Fundamentals of Criminal Law

Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice

CJL 370

BREYER STATE UNIVERSITY

Instructor: Suzanne Core, JD

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Welcome to CJE 370, Fundamentals of Criminal Law, an undergraduate law/court system specialty-track course in the Bachelor of Science degree program in Criminal Justice. The focus of this course is a thorough, intensive overview of criminal law. This will be fun! The material is as fascinating as it is essential to anyone who plans a career in any aspect of criminal justice. This course will also provide a firm foundation of general and specific knowledge for other courses in the Criminal Justice degree program.

Criminal law is easy to learn. In many cases, it can, and should be, committed to memory. It is straightforward and specific. It is an intensive study of the elements and principals of criminal law: What makes an act a crime? What constitutes murder? Robbery? Conspiracy? What defenses can be mounted to a particular criminal charge? Why is death by drunk driver a vehicular homicide rather than second-degree murder?

TIME FRAME: This is a ten (10) semester-hour course. The course and examinations must be completed within ten (10 weeks) from the day you register for this course or the day that you advise me by email that you have received your textbooks. Extensions will not be given except under special, previously arranged, circumstances. At the successful completion of this course you will be awarded ten (10) semester hours of credit.

TEXTBOOKS: There are two required textbooks for this course. They cover the same material but with different presentations. They are to be used together rather than sequentially.

Book 1: Criminal Law (Hornbook, 3d ed). LaFave. ISBN # 0-314-14997-X.

Book 2: Gilbert Law Summaries: Criminal Law. Dix. ISBN # 0-15-900767-4.

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Other materials: You will be given several actual court cases in the form of judicial opinions demonstrating a specific principal of criminal law, such as Miranda v. State of Arizona or Terry v. Ohio.

EXAMINATIONS: Two examinations are required: a midterm and a final. They will consist of 50 to 100 questions each, of multiple choice and/or true/false and/or short answers, and/or 10-25 short essay questions. They will be based on material in the two textbooks. The midterm must be completed by the end of the fifth week and the final must be completed by the end of the tenth week of class. You will have one day to complete each examination from the time you receive access to the examination. Your exams will be graded and returned within five days of completion. Each examination is worth 50% of your total grade.

GRADING:

90-100%    = A
80-89%      = B
70-79%      = C
Below-70% = Fail

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Understand the basic principals of criminal law.
2). Know the types of crimes.
3). Learn the elements of crimes.
4). Give the legal definition of each major crime.
5). Know the constitutional rights of both defendants and victims.
6). Recognize evidentiary materials and elements.
7). Define crimes against persons.
8). Define crimes against property.
9). Define inchoate crimes.
10). Understand the essential principles of arrest, search and seizure, stop and frisk, profiling, cruel and unusual punishment and other similar concepts.

COURSE CONTENT: The following is a sample of the course content.

1). Types of crimes
2). Elements of crimes
3). Constitutional limits
4). Defenses
5). Inchoate crimes
6). Sentencing
7). Theories of Punishment
8). Evidence
9). Crimes against Persons
10). Crimes against Property

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may address them to adm@breyerstate.com. An administrative faculty member will respond to all questions.

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