CRIJ120 Criminal Evidence

Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Criminal Justice

  1. Course Number and Title

    CRIJ120 Criminal Evidence

  2. Number of Credits

    3 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    2250

  4. Prerequisites

    CRIJ100 or

    Corequisites

    CRIJ100

  5. Other Pertinent Information

    None

  6. Catalog Course Description

    This course introduces students to the laws of evidence at the operational level of law enforcement officers and other criminal justice professionals. The major topics of study include the federal rules of evidence, arrest, force, search, and seizure.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. Course
        2. Students will:
        1. demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of the federal rules governing the assemblage, control and preservation of evidentiary materials in support of a criminal prosecution;
        2. demonstrate an understanding of the rules of law in the criminal justice system including the burden of proof, judicial notice and federal rules relating to trial; and
        3. examine the differences between various types of evidence including presumptions, stipulations and inferences.

      2. Core (if applicable)
        3. This course is not included in the Core.

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. historical development of the rules of evidence
      2. continuing evolution of evidentiary rules
      3. the burden of proof
      4. judicial notice of law and of fact
      5. relevancy and materiality: admissibility
      6. direct examination
      7. cross examination
      8. re-direct
      9. exclusionary rules
      10. rules governing the admissibility of tests and documents
      11. substitutes for evidence: presumptions, stipulations, inferences

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

      1. Course
        2. The assessment of course learning goals is based on participation in classroom discussions, written exams, assignments, papers, and/or performance based tasks and projects.

      2. Core (if applicable)
        3. This course is not included in the Core.

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      See course format.

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    Section VIII is not being used in new and revised syllabi as of 12/10/08.

Review/Approval Date -11/98; Revised 4/2011