INSTRUCTOR: Daire Irwin

This intensive course deals with the constitutional dimensions of criminal law and procedure. Students will leave the course with an appreciation of how the U.S. Constitution focuses on the rights of the accused and the impact upon our law enforcement system.

EXPECTATIONS: This is an accelerated course. You will be expected to spend an average of about 8 hours per week reading and completing assignments. Please note that, barring extenuating circumstances, extensions will not be granted for this online course. This course is the equivalent of 45 course contact hours. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.

OBJECTIVE: To become familiar with the aspects of criminal procedure.

REQUIRED TEXT: Criminal Procedure: Constitutional Limitations, Israel and LaFave,
7th Edition, Nutshell Series This book is available from The Center for Legal Studies.

COURSE OUTLINE and Reading Assignments for Weekly Topics:

Week One: The Constitution and Civil Liberties
Read Chapters 1 & 2 in Criminal Procedure: Constitutional Limitations (Nutshell)
Week Two: Arrest, Probable Cause, Search and Seizure, Warrants, Warrantless Search and Seizure, and Consent Searches Read Chapter 2 in Nutshell
Week Three: Surveillance, Police Interrogation, Miranda Warnings, and Confessions Read Chapter 3 & 4 in Nutshell
Week Four: Lineups, Right to Counsel, Waiver of Counsel, Exclusionary Rule, and the Good Faith Exception
Read Chapters 5, 6 & 7 in Nutshell
Week Five: Privilege against Self-incrimination, Compelling Witness Testimony, and Compelling Production of Documents Read Chapter 8 in Nutshell
Week Six: Bail, Right to Speedy Trial, Trial by Jury, Plea Bargaining, Harmless Error, and Appeals Read Chapter 9 in Nutshell
There are two writing assignments due using standard form books such as West's Legal Forms or American Jurisprudence Legal Forms: the preparation of a Simple Will and a Revocable Living Trust for hypothetical clients. The writing assignments are due by the end of the course. There will be six participation exercises that should be posted each week.

GRADING
Your grade will be based on your completion of six Bulletin Board assignments (class participation), six weekly writing assignments, and two exams. The exams and writing assignments are submitted using the Private Mail tool. You will have the opportunity to engage in "class participation" by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments will enhance your understanding of the reading material.
Your final grade will be figured as follows: The two exams are worth 100 points each and comprise 50% of your grade. Your class participation assignments are worth 10 points each and comprise 20% of your grade. Your six writing assignments are worth 50 points each and comprise 30% of your grade.