4/29/2024 7:24:51 AM	AJ 54 Course Outline as of Fall 1981	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AJ 54	Title:  EVIDENCE INTRO-CP6
Full Title:  Introduction to Evidence - CP6
Last Reviewed:12/13/2021

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		17.5 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:

Origin, development, philosophy and legal basis of evidence; types and ways of presenting evidence; judicial decisions and statutory rules of evidence governing the admissibility of testimony, writings, and materials objects at a criminal trial; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting searches, seizures, admissions and confessions.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of AJ 22 and Course Completion of AJ 55

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Origin, development, philosophy and legal basis of evidence; types and ways of presenting evidence; judicial decisions and statutory rules of evidence governing the admissibility of testimony, writings, and materials objects at a criminal trial; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting searches and seizures and admissions and confessions.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of AJ 22 and Course Completion of AJ 55
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
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:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AJ 124	Legal Aspects of Evidence	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AJ61

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

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

 The purpose of this course is to teach students an overview of the

statutory, constitutional, and judicial rules which govern the admis-

sibility of evidence in the courtroom.  The legal aspects of evidence

comprise an important body of knowledge for law enforcement officers who

are in the course of an investigation.  A proper understanding of these

rules enhances the successful presentation of testimonial, documentary,

real and physical evidence in a criminal prosecution; assists the trier

of fact in reaching the truth of the matter; and promotes due process of

law.

OBJECTIVES

1.  The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of the rules of

    evidence and applicable legal definitions as enacted in the

    California Evidence Code.

2.  The student will analyze relevant case law decisions interpreting

    the admissibility of testimonial, documentary, real and physical

    evidence in a criminal trial.

3.  The student will compare and describe the constitutional basis of

    evidence through review of judicial decisions from appellate courts

    covering search and seizures, admissions and confessions, methods of

    identification and the collection and preservation of evidence.

4. The student will compare the adversarial examination of evidence and

   the roles of the district attorney and defense counsel in the

   presentation of evidence.

5. The student will learn instructional material covered in Laws of

   Arrest (Contacts, Detentions, Miranda) - LD #15 (minimum 4 hrs.);

   Presentation of Evidence - LD #17 (minimum 8 hrs.); and Search and

   Seizure - LD #16 (minimum 12 hrs.) for Basic Law Enforcement Course

   curriculum adopted by the California Commission on Peace Officer Stan-

   dards and Training (P.O.S.T.)  P.O.S.T. Objective numbers identified

   herein: 1.10.2, 1.10.5, 3.6.1, 3.6.3, 8.8.1-8.8.4, 4.1.1-4.1.4, 4.1.7,

   4.4.2, 4.6.1, 4.6.3, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8.1-4.8.5, 4.9.1. (Refer to

   Course Outline for specific content).

Topics and Scope

 I. INTRODUCTION TO EVIDENCE (4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.7)

   A. Definition of Evidence

   B. Proof

   C. Burden of Proof

   D. Reasons for the Rules of Evidence

   E. Purposes for Offering Evidence in Court

   F. Tests for the Admissibility of Evidence

   G. Sources of Evidence Law

II. TYPES OF EVIDENCE (4.1.7)

   A. Testimonial (Testimony)

   B. Documentary (Writings)

   C. Real (Material Objects)

   D. Demonstrative Evidence

   E. Physical Evidence

   F. Relevant Evidence

   G. Admissions and Confessions

III.WAYS OF PRESENTING EVIDENCE (4.1.1 & 4.1.7)

   A. Direct Evidence

   B. Circumstantial Evidence

   C. Presumption

   D. Inference

   E. Judicial Notice

   F. Stipulation

IV. WITNESS TESTIMONY (4.1.7 & 4.4.2)

   A. Lay Witness

   B. Expert Witness

   C. Subpoena

   D. Opinion Evidence Rule

V. WITNESS COMPETENCY AND CREDIBILITY

   A. Competency

   B. Presumption and Burden of Proof

   C. Tests for Competency

   D. Credibility

   E. Impeachment

   F. Rehabilitation

VI. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE (WRITINGS)

