Course Syllabus Course Name: WOL-401: Criminal Law Course Length: 1 Month Credits: 2 Credits Clock Hour: 84 Tuition: $500 Program Goal: The student is introduced to the basic concepts of criminal law, and is presented with some thought-provoking examples from the annals of the criminal justice system. Crimes against the person, crimes against property, legal defenses (such as the insanity defense), as well as the theory and history of criminal justice are presented together with a practical skills exploration of the criminal justice process. Text material: Criminal Law and Procedure, 7th Edition Daniel E. Hall Miami University, Hamilton Campus ISBN-10: 1285448812 ISBN-13: 9781285448817 Software Needed: none Class Hours: Program is available 24/7/365. Support is available via e-mail, course forums and scheduled support sessions Class Location: 140 Little Street Belleville, NJ 07109. Programs are provided via the WOLI online classroom. Teaching Method: Assignments will be completed and submitted by the due date. These are independent and consist of both reading and writing assignments. Class time will be devoted to discussing content, presenting enrichment materials, answering student questions and additional learning activities. Features and Benefits: The book's clear writing style challenges, but does not overwhelm undergraduate students. Cases reinforce content and promote the development of case analysis skills. "Ethical Considerations" in every chapter expose students to general ethical principles and ethical questions in criminal law, challenging them to think critically about real world ethical dilemmas.
Intriguing sidebars spark lively class discussions and get students interested in issues involving the criminal justice system and criminal law. Exhibits reinforce textual material and help illustrate important ideas. Web Links highlight online resources that are germane to chapter topics. Review Questions call for content-related answers to reinforce and help readers retain chapter concepts. Chapter Problems and Critical Thinking Exercises help readers develop--and sharpen--critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Program Contents: Part I: CRIMINAL LAW. 1. Introduction to the Legal System of the United States. Federalism. Separation of Powers. The Structure of the Court System. Duties and Powers of the Judicial Branch. Comparing Civil Law and Criminal Law. The Authority of Government to Regulate Behavior. The Purposes of Punishing Criminal Law Violators. Specific and General Deterrence. Incapacitation. Rehabilitation. Retribution. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 2. Introduction to Criminal Law. The Distinction between Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure. Sources of Criminal Law. The Common Law. Statutory Law. Ordinances. Administrative Law. Court Rules. The Model Penal Code. Constitutional Law. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 3. The Two Essential Elements. Mens Rea. Mens Rea and the Common Law. Strict Liability. Vicarious Liability. Current Approaches to Mens Rea. Proving Mens Rea. Motive. Actus Reus. Voluntariness. Thoughts and Statements as Acts. Personal Status as an Act. Possession as an Act. Omissions as Acts. Causation. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 4. Crimes Against the Person. Studying Crimes. Homicide. Homicide and the Common Law. Statutory Approaches to Homicide. Manslaughter. The Model Penal Code Approach to Homicide. Life, Death, and Homicide. Suicide. Corpus Delicti. Assault and Battery. Aggravated Assault and Battery. Mayhem. Sex Crimes. Rape. Nonforcible Rape. Sodomy. Rape Shield Laws. Incest. Sex Offenses Against Children. Megan's Laws, Commitment, and Castration. Kidnapping and False Imprisonment. Kidnapping. Parental Kidnapping. False Imprisonment. Stalking. Civil Rights and Hate Crimes. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End
5. Crimes Against Property and Habitation. Arson. Burglary. Theft Crimes. Introduction to Theft Crimes. Larceny. Embezzlement. False Pretenses. Receiving Stolen Property. Robbery. Extortion. Consolidated Theft Statutes. Identity Theft. The Model Penal Code Consolidation. Destruction of Property. Computer Crimes. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 6. Crimes Against the Public. Defining a "Crime Against the Public." Crimes Against Public Morality. Prostitution and Solicitation. Deviate Sexual Conduct. Indecent Exposure and Lewdness. Obscenity. Regulating the Internet. Crimes Against the Public Order. Riot and Unlawful Assembly. Disturbing the Peace. Incitement/Advocacy of Unlawful Conduct. Threats. Vagrancy and Panhandling. Crimes Involving Firearms. Drug and Alcohol Crimes. Crimes Against the Administration of Government. Perjury. Bribery. Tax Crimes. Obstruction of Justice. Contempt. Crimes Against Sovereignty and Security. Treason. Sedition and Espionage. Terrorism. Crimes Against the Environment. Clean Water Act. Clean Air Act. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Occupational Safety and Health Act. Toxic Substances Control Act. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. Endangered Species Act. Marine Mammal Protection Act. