CJ G141: Concepts of Criminal Law
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 09/19/2023 |
| Top Code | 210500 - Administration of Justice |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S) |
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
This course offers an analysis of the doctrines of criminal liability in the United States and the classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public welfare. Special emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, the general elements of crime, the definitions of common and statutory law, and the nature of acceptable evidence. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to criminal law. The course will also include some limited discussion of prosecution and defense decision making, criminal culpability, and defenses to crimes. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000E. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC: Credit Limitation: CJ G123 and CJ G141 combined: maximum credit, 1 course. C-ID: AJ 120. C-ID: AJ 120.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Course Outcomes
- Identify the goals and characteristics of criminal law.
- Discuss the philosophical and historical evolution of criminal law, noting the role of the judiciary in its development.
- Define the elements of offenses against the person, property, morals, and public welfare.
- Explain criminal defenses, legal justifications, and burdens of proof.
Course Objectives
- 1. Describe the nature and purpose of criminal law in American society.
- 2. Explain the main legal doctrines of "actus reus" and "mens rea" when judging criminal conduct.
- 3. Interpret landmark United States Supreme Court decisions related to key criminal law court cases.
- 4. Compare and contrast the proper use of various criminal defenses.
- 5. Describe the major legal principles that outline inchoate offenses.
Lecture Content
Historical Background of Criminal Law Development of law Types of law Functions of law Fundamentals of the Adversarial System Classification of laws Classification of crimes Limitations on the law Elements of a crime Parties to crimes Criminal Defenses and Justifications Affirmative Constitutional Statutory Offenses Against Persons Offenses Against Property Offenses Against Public Morals and Welfare Offenses Against the Criminal Justice System
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Reading Assignments
Selected constitutional, statutory, and case law assigned by instructor.
Writing Assignments
Written in-class and homework essays requiring critical analysis and argument from various legal perspectives from the textbook, sources of law, and lecture.
Out-of-class Assignments
Written homework essays requiring critical analysis and argument from various legal perspectives from the textbook, sources of law, and lecture.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Students will participate in small group activities, such as how to select a criminal jury under "voir dire".
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Students will analyze case law decisions and provide a written legal debrief using information learned from the textbook, sources of law, and lecture.
Eligible Disciplines
Administration of justice (police science, corrections, law enforcement): Any bachelors degree and two years of professional experience, or any associate degree and six years of professional experience. Law: J.D. or LL.B NOTE: Courses in aspects of law for application to a particular discipline may be classified, for minimum qualifications purposes in the discipline of the application. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Schmalleger, Frank. Criminal Law Today, 7th ed. Prentice Hall, 2022