   A. Authentication

   B. Best and Secondary Evidence

   C. Gruesome Photographs

VII.REAL AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (MATERIAL OBJECTS)(4.1.2 & 4.1.7)

   A. Authentication

   B. Chain of Possession

   C. Duty to Collect/Preserve Evidence

VIII.PRIVILEGES AND PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS

   A. Privileges in General

   B. Husband-Wife Testimonial Privilege

   C. Husband-Wife Confidential Communications Privilege

   D. Attorney-Client Privilege

   E. Clergy-Confessor Privilege

   F. Doctor-Patient Privilege

   G. Newshield Privilege

   H. Officer-Informant Privilege

   I. Privilege Against Self-incrimination

IX. HEARSAY EVIDENCE (4.1.7 & 4.6.3)

   A. Hearsay Defined

   B. Admissions and Confessions

   C. Dying Declarations

   D. Spontaneous Statements

   E. Business And Official Records

   F. Prior Statements of Witnesses/Past Recollection Recorded

   G. Hearsay Testimony of Preliminary Hearings

X-XIII. SEARCH & SEIZURE

   A. Search and Seizure Introduction (4.7.1)

   B. 4th Amendment Provisions

      1. Definitions

   C. Exclusionary Rule (4.6.1)

      1. Defined

      2. Purposes of the Exclusionary Rule

   D. Plain View Doctrine (4.7.1)

      1. Defined

      2. Components of Plain View

   E. Scope of Search (4.7.2)

   F. Detentions and Contacts (3.6.1 & 3.6.3)

      1. Detention as a Seizure

      2. Establishing Reasonable Suspicion to Detain

      3. Contacts

   G. Frisk or Pat-down Search (4.7.1)

   H. Arrest Search (4.7.1)

      1. Person

      2. Dwelling

   I. Vehicle Search (4.7.1)

      1. Incident to Arrest

      2. Probable Cause (Auto Exception)

      3. Impound/Inventory

   J. Search Warrant (4.7.1 & 4.7.2)

      1. Defined

      2. Probable Cause and Affidavit

      3. Times of Service

      4. Knock and Notice

      5. Scope, Fortuitous Finds,Inventory

Assignments:

  1.  Analysis and classification of evidence through the study of a

     certified college level text and from case histories.

 2.  Clarifying concepts of legal terminology that apply to the

     evidentiary processes learned through the discussion of legal

     resource documents and case decisions.

 3.  Developing writing skills as a result of case history analysis,

     developing legal briefs based on deductive assessment of cases.

 4.  Oral presentation in class requiring deductive analysis from

     text, law books, and case analysis.

 5.  Completion of examinations assessing the reasoning and knowledge

     gained by requiring timed responses in essay form.

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 10 - 30%
Written homework, Reading reports, Essay exams, COMPUTER PROJECT
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 30%
Homework problems, Quizzes, Exams
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 20 - 60%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, SHORT ESSAY
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

 CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE CODE, Official Classification, West Publishing

Company, St. Paul, Minnesota; Bancroft-Whitney Publishing Company, San

Francisco, CA; Gould Publications, Inc., Longwood, Fla., 1995.

Hill, Raymond M. III, CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL EVIDENCE GUIDE: A HANDBOOK FOR

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDENT, 4th Ed., Halleck Creek Publishing,

Petaluma, CA, 1995.

Jefferson, Bernard S., JEFFERSON'S SYNOPSIS OF CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE LAW,

California Continuing Education of the Bar, Berkeley, CA, 1985.

State of California, Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training,

UNIT GUIDES FOR THE BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT COURSE (KD#15-Laws of Arrest/

Miranda; KD#16-Search & Seizure; KD#17-Presentation of Evidence),

Sacramento, CA, 1995.

State of California, Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney

General, PEACE OFFICER'S LEGAL SOURCEBOOK, Joel Carey, Editor,

Sacramento, CA, 1995.

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