U of M Law School holds inaugural meeting of new Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (11/07/2011) —David Wippman, dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, announced today the inaugural meeting of the newly created Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, to be held Friday, Nov. 11, at the Law School, 229 19th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

The event, “Rethinking Criminal Justice,” will bring together leading practitioners and scholars from the United States and elsewhere to discuss transformative ideas for achieving better criminal justice policies and practices. Speakers will include John Choi, Ramsey County Attorney; professor Anthony Doob, University of Toronto; Mike Freeman (’74), Hennepin County Attorney; professor Carol Steiker, Harvard Law School; and Andrew Sonner, former judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Another dozen nationally and internationally prominent scholars and public officials will participate.

The new institute, supported by a major long-term grant from the Robina Foundation, will work with policy-makers, practitioners and a wide range of leading scholars to improve criminal justice systems that are widely recognized to be ineffective, overly costly, overly severe and insufficiently attentive to the needs and interests of victims. The institute will engage in interdisciplinary, policy-oriented study of the criminal justice system.

The institute will focus its work on three core, interrelated program areas: criminal law theory, headed by professor Antony Duff; criminal justice policy, led by professor Michael Tonry; and sentencing law and practice, led by professors Richard Frase and Kevin Reitz. Projects in the three areas will be focused on documenting problems and developing practical, achievable and cost-effective solutions. Faculty will work closely with practitioners and policy-makers from Minnesota and elsewhere.