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 7. Parties and Inchoate Offenses. Parties to Crimes. Inchoate Crimes. Attempt. Conspiracy. Solicitation. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 8. Factual and Statutory Defenses. "Defense" Defined. Affirmative Defenses. Insanity. M'Naghten. Irresistible Impulse. Durham. The Model Penal Code Test. Guilty But Mentally Ill. Procedures of the Insanity Defense. Disposition of the Criminally Insane. Insanity at the Time of Trial. Duress and Necessity. Use-of-Force Defenses. Self-Defense. Defense of Others. Defense of Property and Habitation. Imperfect Self-Defense. Arrests. Infancy. Intoxication. Mistake. Entrapment. Alibi and Consent. Statutes of Limitation. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 9. Constitutional Defenses. Introduction. Double Jeopardy. Self-incrimination and Immunity. Due Process and Equal Protection. Vagueness and Overbreadth. Ex Post Facto and Bills of Attainder. First Amendment and Religion. First Amendment and Speech. Privacy and other Unenumerated Rights. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End PART II: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. 10. Introduction and Participants. Criminal Procedure Defined. A Common-law, Adversarial, and Accusatorial System. The Due Process Model. The Participants. Law Enforcement Officers. Prosecutors. Judges. Defense Attorneys. Victims. Liability of Governments and Their Officials. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End
11. Constitutional Aspects of Criminal Procedure. Introduction. Incorporation. Expansion of Rights. Exclusionary Rule. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Exceptions. Standing. State Constitutions and the "New Federalism". Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 12. Searches, Seizures, and Arrests. The Fourth Amendment. Privacy. Probable Cause. Searches and Seizures. The Warrant Requirement. Exceptions to the Search Warrant Requirement. Arrest. Defining Arrest. The Warrant Preference. Arrests in Protected Areas. Search Incident to Arrest and the Protective Sweep. Executing Arrest Warrants. Illegal Arrests. Analyzing Fourth Amendment Problems. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 13. Interrogation and Other Law Enforcement Practices. Interrogations, Confessions, and Admissions. Miranda. Sixth Amendment. Voluntariness Requirement. Electronic Surveillance. Governing Statutes. Wiretaps. Tracking Devices. Stored Communications and Subscriber Records. Pen Registers and Trap Devices. Pretrial Identification Procedures. Lineups and One-Man Showups. The Fairness Right. Photographs. Scientific Identification Procedures. Exclusion of Improper Identifications. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 14. The Pretrial Process. Introduction. Discovery and Investigation of Criminal Activity. Arrest. The Complaint. Initial Appearance. Pretrial Release and Detention. Types of Release. Eighth Amendment. Detention. Preliminary Hearing. The Formal Charge. Indictment and Grand Jury. Information. Arraignment. Pretrial Activity. Discovery. Motion Practice. Pretrial Conference. Extradition and Detainers. Removal. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 15. Trial. Trial Rights of Defendants. The Right to a Jury Trial. The Right to a Public Trial. The Right to Confrontation and Cross-Examination. The Presumption of Innocence/Burden of Proof. The Right to Speedy Trial. The Right to Counsel. Trial Procedure. Voir Dire. Preliminary Instructions. Opening Statements. The Prosecution's Case in Chief. The Defense Case. Rebuttal. Closing Arguments. Final Instructions. Jury Deliberations and Verdict. JNOV/New Trial. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End 16. Sentencing and Appeal. Sentencing. Sentencing Procedure. Forms of Punishment. Habitual Offender Statutes. Postconviction Remedies. Appeal. Habeas Corpus. Web Links. Key Terms. Review Questions. Problems & Critical Thinking Exercises. End
Appendix A: The Constitution of the United States of America. Appendix B: Selected Excerpts from the Model Penal Code. Appendix C: Briefing and Analyzing Cases. Glossary Index Quizzes and Exams: Quizzes: Chapter quizzes will cover the concepts mastered in each chapter. Exams: A final Exam will be given at the end of your course to ensure your successful completion of this course. Grading: Upon successful completion of our course, you will receive a grade from the student services department. Grades for each course within a program will be averaged to determine your overall grade point average. A grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation. For information regarding a grade point average below a 2.0, please refer to the Academic Probation section. Grading System A 4.0 Excellent 90% to 100% B 3.0 Good 80% to 89% C 2.0 Satisfactory 70% to 79% D 1.0 Unsatisfactory 60% to 69% F 0.0 Failure 0% to 59% I Incomplete If you fail to complete your course/program, you will receive an I (Incomplete) for that course and will be placed on probation for the next course of instruction. You will have an opportunity to repeat and complete the course. If you fail to successfully complete a course you may be removed from the program and no graduation certificate will be issued.