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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Mrs. Kristen Burton, MCJ 

Office Hours: M 5:30-6:00 pm; T-W-Th by appointment  (email to schedule)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A classroom study of the types, uses, and admissibility of evidence in the criminal justice process.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of the court in interpreting constitutional principles that attach to the discovery, documentation, and presentation of evidence in court.  This is a 3-semester-hour course.  There are no course fees associated with this class.  Prerequisites: CJS 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice and CJS 223 Criminal Law and Procedure. 

TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS

Criminal Evidence, 9th Edition; Norman A. Garland; McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN-13: 978-1-264-29680-4; (available in the bookstore or online) 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): 

  1. At the end of this course of instruction, the student will be able to describe the types, uses, and admissibility of evidence in a criminal trial (PLOs 1, 3, 9, 11). 

  1. At the end of this course of instruction, the student will be able to understand and describe the role of courts and how a court determines the admissibility of evidence in a criminal trial (PLOs 2, 6, 7, 8). 

  1. At the end of this course of instruction, the student will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of constitutional requirements on the admissibility of evidence in a criminal trial (PLOs 1, 3, 6-8). 

  1. At the end of this course of instruction, the student will show improvement in basic writing skills required for detailed report writing, which composes a large component of a law enforcement career, due to the chapter summaries that are required. 

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs): 

1. An understanding of the basic concepts of evidence including rules governing evidence                                                                     

2. Knowledge of the trial process including requirements for witnesses                                                   

3. Knowledge of the types of evidence and burden of proof                                                          

4. A basic understanding of the competency and privileged communications involving witnesses 

5. Understanding the difference between an expert and lay witness 

6. Knowledge of credibility and the impeachment process concerning witnesses 

7. Understanding the concept of hearsay and rules governing its usage in the court room 

8. An awareness of the usage of confessions and admissions in the trial process 

9. Knowledge of the exclusionary rule concerning legal search and seizure 

10. Knowledge of the exclusionary rule concerning proper identifications 

11. An understanding of the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence