LAWS 8308 Compassionate Release & Parole Clinic
Students represent inmates who have become eligible for parole from life sentences after serving at least 15 years in prison. Inmates often appear without counsel and are unable to effectively represent themselves. Students help prepare such inmates for their parole hearings; represent them at the hearings, prepare a petition for grant of parole. Students also represent inmates who are within 18 months of death or mentally or physically incapacitated. Working with graduate social work students and nursing students, law students prepare a petition for medical release.
Course overview
- Department
- Law
- School
- LAW
- Credits
- 4
- Level
- Graduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- Permission of Department
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.91 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.76 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 10
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Francis Herrmann | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 7–9 hrs/week | 6 of 6 |
| Fall 2025 | Francis Herrmann | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 4 of 6 |
| Spring 2025 | Francis Herrmann | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 10+ hrs/week | 8 of 8 |
| Fall 2024 | Francis Herrmann | 4.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 10+ hrs/week | 7 of 8 |
| Spring 2024 | Francis Herrmann | 5.0 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 5 of 6 |
| Fall 2023 | Francis Herrmann | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.5 | — | 4 of 6 |
| Spring 2023 | Francis Herrmann | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 10+ hrs/week | 6 of 6 |
| Fall 2022 | Francis Herrmann | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 10+ hrs/week | 4 of 7 |
| Spring 2022 | Francis Herrmann | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 10+ hrs/week | 2 of 5 |
| Fall 2021 | Francis Herrmann | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 10+ hrs/week | 9 of 10 |