CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
Criminology, Law and Society 424, Section 005
Constitutional Law: Criminal Process and Rights
Spring 2015
Professor Salih C. Alexander, M.Ed., J.D.
Law Office: 3977
Chain Bridge Road, Suite B-1
Fairfax, VA 22030
Telephone: (202) 573-4968
E-mail: salexa10@masonlive.gmu.edu
Class meetings:
Thursday, 7:20 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in
ROBINSON A, Room 101
Course Description and Objectives
In this course, students will study individual rights at all stages of the criminal justice
process. We will learn about the rights of ordinary individuals, police suspects, and also criminal
defendants. Topics covered include police searches, seizures, interrogations and witness
identification procedures, as well as an individual’s right to counsel and to a jury trial. To learn
about these topics, students will study opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court in a detailed manner and
discuss these opinions in class.
This course is appropriate for all students who would like to understand the scope of their
rights or to expand their knowledge of the functioning of the criminal justice system. Additionally,
this course is crucial to those students planning a career in law enforcement, as officers must
understand the scope of these rights and apply them on a daily basis. This class will also greatly aid
those students planning to attend law school because it will provide a foundation for the required law
school course in criminal procedure. Finally, the course material and assignments will help students
to develop their critical thinking, logical reasoning, and public speaking skills.
Important: Do not address me by my first name. Address me as Professor
Alexander.
University Policies
Please note these important dates:
January 1 Day of Week
Thursday
Martin Luther King Day (no classes)
Mon Jan 19
First day of classes; last day to submit Domicile Reclassification Application; Payment Due
Date; full semester waitlists removed
Tue Jan 20
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CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
Summer 2015 Graduation Intent Available via Patriot Web
Mon Jan 26
Last day to add classes—all individualized section forms due
Last day to drop with no tuition penalty
Tues Jan 27
Last day to drop with a 33% tuition penalty
Tues Feb 10
Final Drop Deadline (67% tuition penalty)
Fri Feb 20
Last day to file your Spring 2015 Graduation Intent
Fri Feb 20
Immunization Record Deadline
Sun Mar 1
Midterm progress reporting period (100-200 level classes)—grades available via Patriot Web
Mon Feb 16 – Fri Mar 20
Selective Withdrawal Period (undergraduate students only)
Mon Feb 23 – Fri Mar 27
Spring Break
Mon Mar 9 – Sun Mar 15
Incomplete work from Fall 2014 due to Instructor
Fri Mar 27
Incomplete grade changes from Fall 2014 due to Registrar
Fri Apr 3
Dissertation/Thesis Deadline
Fri May 1
Last day of classes
Mon May 4
Reading Days
Reading days provide students with additional study time for final examinations. Faculty may
schedule optional study sessions, but regular classes or exams may not be held.
Tue May 5
Exam Period (beginning at 7:30 a.m.)
Wed May 6 – Wed May 13
Commencement and Degree Conferral Date
May 16
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and also
contact the Office of Disability Resources at (703) 993-2474. All academic accommodations must
be arranged through this office. The need for accommodations should be identified at the beginning
of the semester.
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CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
The Honor Code, Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Adherence to the University regulations concerning academic integrity is mandatory for this class.
Please familiarize yourself with the University’s Honor Code, which may be found in the University
Catalog. All students are expected to be familiar with the Honor Code; ignorance of a policy is not a
valid excuse under the regulations. The Honor Code covers i) cheating and attempted cheating, ii)
plagiarism, iii) lying about academic work, and iv) stealing.
Please pay particular attention to section B. plagiarism. The Honor Code defines plagiarism as:
1. Presenting as one's own the words, the work, or the opinions of someone else without proper
acknowledgment.
2. Borrowing the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of material, or the pattern of thought of
someone else without proper acknowledgment.
Please note: If I have any suspicion of violations of the honor code, I am required by the honor code
to report the matter to the honor committee. I am not allowed to make exceptions to this policy or I
would also be considered in violation of the honor code. Likewise, if you know of a violation of the
honor code, you are obligated to report this violation.
