Court Systems and Practices
Hybrid Course
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Location: Naples, Italy
Course Dates/Times:
18 Jan. 2016– 11 Mar. 2016
In Class sessions –Tuesday evenings with additional weekly CTC Blackboard discussions and assignments
Instructor: Prof. William C. Henderson II
Office Hours: by Request
Instructor Email:
Phone: +39 340 667 2275
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY:
Professor William C. Henderson II holds the following degrees: Master of Laws in Law, Psychiatry, and Criminology (Highest Honors), Juris Doctor, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. A retired Navy Lawyer, who served his last active duty tour as the Chief Military Judge for Europe and the Middle East, he has extensive experience in both civilian and military criminal law and International law.
As Commanding Officer of the Naval Legal Service Office in Guam (Marianas Islands – Western Pacific), he managed a large office of lawyers and paralegals, which served the legal needs of the U.S. Navy in the Western Pacific and Northern Australia.
After retirement from the Navy, at Vinson and Elkins, one of the largest law firms in the United States, he was a litigation attorney and acted as the chief counselor to the younger and less experienced attorneys and paralegals. His international law skills were further honed during this time as he was one of the principal lawyers defending the owners of the Piper Alfa oil platform that had been destroyed by explosion which, at the time, resulted in the largest claim ever presented to Lloyd's of London.
Prof. Henderson has been teaching both at the graduate and undergraduate levels for 24 years. He is married to Connie Henderson and has 2 children. His hobbies are music (he is a jazz singer and guitarist), sailing, and sports cars.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. This course provides an examination of the role of the judiciary in the criminal justice system. It includes the structure of the American court system, prosecution, right to counsel, pre-trial release, grand juries, adjudication process, types and rules of evidence, and sentencing.
B. This course is a required course for the Associate in Applied Science degree.
C. This course is occupationally related and serves in preparation for career(s) in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, and Corrections.
D. Prerequisite(s): (None)
E. Alphanumeric coding used throughout the syllabus denotes the integration of SCANS occupational competencies (C) and Foundation skills (F).
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, Court Systems and Practices, the student will:
A. Discuss the nature and extent of individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution and discuss in depth those rights in the 4th, 5th, & 6th Amendments that constitute the heart of the law of criminal procedure.
B. Describe the American judiciary system and its structure.
C. Identify the roles of judicial officers and the trial processes from pretrial to sentencing and interpret the role of evidence.
D. Apply the law of arrest, search and seizure, confessions, and pretrial identification, to particular fact situations, in each case.
III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A. The instructional materials identified for this course are viewable through http://www.ctcd.edu/academics/booksinstructional-materials/.
Student Textbook:
Criminal Procedure for the Criminal Justice Professional - Custom CoverAuthor / Ferdico, John
Edition / 11th
Publisher / Cengage
Copyright / 2012
ISBN / 9781133887829
B. References:
1. Neubauer, David, America's Courts and The Criminal Justice System, 10th Ed, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 2008.
2. Scheb, John M., John M. Scheb II, An Introduction to the American Legal System, 3rd Ed. Albany, NY: Aspen Publishing, 2012.
3. Smith, Christopher E, Courts, Politics, and the Judicial Process, 2nd Ed,
Chicago, Il: Nelson-Hall Inc., 2002.
4. Zalman, Marvin, Criminal Procedure: Constitution and Society, 4th Ed, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005.
5. Carmen, Rolando V. Del., Criminal Procedure: Law and Practice, 4th Ed,
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 2001.
6. Samaha, Joel, Criminal Procedure, 7th Ed, Belmont, Ca: Wadsworth Publishing, 2007.
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive for this course will not be the grade of the instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.
B. You should attend class regularly in both face-to-face and online Central Texas College (CTC) Blackboard classes. Online attendance involves logging into your Blackboard class and participating in discussions, submitting assignments, etc. Be prepared to also take any unannounced quizzes relating to text assignments and lecture material presented from the beginning of the course. Please refer to ‘Class Attendance and Course Progress’ under the Academic Policies section in our current CTC Course Catalog.
C. You are encouraged to give your best effort throughout the semester. From the beginning, you should plan for a steady, organized, and continuous effort, which in the long run will prove more effective for your final grade than a last minute crash-cram policy. Your course grade is not determined solely by exam grade. Such factors as class participation, initiative, attendance, and individual research papers will be considered in grade computation.
D. From time to time, special library and/or outside assignments will be made to members of the class individually and/or in groups. You are expected to read all assignments and fulfill your responsibilities to any group assignment.
E. You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your textbook to class. Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.
F. Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade, since both the material assigned and that discussed in class will be the basis for examination material.
G. Scholastic Honesty: All students are required and expected to maintain the highest standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during examinations. The following are considered examples of scholastic dishonesty:
Plagiarism: The taking of passages from the writing of others without giving proper credit to the sources.
Collusion: Using another’s work as one’s own, or working together with another person in the preparation of work, unless such joint preparation is specifically approved in advance by the instructor.
Cheating: Giving or receiving information on examinations.
G. Special Work: A term paper or other project, per requirements of the instructor, will be required. The subject must be appropriate for the course material. Check with the instructor when you have made a selection. The value is indicated in the semester grade computation and has considerable weight on your final average.
