This course provides an introduction to courts, their legal basis, structure, jurisdiction, and operation.  It also provides a basic understanding of each stage of criminal procedure as viewed from the perspective of courts, with special emphasis upon constitutional limitations.

As a result of completing this course the student will be able to:

1. Understand what law is and how the Unites States system of justice works.
2. Describe and understand the major components of the justice system.
3. Understand the social and political effects on the justice system as a whole
4. Describe and understand various judicial theories.
5. Describe the type, structure, and organization of courts in the United States.
6. Describe the source of law in the United States.
7. Understand the constitutional rights of the accused
8. Describe the structure and function of state and federal court systems.
9. Think critically concerning the components and institutions involved in the justice system and process

This course addresses the general education outcomes of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating social, political, historical forces and communicating effectively through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

1. Courts, Crime, and Controversy
2. The basis of law; the adversarial system; remedies
3. Elements of a crime
4. Federal courts; jurisdiction
5. State courts; unification; decentralization
6. Legal actors and discretion
7. The prosecutor, federal and state
8. Defense attorneys; right to counsel
9. Judges
10. Arrest, initial appearance, preliminary hearing
11. Disclosure, discovery, and the exclusionary rule
12. Trial by jury:  scope, size, unanimity
13. Steps of a trial; rules of evidence
14. Sentencing: options, philosophies, responsibilities
15. Appellate courts; post conviction review; lower courts

IX. Judges
X. Arrest, initial appearance, preliminary hearing
XI. Disclosure, discovery, and the exclusionary rule
XII. Trial by jury:  scope, size, unanimity
XIII. Steps of a trial; rules of evidence
XIV. Sentencing: options, philosophies, responsibilities
XV. Appellate courts; post conviction review; lower courts

Tests, a writing assignment and a final exam prepared by the individual instructors will be used to determine the course grade, along with any other assignments required by the instructor.  The final exam will include a 20-question multiple choice assessment instrument that will count for at least 20% of the grade on the final exam.  The assessment instrument will have questions that sample the material found in the above objectives.  It is expected that writing skills will be emphasized by the incorporation of a written assignment component of the course.

October 2002
Reviewed June 8, 2005