Course | Madison College Outline of Instruction

10504115Constitutional Law

Course Information

Description

Introduces the student to the legal process, procedure and forum in which guilt or innocence is determined. Explores the history and development of criminal evidence law and the necessity for having legal evidence. Meets LESB performance objectives.

Total Credits

Course Competencies

Investigate the Law of Evidence and the pre-trial process

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

in a written examination

Criteria

you explain what constitutes evidence

you summarize the objectives of the rules of evidence

you distinguish between the jobs of prosecuting attorney and defense attorney

you examine probable cause to arrest
Examine the trial process

Assessment Strategies

in a classroom discussion

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the sequence of events in a typical criminal trial

you distinguish between the level of proof required in a criminal case with the level of proof required in a civil case

you summarize the two types of challenges of a jury used during a voir dire

you summarize the process of examining witnesses
Conceptualize the basics of evidence

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written exercise

in a written examination

by completing an evidence project

Criteria

you recognize the four general categories of evidence

you summarize some of the reasons relevant evidence may be excluded

you summarize judicial notice

you explain four examples of facts that a court may judicially notice
Examine witnesses - competency and privileged communications

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussion

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the three characteristics that comprise witness capacity

you examine the rationale for privileged communications

you examine when the government may refuse to reveal the identity of an informer
Distinguish between lay and expert witnesses

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you recognize the one essential characteristic required before a person may become a witness

you summarize a leading question

you summarize impeachment

you explain how a witness maybe qualified as an expert

you summarize the three bases for expert opinion
Characterize credibility and impeachment

Assessment Strategies

in a classroom discussion

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you examine the four components of witness capacity

you summarize the five basic methods of impeaching a witness

you examine the rule governing the impeachment of a witness on the grounds of bias

you summarize when a witness may invoke the privilege against self-incrimination
Investigate the Hearsay Rule

Assessment Strategies

in a classroom discussion

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize hearsay

you explain the rationale for the hearsay rule

you identify the five types of admissions by a party opponent that are exempt from the hearsay rule
Examine admissions and confessions

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you explain an admission

you explain when a suspect must be Mirandized

you examine custody for the purposes of Miranda

you examine interrogation for the purposes of Miranda

you summarize the three exceptions to the requirement of Miranda warnings
Examine the Exclusionary Rule - Search and Seizure

Assessment Strategies

in a classroom discussion

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the main purpose of the exclusionary rule

you identify the procedure for obtaining a valid search warrant

you explain the meaning of probable cause the how probable cause may be established

you explain what circumstances are considered exigent

you examine the justification for a stop and frisk
Examine the Exclusionary Rule - Identification Procedures

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum 70 percent on a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the three types of identification procedures

you identify the constitutional grounds for an accused's claim of misidentification before and at trial

you examine several situations that the law enforcement officer should avoid with respect to the makeup of a lineup or photographic array
Recognize circumstantial evidence

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent in a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you distinguish between direct and circumstantial evidence

you explain how motive and intent differ

you provide several examples of circumstantial evidence that may be used to prove the accused's consciousness of guilt
Evaluate documentary evidence and the Right of Discovery

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussion

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the classification of documents and each of their categories

you determine when a defendant is not required to comply with a subpoena to produce documents
Recognize physical evidence

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

in an Evidence Project

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize five examples of how authentication can be accomplished

you identify the four general categories of physical evidence

you summarize the methods an officer can use to identify positively the object in court as the one that the officer found at the crime scene

you identify the information that should be placed on a typical evidence tag

you examine how items of evidence should be packages for long-term storage in an evidence locker
Examine photographic, recorded, and computer-generated evidence

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum of 70 percent in a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the kinds of evidence included in the terms "writings" and "recordings" in the FRE

you examine the various uses of photographic and recorded evidence

you explore the three methods of authentication of photographs and recording
Summarize how to testify effectively

Assessment Strategies

in classroom discussions

upon achieving a minimum 70 percent in a written assignment

in a written examination

Criteria

you summarize the different methods used to notify an officer to appear in court

you examine the appropriate clothing for officers to wear in court

you explain what an officer should do while testifying with respect to objections

you summarize what an officer should do when he or she is does not recall the answer to a question asked

you explain what an officer should do when asked an argumentative question on cross-examination that the defense attorney insists should be answered yes or no