Court Systems and Practices Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

CRIJ-1306-002 Court Systems and Practices

Prerequisites

Course Description

The judiciary in the criminal justice system; structure of the American Court System; prosecution; right to counsel; pretrial release; grand juries; adjudication process; types and rules of evidence; sentencing.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 Neubauer, D. (2010). American’s Courts and the Criminal Justice System (10^th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.

Supplies

Student Performance

1. Describe court and their purposes(s).
2. Explain the dual court system and describe which main court function  is most important: upholding the law, protecting people's rights, or resolving disputes.
3. Define the role of courts in criminal justice today.
4. Explain how legislatures exercise control over American courts.
5. Explain how higher courts exercise control over lower courts. Contrast how the interpretation of higher-court decisions by the lower courts shape such controls.
6. Describe how the federal courts developed.
7. Explain how the U.S. Constitution and federal legislation influence the development of the federal courts.
8. Describe the various types of federal courts at work in this country today.
9. Explain state court structure; specifically understand the structure of Texas state courts.
10. Explain what state court workloads are like.
11. Understand the legal protections available to children at both the federal and state levels today.
12. Identify and briefly describe  the most relevant U.S. Supreme Court juvenile justice decisions.
13. Discuss the various types of specialized courts; understand how they differ from other courts and explain how they developed.
14. Explain the process through which federal judgeships are occupied.
15. Discuss the qualifications necessary to become a federal or state judge.
16. Describe the process through which state judgeships are occupied.
17. Discuss the various types of prosecutors that work at federal, state, county and city levels and explain which type wields the most power.
18. Understand how the prosecutor's role developed over time.
19. Analyze prosecutorial discretion and describe how it affects charging decisions.
20. List the various types of defense attorneys working in criminal courts today and describe how they differ.
21. Outline the ethical standards that guide criminal defense attorneys today and describe the various sources of those standards.
22. Outline the rights of criminal defendants facing processing by the American justice system and explain the origin of those rights.
23. Explain what rights victims have under current law.
24. Define the exclusionary rule and explain why it is controversial.
25. Obtain a comprehensive undertanding of all steps in the adjudication process.
26. Explain plea bargaining, including its historical development and its use in courts today.
27. Describe what is involved in the process of entering a guilt plea and the consequences therein.
28. Understand when an accused offender has the right to a jury trial.
29. Explain what constitutional rights criminal defendants have at trial.
30. Outline the order of events in a criminal trial.
31. Explain the goals of criminal sentencing.
32. Understand the purpose of the criminal appeals process and discuss the potential consequences of an appeal.
33. Explain how the process of differential treatment applies to court processing.
34. Understand how common wrongful convictions are under our system of justice. Describe what can be done to further reduce the likelihood of wrongful convictions. Discuss exonerations and the reasons for them.
35. Outline what alternatives to traditional adjudication are identified in this chapter. Explain how such alternatives are applied today.

This course will be guided by meeting the above referenced Student Performance objectives. At the end of the semester, students are expected to have a basic understanding of the American judicial system and the essential elements therein.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

 Use of Electronic Devices:  Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent/vibrate ring during class meeting times.  Remove and turn off any blue tooth device.  No text messaging will be allowed during class.  Put away your iPods, MP3’s, any other device with recorded music, and the earphones to listen to the music.  You will be asked to leave class if you are in violation of this request.  You will be counted absent and you will not receive credit for that day’s lab projects, quizzes, or tests.

Plagiarism, Cheating and Individual Work Ethic:  The Amarillo College policies and Code of Student Conduct is strictly adhered to when dealing with plagiarism, cheating, and duplication of work product.  Any evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or duplication of work product will result in a zero on the project or test in question.

A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at

http://www.actx.edu/student/responsibilities/

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria:      Attendance: 10%

                                    Quizzes: 20%

                                    Presentations: 20% (10% each)

                                    Exams: 50% (25% each)

Attendance

Department Attendance Policy: Employees in the business world are expected to be at work each day; therefore, students in paralegal studies classes are expected to be in class promptly and routinely.  Attendance will count as 10% of your grade. If you are in class, you will get a 100 that evening; if you are not, you will get a 0.

Calendar

Additional Information

Important Dates: Dates for lessons and examinations are on the Lesson Schedule.  Other important dates are: 

                        August 22, 2011                                 Classes Begin

                        September 5, 2011                              Labor Day Holiday (Campus Closed)

                        November 16, 2011                            Last Day to Drop or Withdraw

                        November 29, 2011                            Last Regular Class Meeting

                        December 6, 2011                               Final Examination Date