Advanced Topics in Abolition

This is a seminar for the advanced study of the theory and practice-the praxis-of the movement to abolish police, prisons, and the carceral state. It is designed for students with previous knowledge or study of abolition, such as through a previous law school course on abolition, Critical Race Theory, or Law and Inequality. We will be considering current and historical abolitionist campaigns, the role of the law and lawyers in abolition, and abolitionist theory and philosophy. This class welcomes all political views, and we will pay particular attention to critiques of and contradictions within abolitionist thought. Students will spend the first two weeks collaborating on the syllabus topics based on student interest, and short assignments will include collaborative presentations, creative projects, as well as more traditional written assignments such as reading response essays. Students will have the option of completing either a research-based paper in satisfaction of the UCWR or, in the alternative, a series of three shorter papers or creative written projects. Grades will be based 50% on class participation, including in-class discussions, collaborative assignments, and one week spent as a discussion leader; and 50% on the written paper(s)/assignments.