Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PARAD003.
Course Title (CB02)
Concepts of Criminal Law
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
The course examines and evaluates the historical development, philosophy of law and constitutional provisions; definitions, classification of crime, and their application to the system of administration of justice. The course also evaluates the process of conducting legal research, the study of case law, methodology related to the development of criminal law, and concepts of law as a social force in a multicultural, multiethnic society.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Administration of Justice (Police science, corrections, law enforcement)]
Discipline 2
[Law]
Discipline 3
[Political Science]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is in a CTE program and is UC and CSU transferable. This course belongs on the Administration of Justice A.A. degree in Law Enforcement. This course was developed in response to an advisory board recommendation to provide students with a foundational understanding of criminal law. The course fulfills a need to provide students with an introduction to criminal law. The course is cross-listed.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
AJAdministration of JusticeApprovedC-ID AJ 120

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

ADMJ D001. or POLI D010.

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Not open to students with credit in the cross-listed course(s).)

(Also listed as ADMJ D003. and POLI D013.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

In-class essays

Homework and extended projects

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Assignments

  1. Oral
    1. Preparation for class discussions of course content or assigned course topics
    2. Preparation for individual and small group presentations of course material or assigned course topics
  2. Written
    1. Objective midterm and final examinations involving various examination methodology 
    2. Library research of assigned or chosen topic(s) related to the development and application of criminal laws
  3. Reading
    1. Assigned readings from text
    2. Assigned precedent legal case for development of a case brief acceptable for the judicial process

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral and written assignments where students will demonstrate their understanding of criminal law including its development and the elements of crimes based on in-depth analysis, mastery of content elements, application of knowledge, and critical thinking.
  2. Written objective midterm examination and final examination testing students knowledge of elements of crimes and defenses based on in-depth analysis, mastery of content elements, application of knowledge, and critical thinking.
  3. Participation in class discussions where students will show an understanding of the law and the ability to communicate an accuracy of facts and application of knowledge as it applies to factual situations. 
  4. Written research assignments testing student ability to find applicable statutes based on factual situation based on in-depth analysis, mastery of content elements, application of knowledge, and critical thinking.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • None

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Hunt, D and Rutledge, D.California Criminal Law ConceptsPearson Custom Publishing2022 / 23rd Edition978-1269149204
Schmalleger, F. and Hall, D. E.Criminal Law TodayPearson Publications2022 / 7th Edition
Garland, N. M.Criminal Law for the Criminal Justice ProfessionalMcGraw-Hill Publications2020 / 5th Edition

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Trace and discuss the historical development of law
  • Recognize and assess provisions for an individual's rights based in the United States Constitution
  • Compare and contrast the United States Constitution to the California State Constitution
  • Identify the historical sources of criminal law
  • Discuss the historical evolution of criminal law
  • Identify the general elements of crimes against person and property
  • Identify and apply basic tools for finding case law and legal research
  • Explain and discuss criminal defenses, legal justifications, and burdens of proof used in the legal system
  • Classify crimes according to severity
  • Determine the basic terminology, definitions and concepts of criminal law

CSLOs

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the elements of crimes and determine crimes from factual situations.

  • Access the appropriate legal code and identify the proper statute based on a given description of conduct.

Outline

  1. Trace and discuss the historical development of law
    1. Ancient lawgivers: Moses, Hammurabi, Draco, Solon
    2. Codes: Twelve Tables of Rome, Justinian's Code, the Code Napoleon, Las Siete Partidas
    3. English common law: system of precedent, Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, courts of law equity
  2. Recognize and assess provisions for an individual's rights based in the United States Constitution
    1. Ex post facto, bills of attainder, preemption and judicial review
    2. Due process rights: 4th, 5th, 6th Amendments
    3. Exclusionary rule and criminal procedure
    4. Gender and race as Constitutional issues
  3. Compare and contrast the United States Constitution to the California State Constitution
    1. United States Constitution
      1. No general police power
      2. No right to privacy
    2. California Constitution
      1. Power to promote general welfare of citizens
      2. Guaranteed right to privacy
  4. Identify the historical sources of criminal law
    1. Hammurabi's Code
    2. Code Napoleon
    3. Magna Carta
  5. Discuss the historical evolution of criminal law
    1. Stare Decisis and the Rule of Precedence
    2. Bill of Rights
    3. Judicial review
  6. Identify the general elements of crimes against person and property
    1. Crimes against persons
      1. Homicide crimes
      2. Murder
        1. Degrees
        2. Capital Murder
        3. Felony Murder Rule
      3. Voluntary Manslaughter
      4. Involuntary Manslaughter
      5. Assault and battery
        1. Assault
        2. Battery
      6. Mayhem
      7. Rape
        1. Forceable
        2. Statutory
      8. False Imprisonment
      9. Kidnapping
    2. Crimes against property
      1. Burglary
      2. Arson
      3. Larceny
      4. Embezzlement
      5. False pretenses
      6. Robbery
      7. Extortion
      8. Receiving stolen property
  7. Identify and apply basic tools for finding case law and legal research
    1. Case reporters and case briefs
    2. Annotated codes and constitutions
    3. Shepard's citations
    4. Legal digests and encyclopedias
    5. Law dictionaries
  8. Explain and discuss criminal defenses, legal justifications, and burdens of proof used in the legal system
    1. Incapacity (infancy, lunacy, idiocy, insanity, unconsciousness, coercion)
    2. Entrapment
    3. Immunities
    4. Self-defense
    5. Statues of limitation
    6. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt
    7. Clear and convincing proof
    8. Meaning of not guilty verdict
  9. Classify crimes according to severity
    1. Infractions
    2. Misdemeanors
    3. Felonies
  10. Determine the basic terminology, definitions and concepts of criminal law
    1. Purpose of criminal law
      1. Classic rationales for punishment
      2. Sentences and sentencing
        1. Gender, age and race considerations
        2. Probation, parole, jail and prison
      3. Language and construction of penal statutes
    2. Criminal procedure
      1. Adversary system of justice
      2. Juvenile justice system
        1. Females in juvenile justice system
        2. Race and ethnicity in the juvenile justice system
      3. Classification of crimes by seriousness
    3. Corpus delicti
      1. Kinds of acts forbidden
      2. Lesser and included offenses
      3. Substantive vs. procedural statutes
    4. Mens rea in depth
      1. Specific intent crimes: burglary, murder
      2. General intent crimes: battery, rape and robbery
      3. Recklessness: reckless driving, second-degree murder
      4. Negligence: involuntary manslaughter
      5. Strict liability: parking tickets, speeding
    5. Inchoate crimes
      1. Solicitation
      2. Conspiracy
      3. Attempts
    6. Parties to crime
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