Even though the class is called Criminal Justice, we will be studying several aspects of the law, including Constitutional law and civil law. The class will have many short papers which will be worth 20 points each. There will be homework, several tests and two large projects. Each week will be reading several past cases that deal with our area of study. The final class grade will be determined on a strict point system, with participation being added as a test grade. The following is a general weekly syllabus of what we will be studying.
WEEK ONE: The Constitution: being that this document is the basis for all of our laws, we will have a cursory study of how the Constitution affects us. This will include:
· The law and society
· How laws are made
· The court system
WEEK TWO: The Bill of Rights: The first 10 amendments of the Constitution give all of us our basic rights. Our study of how this is true will include:
· Freedom of religion
· Freedom of expression
· Equal protection and due process
WEEK THREE: Civil Law: The study of when one private party sues another. Our study will include:
· Differences between civil and criminal law
· Civil trials
· Civil remedies
· Alternatives to litigation
WEEK FOUR: Torts: These are our duties and responsibilities to others, including:
· What is a “tort”
· Intentional torts
· Negligence
· Other areas of liability and other issues
WEEKS FIVE and SIX: Criminal law: The study of the state suing a private party, including:
· Types of crimes
· General rules
· Crimes against people
· Crimes against property
· Other crimes and defenses
· THERE WILL BE A MID TRI EXAM AT THE END OF THE UNIT
WEEK SEVEN: Criminal Procedure: What happens and who does what when dealing with a criminal case, including:
· The role of the police
· Before a trial
· Trial and sentencing
· Witnesses and victims
WEEK EIGHT: Juvenile Justice: What are your rights and responsibilities and how does the justice system deal with you when you are a minor?
· Juvenile courts
· Jurisdiction
· The justice process
· Disposition
WEEK NINE: The Trial: What really happens in a trial setting?
· Pre-trial
· The courtroom
· The trial itself
· Rules of evidence
· Verdict and judgment
WEEKS TEN and ELEVEN: Mock Trial in class:
· You will choose a side and actually prosecute or defend a fictitious case with facts, etc. and with myself as the judge. Your role in this will be determined by how many students we have in class.
WEEK TWELVE: Review and FINAL EXAM: It will be comprehensive
