KERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT – CERRO COSO COLLEGE

PARA C240 COURSE OUTLINE OF RECORD

1. DISCIPLINE AND COURSE NUMBER:

   PARA C240

2. COURSE TITLE:

   Criminal Law & Procedure

3. C-ID:

4. CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION:

   This course examines the field of criminal law and procedure that prepares the student to assist in preparation of defense or prosecution of criminals while adhering to U.S. Constitutional safeguards for a defendant. Students learn all aspects of a trial from the development of the case to the appellate process and the procedures of the criminal justice system.

5. GRADING METHOD

   Default:

   S = Standard Letter Grade

   Optional:

    

   A = Audit;P = Pass/No Pass

6. TOTAL UNITS:

   3

7. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS / UNITS & HOURS:

   Lecture

   54

   Lab

   Activity

   Open Entry/Open Exit

   Volunteer Work Experience

   Paid Work Experience

   Non Standard

   Non-Standard Hours Justification:

8. REPEATABILITY

   Type:

    

   Non-Repeatable Credit

   Limit:

9. MATERIALS FEE:

   No

10. CREDIT BY EXAM:

    No

11. CORE MISSION APPLICABILITY:

    Associate Degree Applicable (ADA);Certificate of Achievement (COA);UC/CSU Transfer;Career Technical Education (CTE)

12. STAND-ALONE:

    No

13. PROGRAM APPLICABILITY

    Required:

     

    Elective:

    Paralegal Studies AS (AS Degree Program)
    Paralegal Studies AS (AS Degree Program)
    

14. GENERAL EDUCATION APPLICABILITY

    Local:

    IGETC:

     

    CSU:

    UC Transfer Course:

     

    University of California, Berkeley = X406 Paralegal Criminal Law
    University of California, San Francisco =
    

    CSU Transfer Course:

    California State University, East Bay = POSC 7021 Criminal Law (in Paralegal Program)
    California State University, Los Angeles = PPLS770 Criminal Law for the Paralegal
    

15. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES—Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to

    1. Define the steps necessary to bring a defendant to trial for a criminal activity and know the basic crimes aganst person and property.
    2. Differentiate between civil and criminal law and discuss the roles of the participants in the criminal justice system.
    3. Define the legal issues of probable cause, search and seizure,evidence, and bail procedures that are important to a defendants legal rights under the U. S. Constitution.
    4. Discuss the function of the grand jury, plea bargaining, and the district attorney's recommendations for prosecuting or not prosecuting based on the law and evidence review.

16. REQUISITES

    Prerequisite:

    
    PARA C112
    

17. DETAILED TOPICAL OUTLINE:

    Lecture:

