COURSE SYLLABUS
ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE UNIVERSITY
CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3500: Criminal Evidence & Procedure
Spring, 2007
INSTRUCTOR: BECKY KOHLER da CRUZ, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Law
OFFICE: UH 219 PHONE: 912-921-7407 E-MAIL: dacruzbe@mail.armstrong.edu
OFFICE HOURS: T-TH 9-10am, 11:30-1:00 pm, or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Historical and contemporary overview of the various rules governing criminal procedure and the
rules of evidence as they affect the accused, the convicted, law enforcement, and the conduct of
criminal prosecutions. The course is designed to introduce the student to the basic rights under
the United States Constitution and to show how certain of these rights come into conflict with the
maintenance of public order and the enforcement of the criminal laws of the United States and
each individual state.
PREREQUISITE:
CRJU 1100 and POLS 2100
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
 To understand the development of individual rights under the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th
Amendments.
 To become familiar with the legal terms used in the regulation of evidence and trial court
procedures.
 To examine how case law decisions and state and federal laws affect the role of the
police, courts, and corrections.
 To explore and gain proficiency in the various methods of legal research.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
John L. Worrall (2004). Criminal Procedure: From First Contact to Appeal. Allyn &
Bacon. ISBN 0-205-34280-9
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students are expected to be present for all scheduled classes as you are responsible for all
information not only in the textbook but also what is presented in class. If you miss a class, get
the lecture notes from a classmate.
CLASS CONDUCT:
Students are expected to treat others with respect and dignity at all times. Any behavior, which
is disruptive to the learning environment, is strictly prohibited. Beepers and cell phones disrupt
the class, THERE WILL A 1 POINT DEDUCTION EACH TIME YOUR PHONE RINGS IN
CLASS. If you are disrupting the lecture, you will be removed from the classroom.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Week 1
Introduction to the Course
Introduction to Criminal Procedure
Chapters 1
Brief: Katz v. United States
Week 2
Remedies for Constitutional Violations
Chapter 2
Brief: Tennessee v. Garner
Introduction to the Fourth Amendment
Chapter 3
Brief: Terry v. Ohio
Week 3
Searches & Arrests
Chapter 4 & 5
Brief: Payton v. New York
Week 4
Reasonable Suspicion
Chapter 6
Brief: Reid v. Georgia
Administrative Justification
Chapter 7
Brief: Ferguson v. Charleston
Week 5
Exam #1
Week 6
Interrogations & Confessions
Chapter 8
Brief: Dickerson v. United States
Identification Procedures
Chapter 9
Week 7
Pre-Trial Court Proceedings
Chapter 10
Courtroom Work Group
Chapter 11
Brief: Oyler v. Boles
Video: Real Justice
Week 8
Plea Bargaining
Chapter 12
Brief: United States v. Goodwin
Week 9
Exam #2
Week 10
Rights at Trial
Chapter 13 & 14
Brief: Barker v. Wingo
Week 11
Paper Due
Week 12
Introduction to Criminal Evidence
Types of Evidence
Week 13
Witnesses & Testimony
Excluding Evidence
Week 14
Sentencing, Appeals, & Habeas Corpus
Worrall – Chapter 15
Brief: Herrera v. Collins
Week 15
Exam #3
EVALUATION METHODS:
1. Examinations: Each exam will be non-cumulative.
2. Research Review Paper:
Content of the Paper:
The paper must discuss and summarize a research article within the purview of this
course from a criminal justice or law related journal. It must:
(a)
Analyze and Discuss the program/service, etc. under scrutiny;
(b)
Summarize the research/content of the article. Indicate what the research
determined about the program/service being evaluated, and where possible,
relate the findings to the texts;
(c)
Provide your analysis and/or evaluation of the research. State what the research
findings may mean to the criminal justice system
The instructor is looking for what you have learned about procedural guidelines and
evidentiary value within the criminal justice system. The most common mistakes are (i)
selecting a poor article, (ii) merely summarizing the article and not analyzing it or
discussing your views, (iii) failing to relate the article to broader issues as found in the
texts. Broader issues are how the research or topic might yield a different approach to
managing criminal justice agencies and individual performance within these agencies,
usefulness of various alternatives, different approaches to agency management, etc.
Format of the Paper:
The paper should be presented in the following manner:
(a)
A title page with the title of the paper, your name, the course name & section
number.
(b)
At least seven (7) pages of text typed and double-spaced. Use one-inch margins
and type only in 10 or 12 inch Times New Roman or Courier font.
(c)
A separate page for bibliography. The journal article reviewed must be a
minimum of 10 pages in length and other sources may be referenced throughout
the paper. A copy of the article must accompany the paper.
(d)
Edit your paper. Make sure it is free of spelling, mechanical and grammatical
errors. All information should be presented in paragraphs that logically connect.
(e)
Staple your paper in the upper left-hand corner. Do not use folders, plastic
covers or paper clips.
3. Briefs: Students are required to brief each of the above cases. There are 11 assigned only
10 are due. Therefore, students will not be penalized for not turning in one brief.
4. Presentation: Students will be assigned content from a chapter to present in class.
FINAL GRADE STANDARDS:
Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 points (5 points each)
Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 points
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 points
Test #1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 points
Test #2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 points
Test #3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 points
500 points
You can earn a maximum of five hundred (500) points in this course. The approximate letter and
numerical equivalents are as follows:
Grade
Points
Percent
A
500-450
90-100%
B
450-400
80-90%
C
400-350
70-80%
D
350-300
60-70%
F
300-0
below 60%
STANDARDS OF HONESTY:
The college experience is founded on the concepts of honesty and integrity. Dishonesty,
cheating, and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Plagiarism is representing
someone else’s work as your own. It includes quoting or paraphrasing a secondary source
without citing that source, or copying, buying, or stealing written work from another person or
another source. All class writings must be a student’s own original work, created this semester
for this particular course. Remember, plagiarism is not only immoral- it is illegal. Students who
commit plagiarism or who cheat on an examination will receive a zero (0) for that work, fail the
course, and could be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs for honor court. Such an
offense will also become a matter of your academic record.
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Students are expected to take exams and turn in papers on the assigned dates. A Late paper
WILL NOT be accepted for any reason. If you fail to take an exam on the designated date, your
grade on the make-up exam will be reduced by 10 percent (1 letter grade). A make-up exam will
ONLY be given when advance notice is provided to the instructor by the student who has good
reason for not taking the exam on the dedicated date or if the student has an extreme emergency.
In no event will a make-up exam be given 1 week after the date in which it was given or upon the
student’s return from the emergency.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:
Do not count on any extra credit in this course. You are expected to learn the core material as
assigned. IF any extra credit is offered during the semester, it must be completed on or before
the last day of class - it will not be accepted during exam week.