Course Requirements
Required Readings and Materials
1) Israel, Kamisar, LaFave, King, and Primus's Criminal Procedure and the Constitution, Leading
Supreme Court Cases and Introductory Text, 2013 (American Casebook Series) Paperback – August
8, 2013. You can get the book via free shipping on Amazon as you are college students.
http://www.amazon.com/Criminal-Procedure-Constitution-IntroductoryAmerican/dp/0314288414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421185992&sr=81&keywords=Israel%2C+Kamisar%2C+LaFave%2C+King%2C+and+Primus%27s+Criminal+Proce
dure+and+the+Constitution%2C+Leading+Supreme+Court+Cases+and+Introductory+Text%2C+20
13+%28American+Casebook+Series%29&pebp=1421185984099&peasin=314288414
2) Criminal Procedure (Quick Study Law) (2012) by Inc. BarCharts
This handy study guide is only $6 and change. Again, free 2-day shipping for college students on
Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Criminal-Procedure-Quick-StudyLaw/dp/1423219562/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401590020&sr=11&keywords=criminal+procedure
Class materials may also be distributed in class or via e-mail from time to time. Therefore, it is
important for all class members to routinely check their George Mason e-mail accounts. Further, it is
important for you to regularly be present at class meetings for additional instructions.
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CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
Class Participation
Class lectures will not merely re-cap the material found in the readings, but rather will supplement
the reading material and, in many cases, greatly expand upon it. Tests will contain some questions
that may only be answered correctly through both attendance in class and completion of the required
reading assignments. For these reasons, regular attendance at class meetings and participation is
required.
An important part of learning about constitutional law requires reflecting upon and understanding the
reasoning behind the court decisions that we will study. You will need to do the readings and come
to class prepared to discuss critical issues in order to get the full benefit of studying these topics.
Since reasoning is so crucial to the study of constitutional law, this course will frequently rely upon
discussion and participation. I will often ask the class questions which will require you to apply and
even to extend the legal rules that we discuss to other situations. This area of constitutional law can
result in some fascinating class discussions, but it also requires that you prepare for class and reflect
upon what you read.
Graded Examinations and Assignments
1) Class Participation/Group Exercises (25% of final grade) –On the class schedule, you will see
the phrase “Group Work”. Here, we will examine and analyze cases. You will be divided into 3 or 4
groups. Each group will handle a certain number of cases each week. Every student MUST make an
important contribution to his/her group. While the groups will present their cases each week (You
will get a grade between 1 and 4 each week. A score of 1 is failing, 2 is average, 3 is good, and 4 is
excellent), you must take notes on the cases presented by others. If you do not attend class, then you
miss opportunities to participate and will receive a 0 for that week. That 0 will be calculated into
your 25% grade. Therefore, repeated absences will decrease your class participation grade.
2) Exams (40% of grade) There will be 2 regular tests worth 20 points each. These tests will
include multiple-choice, matching, and short answer. On test days, please arrive on time so as not to
disrupt your fellow students. These tests are timed and you will have either 45 minutes or 1 hour.
Please allow extra time for travel on the days of the tests to be sure that you arrive on time. Each test
will cover the materials (lectures, readings, class exercises) that we have discussed since the previous
test (i.e.: the tests are not cumulative). After each test, we will resume class. There will be no “test
only” days.
3) Briefs (10% of final grade) You will have 2 written assignments. These will be 1-2 pages long
each and in them you will analyze a situation or brief a case or respond to a video. They will be
worth 5 points each.
4) Quizzes (15% of final grade) I will give 3 quizzes. These will be fairly short and will include
multiple-choice and short answer. They are worth 5 points each.
5) Final Exam (10% of final grade) The 4th and final test will be at the end of the semester. The
format and type is TBA.
Your grades will be listed on Blackboard. As you receive grades, you will be able to know
exactly where you stand. At this point, there will be no extra credit.
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CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
GRAMMAR AND HANDWRITING: Because some of my assignments are written on paper
that I give you, please remember to write legibly. Moreover, since this is a 400-level class, I
expect a certain level of writing skill. If you know that you have difficulty with writing, then
contact me. I have a background in writing instruction and I will try to assist you.
