LEGA 2170 - Criminal Law & Procedures

Credit Hours: 2.00

Objectives: The student will:

1. Identify the federal and state court system.
2. Distinguish between federal and state court systems as it pertains to both civil and criminal law.
3. Distinguish between civil and criminal law.
4. Identify the duties and powers of the judicial branch.

Outcome 2: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to explain the different aspects of criminal law and criminal procedure.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Define criminal law and criminal procedure.
2. Distinguish between criminal law and criminal procedure.
3. Distinguish between the different types of crimes and defenses.
4. Identify the different types of crimes and defenses.
5. Identify the constitutional aspects of criminal procedure.
6. Explain the constitutional aspects of criminal procedure.
7. Identify the constitutional defenses.

Outcome 3: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to explain the criminal justice system.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Identify the criminal justice system.
2. Identify the major elements of a criminal offense.
3. Explain the major elements of a criminal offense.
4. Define criminal law and criminal procedure.
5. Explain criminal procedures.
6. Identify the duties of defense counsel and the paralegals that assist them.
7. Explain the duties of defense counsel and the paralegals that assist them.

Outcome 4: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to prepare documents for either a trial or for the juvenile justice system.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Gather information or evidence concerning a client’s factual situation in a criminal matter.
2. Compose the necessary documents needed for trial or for the juvenile justice system that involve a criminal matter.
3. Identify the necessary documents needed for trial or for the juvenile justice system that involve a criminal matter.
4. Assist attorneys in preparing a client for trial or for a matter before the juvenile justice system.
5. Explain the duties of defense counsel and paralegals assisting them in a trial or before the juvenile justice system.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. U.S. Legal System
   1. Federalism
   2. Separation of Powers
   3. Structure of Court System
   4. Duties and Powers of Judicial Branch
   5. Compare Civil and Criminal
2. Criminal Law
   1. Distinction between Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
   2. Power of Government to Regulate Behavior
   3. Purpose of Punishing Criminal Law Violators
   4. Mens Rea
   5. Actus Rea
3. Crimes Against the Person
   1. Studying Crimes
   2. Homicide
   3. Assault and Battery
   4. Mayhem
   5. Sex Crimes
   6. Kidnapping and False Imprisonment
   7. Stalking
   8. Civil Rights and Hate Crimes
4. Crimes Against Property and Habitation
   1. Arson
   2. Burglary
   3. Theft Crimes
   4. Crimes against Public Morality
   5. Crimes against Public Order
   6. Crimes against Admin. of Government
   7. Crimes against Sovereignty and Security
   8. Crimes against Environment
5. Parties and Inchoate Offenses
   1. Parties to Crimes
   2. Inchoate Crimes
6. Factual and Statutory Defenses
   1. Defenses Defined and Aff. Defenses
   2. Insanity
   3. Duress and Necessity
   4. Use of Force
   5. Infancy, Intoxication, Mistake
   6. Entrapment, Alibi and Consent, Statute of Limitations
7. Constitutional Defenses
   1. Double Jeopardy
   2. Fifth Amendment Defenses
   3. Due Process and Equal Protection
   4. Vagueness and Overbreadth
   5. Ex Post Facto, etc.
   6. 1st Amendment and Religion
   7. 1st Amendment and Speech
   8. Privacy and Other Rights
8. Criminal Procedure
   1. Common Law, Adversarial and Accusatorial System
   2. Due Process Model
   3. Participants
   4. Liab. of Government and Officials
9. Const. Aspects of Criminal Procedures
   1. Incorporation
   2. Expansion of Rights
   3. Exclusionary Rule
   4. Fruit of Poisonous Tree
   5. Standing
   6. State Const. and New Federalism
10. Searches, Seizures and Arrests
    1. 4th Amendment
    2. Probable Cause
    3. Searches and Seizures
    4. Arrests
11. Interrogation and Other Law Enforcement Practices
    1. Interrogations, Confessions and Admissions
    2. Electronic Surveillance
    3. Pretrial ID Procedures
12. Pretrial Process
    1. Discovery and Investigation
    2. Arrest
    3. Complaint
    4. Initial Appearance
    5. Pretrial Release and Detention
    6. Preliminary Hearing
    7. Formal Charge
    8. Arraignment
    9. Pretrial Activity
    10. Extradition and Detainers
    11. Removal
13. Trial
    1. Trial Rights of Defendants
    2. Trial Procedure
14. Sentencing and Appeal
    1. Sentencing
    2. Post Conviction Remedies