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2023-2024 Cowley College Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

CRJ5456 CRIMINAL LAW COURSE PROCEDURE

CRJ5456 CRIMINAL LAW

3 Credit Hours

Student Level:

This course is open to students on the college level in their freshman or sophomore years.

Catalog Description:

CRJ5456 - Criminal Law (3 hrs)

[KRSN CRJ2010]
This course examines the history, scope, and nature of law. It focuses on the parties to a crime; classification of offenses; criminal acts and intent; the capacity to commit crime; and criminal defenses. It will cover the elements of misdemeanor and felony crimes.

Prerequisites:

None

Controlling Purpose:

This course will enable the student to examine the history, scope and nature of our criminal laws. It will focus on several aspects of criminal law including the parties to a crime; classification of offenses; criminal acts and intent; the capacity to commit crime; and criminal defenses. It will cover the elements of misdemeanor and felony crimes.


Core Outcomes:

The learning outcomes and competencies detailed in this course meet, or exceed the learning outcomes and competencies specified by the Kansas Core Outcomes Project for this course, as sanctioned by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Learner Outcomes:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Identify the historical, methodological, and theoretical practices in the criminal legal system.
  • Distinguish the elements of criminal offenses.
  • Explain vicarious liability and parties of crime.
  • Demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate case and statutory law.
  • Apply criminal law to practical scenarios.

Course Competencies include:

  1. Outline the basic tenets from which criminal law is derived.
  2. Use legal terminology.
  3. Interpret principles of inchoate crimes; attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation.
  4. Compare crimes against public order, morals, and the state.
  5. Illustrate the general principles of criminal liability.
  6. Summarize the nature and limitations of defense to criminal liability.
  7. Compare crimes against persons.
  8. Examine the limitations of constitutional law.
  9. Explain vicarious liability and parties to crime.
  10. Compare crimes against property.

Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:

The following defines the minimum core content not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other content as time allows.

UNIT 1: Sources of Criminal Law

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain basic concepts associated with the development of criminal law.

  • Discuss the historical development of criminal law.
  • Explain the concepts of law and punishment.
  • Explain the differences between morals and laws.
  • Discuss the classification of crimes.
  • Describe the basic governmental powers associated with the law.
  • Explain the different formal norms in society.
  • Differentiate between substantive and procedural criminal law.

UNIT 2: Limitations on Criminal Liability

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to recognize and explain limitations put in place in the law for the protection of all.

  • List the Amendments to the Bill of Rights and what each Amendment pertains to.
  • Discuss the concept of Due Process.
  • Discuss equal protection under the law.
  • Describe the concept of jurisdiction.
  • Explain the concept of double jeopardy.
  • Discuss the concept of criminal harm.

UNIT 3: Basic Requirements of a Criminal Act

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain differences between the different types of inchoate crimes as well as identify the elements of a crime.

  • Identify the elements of Actus Reus and Mens Rea and distinguish between them.
  • Discuss joinder of intent vs, act as well as presumptions.
  • Compare and contrast general intent, specific intent, constructive intent, and Transferred intent.
  • Define strict liability crimes.
  • Identify requirements of culpability.
  • Explain the legal concept of causation.
  • Define inchoate crimes.
  • List the different inchoate crimes.
  • List the elements of Attempt.
  • List the elements of Solicitation.
  • List the elements of Conspiracy.
  • Contrast accomplices and accessories.

UNIT 4: Defenses

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain the different styles of defenses used by defendants in criminal court.

  • Explain the concept of criminal responsibility and identify special populations criminal responsibility does not apply to.
  • Discuss the differences between justification and excuse classifications of defenses.
  • Discuss procedural defenses.
  • Discuss how insanity applies at the various stages of the criminal justice process.
  • Discuss the different legal standards for the various insanity tests.
  • List the various defenses used in the criminal justice system.
  • Explain the concept of castle doctrine.
  • Provide examples of when force is appropriate for both civilian application and law enforcement application and analyze legal cases for appropriate use of force.
  • Define the concept of duress and explain when it is not appropriate as a defense.
  • Understand the concept of entrapment and how to avoid it.
  • Explain double jeopardy.

UNIT 5: Homicide

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain the different criminal charges that are involved in taking of another person’s life. The student will be able to differentiate between the elements of the different charges.

  • Explain the concept of homicide.
  • Explain the concept of murder.
  • List the different types of manslaughter.
  • Know the elements of first-degree murder, second degree murder, felony murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.
  • Compare and contrast the different classifications of murder.
  • Distinguish between homicide and murder.
  • List and define the classifications of homicide.
  • Distinguish between mass murderers and serial killers.
  • Create a profile of a serial killer.
  • Understand the concepts of suicide, euthanasia, and feticide.
  • Select and analyze a serial killer comparing their facts to the profile constructed.

UNIT 6: Crimes Against Persons

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain several of the common crimes against persons and the elements of those crimes.

  • Compare and contrast the different types of sex offenses.
  • List the elements of the crime of rape.
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of rape shield laws.
  • Contrast the different categories of rape.
  • Summarize the defining aspects of pedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia and exhibitionism.
  • Critique the advantages and disadvantages of SORNA and sexual predator statutes.
  • Discuss and explain the elements of kidnapping.
  • Discuss the extent of human trafficking and identify issues it has on society.
  • Explain what constitutes stalking.
  • Discuss the effects of higher technology on the crime of stalking.
  • Distinguish between the offenses of assault and battery.
  • Explain what it means to aggravate a crime.
  • Discuss and explain robbery and the elements to make the offense aggravated.
  • Identify how terrorism is different from standard criminal offenses.

UNIT 7: Crimes Against Property

Outcomes:  Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain several of the common crimes against property.

  • List and explain the different types of theft.
  • Define robbery and differentiate robbery from theft.
  • Explain the typology of robbers.
  • List the elements of robbery.
  • Discuss Forgery and its impact on our economy.
  • Define the term in the presence of others.
  • Discuss the dangers of home-invasion robbery.
  • List the elements of extortion
  • Distinguish between robbery and extortion.
  • Discuss the growing problem of identity theft and its consequences.
  • Define bribery.
  • List the elements of larceny.
  • Discuss the growing trend of scams and larceny by false pretenses.
  • List the elements of forgery.
  • Illustrate the process of money laundering.
  • Discuss counterfeiting.
  • Define RICO (Rackateer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) and explain the application of this to certain types of prosecutions.

UNIT 8: Crimes Against Habituation

Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to describe, identify, and explain several of the common crimes against habituation.

  • List the elements of burglary.
  • Explain the typology of burglars.
  • Define the term curtilage.
  • List the elements of criminal trespass.
  • List the elements of arson.
  • Discuss the motives of arson.

 

Projects Required:

General coursework

Textbook:

Contact Bookstore for current textbook.

Materials/Equipment Required:

Attendance Policy:

Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Grading Policy:

The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Maximum class size:

Based on classroom occupancy

Course Timeframe:

The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.

Refer to the following policies:

402.00 Academic Code of Conduct

263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades

403.00 Student Code of Conduct

Disability Services Program: 

Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability, which may impact work in this class which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.

DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.

Last rev. 4/15/21