A 94-100 % A- 90-93
B+ 87-89 % B 83-86 B- 80-82
C+ 77-79 % C 70-76 (C- may be given in special circumstances)
D=60-69 %
F=below 60%
Office Hours and Availability
As an adjunct professor, I do not keep regular office hours. I will be available by appointment. You
can also meet with me at my law office, which is down the street from the campus.
Outline of class meetings:
January 22 – Class Introduction and Criminal Justice Process Overview
 Introductions and Ice Breaker
 Introduction to Class Structure
 Syllabus
 Lecture
o The Lawmaking Structure
o The Administrative Structure
o Steps in the Process
o The 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th Amendments
January 29–The Nature and Scope of Due Process; Arrest, Search, and Seizure
 Today’s work: pp. 31-58, 59-133
 Review
o Fundamental rights
o Exclusionary Rule
o Areas and places
 Group work: cases (13)
 Law and Order (45 minutes)
 Go over Next week’s assignment
 Study for Quiz 1
February 5—Quiz 1 and Probable Cause, Search Warrants, Arrest and Search of Persons, and Seizure
and Search of Premises:
 Today’s work: pp. 134-223
 Review
o Probable Cause
o Search Warrants
o Arrest and Search of Persons
o Search/Seizure of Premises
 Group work: cases (13)
 Quiz 1
 Go over Next week’s assignment
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CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
February 12—Vehicles and effects, Stop and Frisk, Inspections/Regulatory searches, and Consent
Searches
 Today’s work: pp. 224-328
 Review
o Vehicles and effects
o Stop and Frisk
 Look at the NYC policy
o Inspections and Regulatory searches
 School searches
o Consent Searches
 Group work: cases (15) and NYC policy
 Review for Test 1
 Next week’s assignment—study for Test 1
February 19—Test 1 and Entrapment/Encouragement
 Test 1 (60 minutes)
 Independent Reading (30 minutes): pp. 329-350
 Encouragement and Entrapment lecture
 Group work: Jacobson case
 Go over next week’s assignment: Reading and Brief 1
February 26—Brief 1 and The Right to Counsel and Police Interrogations and Confessions
 Turn in Brief 1
 Today’s work: pp. 351-429
 Review
o Right to counsel
 Cases: old and new
o Police Interrogations and confessions
 Miranda Introduction
 Group work: Cases (12)
 Gideon’s Trumpet excerpts
 Go over next week’s assignment: Reading
March 5— Applying Miranda
 Today’s work: pp. 430-546
 Group work: Cases (8) and JDB
 Go over next week’s assignment
******MARCH 9-13 is SPRING BREAK *****
March 19—Miranda Part 2
 Group work: Cases (7)
 Test Review
March 26—Test 2 and Pre-trial ID, Subpoenas, and Pre-trial release
 Test 2, Chapters 3-6 (45-60 minutes)
 Today’s work: pp. 547-636
 Group Work: Cases (12)
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CRIM 424 Spring 2015 Syllabus Professor Alexander
April 2—Prosecutorial decisions
 Today’s work: pp. 637-720
 Review:
o The decision to prosecute
o Screening the prosecutor’s decision to prosecute
o Speedy Trial
o Duty to Disclose
 Group work: Cases (12)
 Go over next week’s assignment: Reading and Quiz 2
April 9—Quiz 2 and Guilty Pleas, Trial by Jury
 Quiz 2, Chapters 7-13
 Today’s work: pp. 721-796
 Review:
o Guilty Pleas
o Trial by jury
 Group work: Cases (17)
 Go over next week’s assignment: Reading and Brief
April 16—Brief 2 and Fair Trial and The Role of Counsel
 Turn in Brief 2
 Today’s work: pp.797-934
 Review
o Fair Trial
o Free Press
o Role of Counsel
 Group work: Cases (11)
 Assignment: Reading and Quiz
April 23—Quiz 3 and The Trial and Retrial
 Review
 Quiz 3, Chapters 14-16
 Today’s work: pp. 935-1054
 Review
o Trials
o Retrial
 Case Analysis
 Group work: Cases (17)
April 30—Sentencing
 Today’s work: pp. 1055-1142
 Group work: Cases (5)
 Review for final exam
May 7—Final Exam
 Final exam 7:30 pm-10:15 pm, Chapters 17-20
Thank you for enrolling in this class!
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