …

Urgensi Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Korporasi, Kristian Kristian

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Kebijakan Pemberian Remisi Bagi Koruptor, Suatu Telaah Kritis Dari Perspektif Sosiologi Hukum, Edi Toet Hendratno

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Masalah Penyidik Dalam Tindak Pidana Jasa Keuangan Di Indonesia, Wahyu Wiriadinata

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Urgensi Pertanggungjawaban Pidana Korporasi, Kristian Kristian

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Comparative Study On Institutional Design And Scope Of Grounds Of Criminal Cases Review Between Indonesia And The United Kingdom, Rahman Syamsuddin, Muhammad Ikram Nur Fuady, Hasdiwanti Hasdiwanti, Hilmiah Hilmiah

Padjadjaran Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law)

This study examines to examine the comparative framework of criminal cases review between Indonesia and the United Kingdom (UK), focusing on the scope of grounds and institutional framework. Both jurisdictions recognize post-conviction review as an extraordinary legal remedy intended to prevent miscarriages of justice. Indonesia employs revision (PK –Peninjauan Kembali) as a restrictive system, similar to the Court of Appeal. The UK adopts a broader and more flexible model through Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The study used secondary data and literature reviews, with a comparative legal approach grounded in normative and institutional analysis, assessing the legal structures, procedural …