12/21/2024 7:48:12 AM	AJ 22 Course Outline as of Spring 2009	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AJ 22	Title:  CRIMINAL LAW CONCEPTS
Full Title:  Concepts of Criminal Law
Last Reviewed:9/25/2017

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course is a study of the  historical development, philosophy of law and constitutional provisions in the administration of justice system.  The course will include  defining and classifying crime, legal research, study of case law, and the methodology and concepts of law as a social force.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course is a study of the  historical development, philosophy of law and constitutional provisions in the administration of justice system.  The course will include defining and classifying crime, legal research, study of case law, and the methodology and concepts of law as a social force.  

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AJ 120	Concepts of Criminal Law	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AJ22

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

The student will:

1.  Identify the three primary sources on which the law is based, including the concept of Social Contract, English common law, the United States Constitution, and the California Constitution.

2.  Distinguish between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law

3.  Differentiate between civil law and criminal law.

4.  Differentiate between substantive law and procedural law.

5.  Recall the statutory definition a crime.

6.  Classify the punishments under California law.

7.  Define and differentiate corpus delicti, mala en se, and mala prohibita.

8.  Recall the basic elements of Part I (crimes against persons) and Part II (crimes against property) crimes within the UCR.

9.  Identify inchoate crimes.

10.  Classify crimes into felony, misdemeanor, and infraction.

11.  Identify parties to a crime per California law.

12.  Identify and list the categories of persons considered legally incapable of committing crime.

13.  Identify common defenses.  

Topics and Scope

I.  Sources of law

      A.  Social Contract

      B.  Common law

      C.  Case law

      D.  Constitutional law

      E.  Due process protections

      F.  Classifications of crimes

 

II.  General principles of law

      A.  Definition of criminal and civil law

      B.  Letter of the law vs spirit

      C.  Substantive law

      D.  Procedural law

      E.  Statutory law

      F.  Punishment and sentencing

 

III.  Criminal law

      A.  Definition of a crime

            1.  mala en se

            2.  mala prohibita

            3.  actus reus

            4.  mens rea

            5.  corpus delicti

      B.  Parties to a crime

            1.  principals

            2.  accomplices

            3.  accessories

      C.  Inchoate crimes

            1.  attempt

            2.  conspiracy

            3.  solicitation

 

IV.  Defenses

      A.  Persons legally incapable of committing a crime

      B.  Common defenses

            1.  insanity

            2.  entrapment

            3.  duress

      C.  Procedural

            1.  statute of limitations

            2.  immunities

            3.  double jeopardy

      D.  Justifications

            1.  self-defense

            2.  defense of others

            3.  defense of habitation

V.  Crimes against persons (Part I UCR)

      A.  Bodily injury

          1.  assaults

                   2.  batteries

      B.  Robbery

      C.  Restraint crimes

      D.  Criminal sexual conduct

      E.  Criminal homicide

VI.  Crimes against property (Part II UCR)

      A.  Theft

      B.  Burglary

      C.  Arson

 

VII.  Crimes against public order and morals (Part II UCR)

      A.  Disorderly conduct

      B.  Quality of life crimes

      C. Prostitution  

Assignments:

1.  Read 20-30 pages weekly

2.  Research and written essays on legal concepts of California Law.

3.  Oral presentations of California law

4.  Objective examinations

5.  Chapter exercises

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 35%
Research paper and essays
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 15%
Oral presentations
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 50 - 70%
Objective exams (multiple choice, etc.) that include essay questions
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

1.  Principles of Criminal Law; Wallace, Harvey and Cliff Roberson; Pearson Inc., current edition

2.  Criminal Law; Samaha, Joel; Thomason/Wadsworth, current edition

3.  California Criminal Law Concepts; Hunt, Derald and Devalis Rutledge; Burgess International Group, current edition

4.  Instructor prepared materials  

Print PDF