V. COURSE FORMAT – Hybrid with BLACKBOARD
This course has been developed as a hybrid course. Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction with instructor via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to CTC Blackboard and that they are familiar with the contents and assignments. It is also the student’s responsibility to log into CTC Blackboard at least once a week to ‘attend’ the online class portion and to participate in the online Blackboard discussions and assignments. Failure to do so will violate the attendance policy and will have a negative impact on the course grade.
The course will meet for eight weeks, once per week for a 3-hour weekly face-to-face session. In addition, instructional strategies will include weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the remaining instruction per week.
VI. EXAMINATIONS
A. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:
1. Mid-term exam on 23 February 2016
2. Final Exam on 8 March 2016
3. Term Paper due on 8 March 2016
B.A student must be present for all examinations. Students who know in advance that they will be absent from an examination due to valid reasons must arrange to take an early examination. Unexpected absences due to illness or extenuating circumstances will require the student to see the instructor about individual make-up work.
C.Students without excused absences will be given a zero for the missed examination.
D. Examinations will consist of both objective (true/false, multiple choice, fill in-the-blank, and matching) and subjective (short answer and essay) questions. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in written form, thus some questions requiring the composition and writing of an essay answer will be required.
VII. SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS
The final grade in this course will be based on the following:
Participation 150points
Discussion Boards 150 points
Term Paper/ 150points
Mid-term Exam 250points
Final Exam 300points
Total possible points: 1000 points
POINTS GRADES
900-1000 A=4 pts/sem hr
800-899 B=3 pts/sem hr
700-799 C=2 pts/sem hr
600-699 D=1 pt/sem hr
0-599 F=0 pts/sem hr
VIII. NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COURSE INSTRUCTOR
A. Tuition refunds are made only in the case of class cancellation or official and timely withdrawal from CTC or from a course. Please refer to the current course catalog for more details.
B. GoArmyEd students should contact their education counselor before withdrawing and are required to withdraw through the GoArmyEd portal.
Please note: a military withdrawal does not override CTC’s grading policy.
For self-pay students, refunds are computed from the date the Application for
Withdrawal or Refund is filed with the CTC Field Representative or designated Student
Services Officer. Special conditions apply to students who receive federal, state, and/or
institutional financial aid.
Tuition and fees paid directly to the Institution by the Veterans Administration, Title IV (Financial Aid Programs, a sponsor, donor, or scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the students.
C. Course Withdrawals, Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. The instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal based upon a student’s request. Rather, students must initiate the withdrawal with the designated Education Center Representative, through the CTC Field Representative or the Student Services Officer for that region.
Applications for Withdrawal will be accepted at any time before the completion of 75% of the course, after which time the student will be assigned an “FN”- “Failure for Non-attendance.”
D. Incomplete / Course in Progress Grade Policy: An “IP” or “Incomplete” grade may be assigned by an instructor if a student has made satisfactory progress in a course with the exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other project. The “IP” grade may also be assigned based on circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness, death in the immediate family, or military orders. Notice of absences, with supporting documentation, may be required by the instructor. The instructor makes the final decision concerning the granting of the incomplete grade. With an “Incomplete” grade, students are required to complete a set amount of work before the instructor will submit an official letter grade.
E. Cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic devices will be turned off while the student is in the classroom or laboratory unless the student is using the device for class purposes. No texting or social networking is allowed during class.
F. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.
G. Civility: Individuals are expected to be cognizant of what a constructive educational experience is and respectful of those participating in a learning environment. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
IX. COURSE OUTLINE
Note:
The instructor has the right to change the course schedule. Any changes will be announced in class. If the student misses a class period and changes are announced, it is the student’s responsibility to receive the missed information from a classmate or the instructor.
Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they have access to internet so that they may communicate, via CTC Blackboard, with the instructor. The class is broken down into 8 sessions. See below for course outline.
Topics covered in this course during the semester will come from chapters of the appropriate text. The order and the specific topics covered will be at the discretion of the individual instructor assigned to teach the course.
Special Notice: Since we will be starting the Face To Face part of the class on 26 January vice 19 January, please review the text and this syllabus before our first class on 26 January. In your review, think about what area of the course particularly interests you and consider what material you would like to explore in your term paper. Also, please note that there will be two Face To Face Classes in late February, Session 5 will be held on 23 February and Session 6 will l be held on 25 February. If this schedule change creates a problem for you, please let me know and I will arrange for individual assistance.
R/WCH
Session 1: 26 Jan. 2016 (Chapters 1, 2)
i. Class will meet face-to-face at 1800 through 2100.
ii. Online assignment/project is due Saturday midnight (European time)
A. Unit One: Course Introduction and Chapter 1, Individual Rights Under the United States Constitution
1. Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
a. Understand the historical context that gave birth to the concern for the individual rights embodied in the United States Constitution.
b. Explain how the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government are involved in the protection of the constitutional rights of citizens.
c. Understand the individual rights protected by the original Constitution of 1788, and the terms habeas corpus, bill of attainder, ex post facto law, and treason.
d. Explain the general nature and limits of the rights embodied in the Bill of Rights, especially:
The First Amendment;
The Fourth Amendment;
The Fifth Amendment;
The Sixth Amendment;
The Eighth Amendment.
e. Understand the concepts of due process and equal protection as guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Discuss course requirements and activities as contained in the syllabus
b. Classroom lecture/discussion
c. Reading assignment: Chapter 1
d. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor
B. Unit Two: Chapter 2, Criminal Courts, Pretrial Processes, and the Exclusionary Rule
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will: