LAWS 2324 - Criminal Law and Procedures

4.5 Credits

Students gain a broad overview of criminal law and procedure from arrest through trial and appeal. Students review, analyze, and discuss federal and state court criminal justice systems, elements and classifications of crimes, legal defenses, sentencing guidelines, theories of punishment, and the constitutional safeguards protecting rights of the accused. Students brief landmark cases, prepare memoranda, pleadings, motions, discovery, and other related documents.

Prerequisites: (2) LAWS 1101 and LAWS 1230

Recommended: LAWS 1110

Lecture Hours: 4.5
Lab Hours: 0.0
Internship Hours: 0.0
Clinical or Practicum Hours: 0.0

Course Objectives

Locate, analyze, and apply sources of criminal law and procedure used in a criminal proceeding.
Identify and describe the essential elements and classifications of crimes.
Review and analyze fact scenarios to identify defenses and justifications of crimes, including constitutional safeguards that apply to criminal defendants.
List and describe the steps in a criminal case from arrest through trial and postconviction proceedings.
Describe and analyze the roles of law enforcement, attorneys, the court, and other key actors in the criminal justice system to identify issues relating to the rules and principles of criminal procedure.
Use proper legal terminology relating to criminal law and procedure.
Prepare documents used in a criminal proceeding.
Explain the paralegal’s role and ethics responsibilities when assisting attorneys in a criminal proceeding.

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