LAWE 2700 - Advanced Court Procedures

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives: The student will:

1. Identify testimonial issues relating to preliminary examinations. Through an actual direct and cross-examination, students will be expected to testify about their participation in a scenario. In addition, students will be held accountable for any reports written, evidence gathered, statement taken, or interrogation administered.
2. Students will be responsible for their reports as well as for their description of events that transpired in the gathering of this evidence. They will demonstrate these objectives through direct and cross-examination.
3. Identify issues related to police incident reports. Each student will generate an original report and that report will be used to examine the witness. In addition, the report will be used in civil litigation. Students will be instructed and will demonstrate their knowledge of police reports by preparing samples prior to the scenario and subsequent to the scenario.
4. Demonstrate appropriate writing skills in report writing and statements. Students will be given instruction in the proper preparation of reports.
5. Students will participate in a mock oral board in which command officers will ask questions relating to knowledge of police procedure in preparation for the hiring process.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify and define issues affecting law enforcement officers subsequent to taking police action in civil cases.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Identify testimonial issues related to depositions. Students will prepare for and attend a deposition regarding the actions they took during the scenario. Students will be responsible for obtaining and bringing evidence and will be examined by plaintiff’s counsel.
2. Identify differences between criminal and civil procedure prior to trial. Students will attend a mock deposition where they will be questioned regarding their actions in the scenario from a civil litigation perspective.
3. Identify potential defenses to be used on behalf of officers in civil proceedings. Civil attorneys will discuss the answering of interrogatories, and discuss defenses to be raised in the civil process.
4. Demonstrate proper courtroom and testifying skills. Civil attorneys will discuss student participation pointing out pitfalls and questions to be anticipated by officers in similar situations.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the vocabulary used in the hearing process. Students will be required to research articles on testimony in the library and on the Internet.

1. Report writing
2. Scenario
3. Preliminary Exam
4. Deposition
5. Oral board
6. Presentations by current police officers on criminal investigation
7. Discipline
8. Federal District Court
9. Medical Examiner’s Office