Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
PARAD075.
Course Title (CB02)
Principles and Procedures of the Justice System
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Procedures followed by law enforcement and courts in criminal cases; constitutional principles governing those procedures.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is in a CTE program and is CSU transferable. This course belongs in the Administration of Justice AA degree in Law Enforcement. This course was developed in response to an advisory board recommendation for advanced knowledge of the criminal justice system. This course provides the students with an in-depth examination of principles and procedures followed within the criminal justice system along with an in-depth discussion on rights provided within the constitution and the amendments to it. The course is C-ID and 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 CSU only
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
AJAdministration of JusticeApprovedC-ID AJ 122

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)

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 D075. and POLI D075.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Guest speakers

Assignments

  1. Oral
    1. Group discussion of course content.
    2. Individual and/or group presentations of course material
  2. Written research report on topic related to the criminal justice system covering an in-depth analysis of a concept, theory, or current case utilizing a MLA writing format.
  3. Assigned readings from text and other references.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral assignments involving discussions and presentations where students will show an understanding of the criminal court process and defendant's rights
  2. Objective and essay midterms and final examinations developed from readings, class assignments, class discussions, guest speakers, and media presentations that will show knowledge and understanding of the principles and procedures of the criminal justice system and are evaluated by a rubric.
  3. Written assignments on assigned topics designed to require students to research the topic and critically evaluate its applicability to rights and procedures within the criminal process. Research paper evaluated according to a rubric.
  4. Following the reading of a current event/issue topic article, student will take a short quiz of concept understanding which will be evaluated by a rubric.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

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

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Worrall, J.L. "Criminal Procedure", 3rd Edition, San Francisco, California: Pearson Publishing, 2018
del Carmen, R.V., "Criminal Procedure: Law and Practice", 10th Edition, Belmont, California: Cengage Publishing, 2017

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Cole, G.F. and Smith, C.E. " The American System of Criminal Justice", 16th Edition, Belmont, California: Cengage Publishing, 2019
Worrall, J.L. "Criminal Procedure: From First Contact to Appeal", 6th Edition, San Francisco, California: Pearson Publishing, 2018
Ferdico, J. N., Fradella, H. & Totten, C. "Criminal Procedure For the Criminal Justice Professional". 12th Ed., Belmont, California: Cengage Learning, 2016

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Identify and describe the stages in the trial process
  • Identify and critically analyze the concepts of due process as found in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendments, including right to counsel, bail, jury trial, and due process
  • Describe the history and application of the exclusionary rule in shaping criminal procedure
  • Describe application of the right to counsel in a criminal case
  • Describe application of the right to a jury trial

CSLOs

  • Describe the development of the criminal justice system within the framework of the U.S. and State Constitutions.

  • Identify the components of the criminal justice system and discuss how each is fundamental to the justice process.

Outline

  1. Identify and describe the stages in the trial process
    1. U.S. Constitution
    2. California Constitution
    3. California statutory law
    4. U.S. Supreme Court cases
    5. California state court cases
    6. Court system and structure
      1. State courts
      2. Federal courts
    7. Judges
      1. Responsibilities and duties
      2. Selection
      3. Qualifications
      4. Tenure
      5. Removal
    8. Court officers
      1. Clerk of the Court and Court Clerk
      2. Sheriff/Bailiff and Marshal
      3. Court Reporter
    9. Prosecuting attorneys
      1. Attorney General
      2. District Attorney
      3. City Attorney
      4. Role and responsibilities
    10. Defense attorneys
      1. Constitutional right to counsel
      2. Public Defender
      3. Private attorneys and Self-representation
    11. Grand Jury
      1. Functions of the jury
      2. Indictments
      3. Grand Jury proceedings
    12. Pretrial judicial process for misdemeanors
      1. Jurisdiction and venue
      2. Accusatory pleadings
      3. Arraignment
      4. Pretrial
      5. Plea bargaining
      6. Types of pleas
      7. Motions
    13. Pretrial judicial process for felonies
      1. Jurisdiction and venue
      2. Accusatory pleadings
      3. Arraignment
      4. Preliminary examination
      5. Pretrial hearings
      6. Plea bargaining
      7. Types of pleas
      8. Motions
    14. Trial process
      1. Adversary system
      2. Jury selection
      3. Presentation of evidence
      4. Jury deliberation
      5. The verdict and appeal process
    15. Sentencing process
      1. Probation Pre-Sentence Investigation(PSI): History and Recommendation
      2. Determinate sentencing
      3. Jail vs. probation
      4. Fines
      5. Restitution
  2. Identify and critically analyze the concepts of due process as found in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendments, including right to counsel, bail, jury trial, and due process
    1. Supreme Court decisions
    2. Police powers
    3. Interrogation under the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution
      1. Voluntary confessions / Spontaneous confessions
      2. Effect of Miranda case
    4. Use of force
    5. Initial confinement
      1. Pretrial detention
      2. Alternatives to jail
      3. Process of bail
  3. Describe the history and application of the exclusionary rule in shaping criminal procedure
    1. Theory behind the exclusionary rule
      1. Deterrence
      2. Fairness
    2. Search and seizure under the Fourth And Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution
      1. Custody, Detentions, and Consensual Encounter
      2. Stop&Frisk/Pat Down
      3. Arrest/ 5th Amend.- Miranda Warnings
      4. Full search of person, place, and automobile
    3. Standing to assert the exclusionary rule
      1. General standing issue
      2. Confession cases
      3. Possessory interest in premises
      4. Possessory interest in items seized
      5. Occupants of Vehicle
    4. Fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine and exceptions to the doctrine
      1. Derivative evidence generally
      2. Independent sources
      3. Inevitable discovery
  4. Describe application of the right to counsel in a criminal case
    1. The right generally
    2. Federal vs State
    3. Misdemeanors
    4. Stages at which right to counsel attaches
      1. Police investigation
      2. Arraignment
      3. Preliminary hearing
      4. Trial
      5. Sentencing
      6. Psychiatric examination
      7. Probation revocation
      8. Appeals
  5. Describe application of the right to a jury trial
    1. The right generally
      1. State trials
      2. Felony crimes vs petty crime
    2. Size and unanimity of the jury
    3. Selection of jurors
      1. Cross section of the community
      2. Challenges
        1. Challenge for cause
        2. Peremptory challenges
    4. Right to a public trial
    5. Defendant's right to be present
    6. Defendant's right of confrontation
    7. Right to remain silent
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