/ SYLLABUS FOR CJSA 1327
Fundamentals of Criminal Law
WeBB Learning
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Course Dates: May 14th – July 8th, 2018
Weekly CTC Blackboard discussions and assignments
Instructor: Mr. Nicholas Krupp
WhatsApp: 1-419-304-9076
Weekly WhatsApp Office Hours: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Instructor Email:
Phone: +1-419-304-9076
  1. INTRODUCTION
  1. This course will provide a fundamental study of criminal law as it is applicable to the law enforcement officer. It will include philosophical and historical development, major definitions and concepts, classification of crime, elements of crimes and penalties, and individual criminal responsibilities.
  1. This course is a required course for an Associate of Applied Science degree program.
  1. This course is occupationally related and serves as preparation for careers in Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, and Corrections.
  1. Prerequisites: (None)
  1. LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of this course, Fundamentals of Criminal Law, the student will:

  1. Explain the historical and philosophical development of the nature of criminal law.
  1. Describe definitions and concepts of criminal law and the classifications of crimes and penalties.
  1. List the elements of crimes.
  1. Discuss criminal responsibilities as they apply to criminal statutes.
  1. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL

A. The instructional materials identified for this course are viewable through

Required Student Textbook:

Samaha, Joel,Criminal Law, 10th Edition CTC Custom Cover, Cengage Learning

ISBN: 0495807494

  1. References: The following are supplementary texts.
  2. Black’s Law Dictionary
  3. U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and latest Amendments, and Texas Constitution
  4. U.S. Codes (select Civil and Criminal Codes)
  1. Structured note taking will be provided for relevant lectures from the text (1). Material for other lectures will come from the Texas Criminal Law and Motor Vehicle Handbook (2). Structured note taking is revised/condensed material from the required text book, and may include additional material to supplement the course. Structured note taking does not eliminate the responsibility of the student to acquire and read the text. All testable information will be provided during lectures to complete the structured note taking or specifically identified sections of the required text.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

  1. Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive will be the result of your efforts, not a gift from the instructor.

ATTENDANCE:

  1. You should attend online class regularly on Central Texas College (CTC) Blackboard. 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.
  2. Students who do not complete one or more academically related activities (graded or non-graded) by the deadline set by the instructor and/or do not participate in class as determined by the instructor will be dropped from the class the day after the class census (certification) date. This requirement applies to all instructional delivery methods to include self-paced online classes.
  3. You MUST sign in and complete a related activity by the following date or you will be dropped for non-attendance: May 22nd, 2018.
  4. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your text book to class. Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.
  1. 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.

Students guilty of scholastic dishonesty will be administratively dropped from the course with a grade of “F” and be subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension and expulsion.

H.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

This course has been developed on 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 8 weeks. Instructional strategies will include weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the lecture hours per week. Weekly interactions may include various communication tools to include Skype, Blackboard Collaborate, or Voice Podcaster/Voice Email, and conventional use of emails and Blackboard Message Board. Students may be assigned to participate in Groups, Journals, Blogs, or Wikis. Students will also have an access to required Discussion Board threads; course Announcements; critiques and feedback on Assignments and drafts of papers. Specific weekly interaction will be communicated via Announcements on Blackboard and arranged with the course instructors.

VI. EXAMINATIONS

  1. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:

1.Mid-term exam available from June8th-10th, 2018

2.Final exam available from July 6th-8th, 2018

3. Writing Assignment due on July 1st, 2018

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.

E. Exams will be administered via BioSig application. See Blackboard class for registration information.

VII. SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATION

The final grade in this course will be based on the following:

Assignments & Quizzes200 points

Discussion Boards (mandatory)200 points

Term Paper 200 points

Mid-term Exam200 points

Final Exam200 points

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

A term paper or term project is expected from all students. Students may vary in their competency levels on these abilities, so the instructor may need to revisit the term paper concept during the course.

VIII. NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COURSE INSTRUCTOR

  1. 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.
  2. GoArmyEdstudents 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.

  1. 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.
  2. Faculty/Administrative Initiated Withdrawals

Faculty are authorized to withdraw students who are not making satisfactory course progress as outlined in the section of the Catalog entitled "Satisfactory Progress Standards.

A student may be administratively withdrawn by a designated member of the administrative staff of the College under the following conditions:

  • The student has been placed on Academic Suspension or Disciplinary Suspension;
  • The student has an outstanding financial obligation owed to the college;
  • The student registered for a course without the required prerequisite or departmental permission;
  • Students who do not participate or complete graded activities during the first week will be administratively withdrawn.

The college is under no obligation to refund tuition and fees, or other costs associated with a student who is administratively withdrawn.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.
  4. 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 and will announce any changes in class.

This structured course has been developed on Blackboard with any instructor-required live sessions on Skype, Blackboard Collaborate, Google+, FaceTime, etc. It is not a self-paced course. Please follow your instructor’s schedule of Discussion Board posts, lessons, assignments, and quizzes/exams.

