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Predators and the Constitution Webcast

Should sex offenders be held past their confinement date?

Click below to watch the full recording of this webcast.

Six days before Graydon Comstock's completion of his 37-month sentence for possession of child pornography, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales certified that Mr. Comstock was a sexually dangerous person. The law that Attorney General Gonzales invoked was ruled unconstitutional by lower courts on the grounds that it exceeded Congress’ constitutional authority. Argued in January 2010 by Solicitor General Elena Kagan, the United States' position was that the "necessary and proper" clause gave Congress the power to enact the law. 

Watch AMU's recorded webcast, which featured our esteemed panel as they analyzed the groundbreaking U.S. vs Comstock case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government has authority under the Necessary and Proper Clause to require the civil commitment of individuals already in Federal custody.

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    American Military University (AMU) provides quality and affordable online education to U.S. Armed Forces, members of the public safety, service and national security communities, and working adults in a wide range of fields. AMU closely partners with industry organizations and is highly respected by public service, intelligence, homeland security and criminal justice communities for developing curriculum that is relevant to today’s job market. AMU is a member of the regionally accredited American Public University System. Here’s why more than 100,000 students make us their school of choice.

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    *based upon 2011 DoD enrollment figures for U.S. servicemembers
    **refer to your service's policy on tuition assistance eligibility and availability


Video Spotlight

AMU Feature Video
Just what is online learning all about? Hear from our faculty and students about how AMU achieves academic excellence each day through online learning and take a tour of our virtual campus and classroom.

Watch the AMU Virtual Tour

Speaker Profiles 

Constance St. Germain-Driscoll

Constance St. Germain-Driscoll, J.D.
Program Director of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies programs at AMU

Professor St. Germain has been with APUS since 2003. She teaches LSTD301 Constitutional Law, LSTD502 Criminal Law, and LSTD503 Criminal Process

A former Major in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Professor St. Germain’s assignments include XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she served as an attorney for the US Army Claims Service; the 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina where she acted as a Legal Assistance attorney, Administrative Law attorney, and Chief of Administrative Law. Read more...

  

Senna Austin

Senna Austin, J.D.
Professor of Legal Studies at AMU

Professor Senna Austin received her B.A. in philosophy from the College of William and Mary in 1992 and her juris doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia, in 1996. She is admitted to practice law in South Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

After several years working in the high tech world, Professor Austin did extensive pro bono work for Legal Services of Northern Virginia and the Fairfax County Bar. In addition to family law actions and civil cases, she led a team of attorneys providing estate planning and documents to low-income and elderly clients all over Northern Virginia. She also is a Major in the Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps and is currently mobilized to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, the Army's personnel headquarters. Read more... 

  

Stephani Myers-Hunziker

Stephani Myers-Hunziker, Ph.D.
Professor of Criminal Justice at AMU

Dr Stephanie Myers-Hunziker earned a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University at Albany; State University of New York in 2002. Dr. Myers-Hunziker has been teaching for more than ten years both in the classroom and through online instruction. 

In addition to teaching, she has a tremendous amount of practical work and research experience working inside public agencies. While conducting research sponsored by the National Institute of Justice she has on several occasions worked inside police departments and she has worked on local research grants with local County Governing Boards on several projects. Her specialty is helping public organizations identify their goals and better understand how to achieve them. Read more...