    A.      Introduction to Criminal Law

    1.       Participants in the criminal justice system

    2.       Difference from civil law

    3.       Common Law

    B.      Arrest, Search and Seizure

    1.       Arrest procedures

    2.       Probable cause

    3.       Search warrants

    C.      Post Arrest

    1.       Initial appearance

    2.       Posting bail

    3.       Preliminary hearings

    4.       Prosecutor’s role

    D.      The Grand Jury

    1.       Indictment

    2.       Functions of the grand jury

    3.       Testifying before the grand jury

    4.       Defense preparation

    E.       Evidentiary Issues

    1.       Admissibility

    2.       Classifications of evidence

    3.       Admitting evidence

    F.       Defendant Issues

    1.       Interrogations

    2.       Miranda rights

    3.       Confessions

    G.      Arraignment

    1.       Arraignment procedures

    2.       Plea bargaining

    3.       Not guilty plea

    H.      Discovery

    1.       Use of depositions

    2.       Discovery laws

    3.       Pre-trial motions

    I.        Principals and Accessories

    1.       First and second degree principals

    2.       Accessories before and after the fact

    3.       Conspiracy

    4.       Solicitation

    J.        Crimes Against the Person

    1.       Homicide

    2.       Classifications of murder

    3.       Assault and battery

    4.       Kidnapping

    K.      Sex-Related Crimes

    1.       Rape

    2.       Other sexual offenses

    3.       Child molestation

    L.       Crimes Against Property

    1.       Burglary

    2.       Arson

    3.       Theft

    4.       Robbery

    5.       Fraud

    M.     Crimes against the Public Order

    1.       Prostitution and indecent exposure

    2.       Drug crimes

    3.       Driving under the influence

    4.       Bribery, perjury and obstruction of justice

    5.       Other public order crimes

    N.      Trial Rights

    1.       Right to an attorney

    2.       Right to trial by jury

    3.       Presumption of innocence

    4.       Other rights

    O.      Trial Preliminaries

    1.       Courtroom layout

    2.       Jury selection

    3.       Sequestering the jury

    P.       Trial Procedure

    1.       Opening statements

    2.       Direct and cross examinations

    3.       Closing the evidence

    4.       Closing arguments

    Q.      Post Trial

    1.       Jury instructions

    2.       Jury deliberations

    3.       Mistrials

    4.       The verdict

    R.      Defenses

    1.       Affirmative defenses

    2.       Insanity defense

    3.       Constitutional defenses

    S.       Sentencing

    1.       Sentencing guidelines

    2.       Hearings

    3.       Death Penalty

    4.       Probation

    T.       Appeals

    1.       Motion for a new trial

    2.       Notice of appeal

    3.       The appellate courts

18. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION--Course instructional methods may include but are not limited to

    1. Case Study;
    2. Group Work;
    3. Lecture;
    4. Other (Specify);
    5. Outside reading;
    6. Skills Development and Performance;
    7. Written work;
    8. Other Methods: Posted Lecture each week Group Discussion: Instructor posted questions. Individual Essay, Short Answer, or Multiple Choice QuestionsQuiz, Mid-Term and Final Examinations

19. OUT OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:  Out of class assignments may include but are not limited to

    Students will be expected to participate in classroom discussions and class assignments. Assignments may include case study analysis, written reports and Internet research. Students will be required to complete readings, quizzes, homework, and examinations.

20. METHODS OF EVALUATION: Assessment of student performance may include but is not limited to

    Typical evaluation criteria may include:
    
    
    
    
    Class participation and activities include Online discussion including review of criminal law cases, identifying U.S. Constitutional right's violations, student's written description of legal procedures necessary to remedy the violations, and identification of cases relevant to current discussion.
    
    
    
    
    Case analysis - legal rights of criminal defendants are evaluated through reviews invollving U.S. Constitutional Law protection for defendants charged with criminal activity. Criminal Procedure case law readings of current and precedent setting criminal cases will focus students understanding of the protections afforded under the U.S. Constitution.
    
    
    
    
    Midterm examinations
    
    
    
    
    Final examination
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

21. TEXTS, READINGS, AND MATERIALS: Instructional materials may include but are not limited to

    Textbooks

    McCord J. W. H., McCord, S. L., & Bailey, C. S.. (2012) Criminal Law and Procedure for the Paralegal, 4th, Delmar Cengage
    

    Manuals

    Periodicals

    Software

    Other

22. METHOD OF DELIVERY:

    iTV – Interactive video = Face to face course with significant required activities in a distance modality ;Online with some required face-to-face meetings (“Hybrid”);Online (purely online no face-to-face contact) ;Other;Face to face;

23. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

    Law (Masters Required);Legal Assisting;

24. APPROVALS:

    Origination Date

    08/18/2010

    State Approval Date

    Content Review

    2011-03-11 00:00:00.0

    APP Status Date

    CIC Approval Date

    Board of Trustees

    Last Outline Revision

    2011-03-11 00:00:00.0

    CC Approval

    2011-03-11 00:00:00.0

    CIPD Approval

    Board of Trustees

    2011-04-14 00:00:00.0

    State Approval

    Requisite Validation

    UC Approval

    CSU Approval

    70 = Fall 2003

    IGETC Approval

    CSU GE Approval

• Course ID (CB00)

  CCC000451724

• TOP Code (CB03)

  1402.00 - Paralegal*;

• Course Credit Status (CB04)

  D - Credit - Degree Applicable;

• Course Transfer Status (CB05)

  2

• Course Units of Credit Maximum High (CB06):

  3

• Course Units of Credit Minimum Low (CB07):

  3

• Course Basic Skills (BS) Status (CB08):

  N = Course is not a basic skills course.

• SAM Code (CB09):

  Occupational;

• Cooperative Education Course Status (CB10):

  Not part of Coop Work Exp;

• Course Classification Code (CB11):

  Career-Technical Education;

• Course Special Status (CB13):

  N - Not Special;

• CAN Code (CB14):

• CAN-Code Seq (CB15):

• Course Prior to College Level (CB21):

  Not Applicable;

• Course Non-Credit Category (CB22):

  Not Applicable, Credit Course;

• Funding Agency Category (CB23):

• Course Program Status (CB24):

  1 - Program Applicable;