The course will meet for eight weeks. Instructional strategies will include weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the learning outcomes.

Schedule of Assignments:

Weekly:

a)CTC Blackboard Discussion Board posts are due by Thursday at midnight (Instructor’s Time Zone)

1. CTC Blackboard peer responses to Discussion Board posts is due by Sunday midnight (Instructor’s Time Zone)

b)CTC Blackboard assignment/quiz is due by Sunday midnight (Instructor’s Time Zone)

Lesson 1

May 14th – 20th, 2018

Learning Objectives

Chapter 1, Criminal Law and Criminal Punishment: An Overview

1. Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:

a. Explain how criminal law consists of the power of government authority to define, prohibit, grade, and punish socially harmful behavior.

b. Understand the general and special parts of criminal law.

c. Understand the different sources of criminal law.

d. Understand why there is a separate criminal law for every state, the federal government, and local governments.

e. Discuss what appropriate punishment for criminal behavior is.

f. Understand the presumption of innocence and the need to prove criminal liability.

Chapter 2, Constitutional Limits on Criminal Law

1. Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:

a. Explain the principle of legality.

b. Explain ex post facto laws.

c. Understand that the Constitution requires that criminal statues define crimes clearly enough both to notify individuals as to what the law prohibits and to control the discretion of officials when they enforce the law.

d. Explain the void for vagueness doctrine.

e. Explain why “equal protection” does not mean that the law has to treat everyone exactly alike, but that classifications cannot be arbitrary.

e. Understand the right to privacy and the right to free speech.

f. Understand that the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits both “barbaric” punishments and punishments out of proportion to the seriousness of the crime.

g. Discuss related cases.

2. Learning Activities:

a. Reading assignment: Chapter 1 and 2

b. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor

c. Discussion Board 1

Lesson 2

May21st – 27th, 2018

Learning Objectives

Chapter 3, The Criminal Act: The First Principle of Criminal Liability

1. Objectives: Upon successful completion of these units, the student will:

a. Be able to identify the elements of, and to explain why, the voluntary act is the first principle of criminal liability.

b. Be able to define, distinguish between, and understand the importance of the elements of criminal conduct and criminal liability and therefore punishment.

c. Understand and appreciate the importance of the requirement of a voluntary act.

d. Identify the circumstances when, and to be able to explain why, status is treated, sometimes, as an affirmative act.

e. Be able to understand how the general principle of actus reus includes a voluntary act and how it is viewed by the Constitution.

f. Identify the circumstances when, and to be able to explain why, failures to act are treated as affirmative acts.

g. Understand and identify the circumstances when, and to be able to explain why, omissions and possession are treated as acts.

Chapter 4, The General Principles of Criminal Liability: Mens Rea, Concurrence, Causation and Ignorance and Mistake

1. Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:

a. Explain why the requirement of a criminal intent ensures that only the blameworthy receivecriminal punishment.

b. Understand that the principle of mens rea includes four levels of culpability: purpose, knowledge, recklessness, and negligence.

c. Explain why strict liability crimes do not require proof of mens rea because they impose lesser penalties than other crimes and because they endanger large numbers of persons.

d. Understand that the principle of concurrence requires that mens rea prompt action in crimes of criminal conduct and that criminal conduct cause a particular result in crimes requiring the causation of a particular result.

e. Explain why the principle of causation requires proof of both factual and legal causation.

f. Understand why mens rea is the principal means of grading the seriousness of an offense.

g. Discuss the principle of ignorance and mistake

2. Learning Activities:

a. Reading assignment: Chapter 3 and 4

b. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor

c. Discussion board 2

Lesson 3

May 28th – June3th, 2018

Learning Objectives

Chapter 5, Defenses to Criminal Liability: Justifications

1. Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:

a. Understand that, in the defense of justification, defendants admit responsibility but maintain that under the circumstances what they did was right.

b. Understand that, in the defenses of excuse, defendants admit what they did was wrong but maintain that under the circumstances they were not responsible.

c. Explain how self-defense justifies the use of force or threats of force to prevent attacks from individuals who the victim honestly and reasonablybelieves threaten imminent death or serious bodily harm and when it is reasonable for the victim to believe that force is necessary to prevent the attack.

d. Explain why self-defense does not justify either retaliation for past attacks or preemptive strikes to prevent future, non-imminent attacks.

e. Explain the new “castle laws” and why and under what circumstances owners may use reasonable force, sometimes including deadly force, to defend their homes and property.

f. Explain why and under what circumstances law enforcement officers may use force, including deadly force, when it is reasonable to use such force in order to uphold the criminal law.

g. Explain how, in a few jurisdictions, citizens may use force (but not deadly force) to prevent an unlawful arrest.

h. Understand that the defense of necessity justifies otherwise criminal conduct (a lesser evil) when the commission of the lesser offense avoids a greater imminent evil.

i. Understand why voluntary, knowing consent of the victim is a defense to minor assaults in some jurisdictions.

Chapter 6, Defenses to Criminal Liability: Excuse

1. Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will: