Fundamentals of Criminal Law Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Course

CRIJ-1310-002 Fundamentals of Criminal Law

Prerequisites

Course Description

Study of criminal law, its philosophical and historical development, major definitions and concepts, classifications and elements of crime, penalties using Texas statutes as illustrations and criminal responsibility.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Criminal Law, 1st Edition (2013) by Worrall, John L. and Moore, Jennifer L.

                                             ISBN: 978-0-13-138317-3 (REQUIRED TEXTBOOK)

IMPORTANT: Students enrolling in this course will need their textbook on the FIRST DAY.

Textbooks may be purchased via the following methods:

• In person at the Amarillo College bookstore on the West Campus at 6222 W. 9th, Building D. Students can contact the bookstore at 806-354-6040or via email at westbookstore@actx.edu. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm and in addition to these regularly scheduled hours, extended hours are announced for the beginning and ending of each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer).
• Online through the Amarillo College bookstore or another online vendor. Access the bookstore's home page at http://www.actx.edu/bookstore/ and click on the "West Campus link".

The correct ISBN is cited above. Students ordering their book online through the Amarillo College bookstore, or through another vendor should ensure they order the correct edition of the textbook and allow enough time for delivery so as to have the book before the first day of class.

Supplies

All students enrolling in this class must have the required textbook, access to a working computer, active and functional internet service, Microsoft Word or some other type of word processing program, Adobe Acrobat Reader and exhibit compu

Student Performance

1. Define criminal law and explain the significance of each of the definition's components.
2. Identify the purposes served by criminal law.
3. Expound upon the "rule of law" and explain why due process is an integral part of the rule of law.
4. Define actus reus, and define its basic elements; expound upon the concept of mens rea and describe the diferent levels or types of mens rea under the common law and the Model Penal Code.
5. Explain the concept of corpus delicti.
6. Distinguish between causation in fact and proximate cause.
7. Illustrate the nature of an ex post facto law and explain why our legal system does not permit the creation of ex post facto criminal laws.
8. Explain why it is necessary that an offender take a "substantial step" toward the commission of a crime before mere plans become a criminal attempt.
9. Explain the purpose of a defense to a criminal charge and the nature of affirmative defenses.
10. Illustrate the difference between justifications and excuses, and give examples of justifications that might serve as defenses.
11. Describe syndome-based defenses, and provide some examples of this type of defense.
12. Explain the difference between a finding of NGRI and one of GBMI.
13. Distinguish between the varoius legal "tests" for assessing insanity.
14. Distinguish noncriminal homicide from criminal homicide.
15. Identify and describe three types of criminal homicide.
16. Explain the concept of malice aforethought.
17. Explain the difference between the common law crimes of assault and battery.
18. Explain the difference between common law rape and modern statutes describing sexual assault.
19. Understand the differences between larceny and embezzlement, and tell why they are important.
20. Distinguish between extortion, robbery and burglary.
21. Identify the common elements of modern-day arson statutes and distinguish the modern definition from the common law definition.
22. Identify the three categories of social-order crimes and explain how they differ from one another.
23. Summarize the differences between perjury, bribery, and contempt, and explain how criminal contempt differs from civil contempt.
24. Define and distinguish terrorism, treason and sedition.
25. Describe victimless crimes, and provide examples therein.
26. Explain what is meant by victims' rights, and assess whether today's crime victims have sufficient rights.
27. List and explain the purposes of criminal sentencing, and identify the sentencing strategies that are most closely associated with each purpose.
28. Summarize the features of three-strikes laws, and expound upon their relative effectiveness.
29. Explain how habeas corpus appeals are limited in capital cases, and provide the rationale underlying such limitations.
30. Describe how the purposes of criminal sentencing are served by indeterminate and determinate sentencing strategies, and explain which strategy is most appropriate 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 field of criminal law 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

1. No Cell Phones.

2. Students caught cheating will have exams confiscated, and at a minimum receive an F for that exam.

Grading Criteria

All test grades including the final will be averaged for your grade.  The lowest test grade will be dropped.  Final test will not be dropped.  Participation in class will earn a point to the final grade at my discretion.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  Assignments, quizzes, or exams submitted after the deadline will receive a grade of zero (0). It is imperative for students in an educational setting to learn to manage their assignments and time for success in a real-world environment. Therefore, unless there is some valid, extinuating circumstance out of the student's control assignments will NOT be accepted after the due date. Due dates for the entire semester will be listed on the course calendar from the first day of the course.The instructor reserves the right to make determinations on a case-by-case basis.

Attendance

REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS NECESSARY FOR SATISFACTORY ACHIEVEMENT. THEREFORE, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO ATTEND CLASS.

It is the student’s responsibility to drop a course or withdraw from the college. Failure to drop the course within a timely manner will result in the student receiving a performance grade, usually an “F”.

Consistent and adequate involvement in an online class is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to check course postings and emails on a daily basis, follow the prescribed timeline for assignments and exams, etc. If a student is having difficulty with any portion of this course, they should contact the instructor via email, phone, or in person, immediately.
 

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Additional Information

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