5/3/2024 8:46:05 AM	AJ 22 Course Outline as of Fall 1981	New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AJ 22	Title:  CRIM LAW CONCPT-CP2
Full Title:  Concepts of Criminal Law - CP2
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		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:

Historical development, philosophy of law and constitutional provisions; definitions, classification of crime and their application to the system of Administration of Justice; legal research, study of case law, methodology and concepts of law as a social force.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for English 100A or equivalent.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Historical development, philosophy of law & constitutional provisions; definitions, classifications of crime & their application to the system of Administration of Justice; legal research, study of case law, methodology & concepts of law as a social force.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for English 100A or equivalent.
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: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

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

COURSE OUTCOMES:

This course supplements the degree program with an historical overview

of the development of law.  There is a review of constitutional

provisions of law as they integrate with fundamentals of State law.

The course covers the conceptual aspects of substantive law so that

students will develop an appreciation of legal concepts as they relate

to the justice process.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

    1.  The student will respond to the stated evaluation criteria with

        acceptable accuracy to questions regarding the historical

        perspective, cultural evolution, and the origin of criminal law.

    2.  When introduced to the basic legal definitions and concepts of

        law for nonlawyers, the student will demonstrate the ability

        to cope with operational experiences by applying these definition

        and concepts to the relevant legal codes in the administration

        of justice.

    3.  When confronted with specific legal problems, the student will

        be able to locate the appropriate related statutes or cases and

        exercise sound judgment based upon a deductive analysis. Judgment

        and ability to communicate this position will be demonstrated

        through development of assigned written case studies.

    4.  When confronted with constitutional legal issues, the student

        will demonstrate awareness through presentation of assigned

        written case studies.

    5.  The student will learn concepts of Introduction to Criminal Law,

        LD5 (min. 6 hrs.) of the Basic Law Enforcement Course curriculum

        adopted by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards

        and Training (P.O.S.T.).  Performance Objective numbers are

        identified herein: 3.1.1, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.3.1, 3.4.3, and 3.5.1.

        (Refer to complete outline for specific content).

        3.8.3, 3.37.1, 3.38.1, 3.38.2, 3.38.4, 3.38.7, 3.38.9, 3.38.12-

        3.38.13 (Refer to complete outline for specific content).

Topics and Scope

WEEK

1.  COURSE ORIENTATION

    A. Attendance and class participation

    B. Testing and grading policies

    C. Outside class assignments

    D. AJ/Basic Course "Transition Program - Pilot Project"

2.  LEGAL RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY

    A. Case citations and case reporters

    B. Legal encyclopedias

    C. Annotated Codes

    D. How to write a case brief

    E. Use of the law library

    F. Attorney General opinions

3.  LEGAL, PHILOSOPHICAL AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAW

    A.  Statute Law (3.1.6)

        1. Legislative

        2. Initiative

    B.  Constitutional (3.1.6)

    C.  Case law and Stare Decisis (3.1.6)

        1. Doctrine of Judicial Review

    D.  Common law (3.1.6)

    E.  Historical periods in England

    F.  Historical periods in U.S.

    G.  Diversity among societies in the world

4 & 5 SOURCES OF STATUTE LAW

    A.  United States Code (principal references)

    B.  California statutory law (principal references)

        1. Business and Professions Code

        2. Education Code

        3. Fish and Game Code

        4. Health and Safety Code

        5. Penal Code

        6. Evidence Code

        7. Welfare and Institutions Code

        8. Vehicle Code

    C.  Municipal Codes and County ordinances (3.1.6)

    D.  Repeal/Amendment

    E.  Mala in se vs. mala prohibita crimes

    F.  Crimes without victims

    G.  Pre-emption and Police power of the state

6 & 7.  CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

    A.  U.S. Constitution provisions

        1. Identify key constitutional rights protected by the 1st, 4th,

           5th, 6th, 8th and 14th (Due Process and Equal Protection)

           Amendments.

    B.  California constitution provisions

        1. Independent state grounds

8.  NATURE OF CRIMINAL LAW

    A.  Definition of a crime (3.1.6)

    B.  Purpose of criminal law

    C.  The language and construction of penal statutes

    D.  Conflicts between statutes

    E.  Difference between a crime and tort (3.1.5 & 3.1.6)

9.  CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES

    A.  Felonies, misdemeanors, "wobblers", and infractions (3.1.6)

    B.  Punishments

        1. Determinate sentencing

        2. Indeterminate sentencing

        3. Enhancements

        4. "Three Strikes"

        5. Special Circumstances

    C.  Lesser and included offenses

    D.  Double jeopardy & dual sovereignty doctrine

    E.  Statute of limitations

    F.  Jurisdiction and venue

    G.  District Attorney charging considerations

10. CORPUS DELICTI - ELEMENTS OF A CRIME

    A.  Role of corpus delicti (3.1.6)

    B.  Criminal transaction (20 P.C.) (3.1.6)

    C.  General, specific (transferred intent (3.1.6)

    D.  Criminal negligence (3.1.6)

11. CAPACITY TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE

    A.  Exemptions to criminal liability (26 P.C.)(3.1.6)

        1. Children under 14 years

        2. Idiots

        3. Ignorance or mistake of fact

        4. Unconscious of the act

        5. Accident or misfortune

        6. Acting under threats or menaces

    B.  Intoxication

        1. Voluntary (22 P.C.)

        2. Involuntary (26 P.C.)

    C.  Mitigating factors and other defenses

12. PARTIES TO A CRIME (3.1.6 & 3.4.3)

    A.  Principal

    B.  Accomplice and feigned accomplice

    C.  Accessory

13 & 14.  LAWS OF ARREST

    A.  Arrest defined (834 P.C.)

    B.  Custody defined (835 P.C.)

    C.  Use of force in making an arrest (834a P.C.)

    D.  Peace officer authority to arrest (836 P.C.)

    E.  Service of arrest warrants (840 P.C.)

    F.  Residential entry (Ramey and Steagald rules)

    G.  Knock and notice (844 P.C.)

    H.  Private person arrests (837, 847, 142 P.C.)

Assignments:

     1.  Clarify terms and develop analytical skills by studying a text

        which is certified as college level.

    2.  Develop skills in writing as a result of case history analysis

        and statute interpretation.

    3.  Assign oral presentation in class requiring deductive analysis

        from text, law and case analysis.

    4.  Demonstrate skills mastered by the completion of essay and

        objective examinations requiring timed responses.

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 - 20%
Written homework
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 5 - 10%
Class performances, Performance exams
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 25 - 60%
Multiple choice, True/false, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

 PEACE OFFICERS GUIDE TO CRIMINAL LAW (Current Edition), George T. Payton,

Criminal Justice Services, San Jose, 1995.

CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAW CONCEPTS (Current Edition), Donald D. Hunt,

Burgess International Group, Edina, Minnesota.

CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING, Basic

Law Enforcement Course Unit Guides, L.D.#2, 5 and 15,1995.

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