CJA 354 Entire Course All DQs

DQ 1–Week 1

What is the definition of Criminal Law? How does criminal law apply to the overall process of criminal justice? How can we improve the backlog of criminal law cases that have flooded the criminal justice court system? Explain.

DQ 2–Week 1

What is the relationship of the various jurisdictions (local, state, federal) as applied to criminal law? Give an example of jurisdiction regarding the enforcement of criminal law. What would happen if jurisdiction was not clearly defined? Explain.

DQ 3–Week 1

What are the two standards of proof in criminal cases, in your own words? What is the relationship between standards of proof in criminal justice cases and the adversarial system? What would happen if the standards of proof were not included as part of the adversarial system? Explain.

DQ 1–Week 2

What is an example of a defense to criminal liability? How do defenses to criminal liability differ from other criminal defenses? Explain. Is there a better solution to the way in which criminal liability is defended from a legal standpoint? Explain.

DQ 2–Week 2

What is an example of mental illness? How does the defense of mentally ill impact the legal system and the criminal justice system as a whole? Compare and contrast the differences between legal and medical perspectives on mental illness and insanity, using your own words.

DQ 3–Week 2

Before sending in troops in 2003, former President George W. Bush claimed that we were compelled to attack Iraq under a theory of self-defense. Review the Model Penal Code definition of self-defense. Do you agree with former President Bush’s assessment in this regard?

DQ 1–Week 3

When Jurisdiction X’s first-degree murder statute lists these 3 elements to be proven for a first degree murder charge: “willful, deliberate and premeditated”, does Jurisdiction X’s statute require something more than that the killing just be intentional?

Yes or No? Then explain your answer.

DQ 2–Week 3

Give an example of false imprisonment. How does false imprisonment differ from kidnapping, in your own words? From false arrest? What are examples of false arrest and kidnapping?

DQ 3–Week 3

It is often stated that “Only persons you trust can embezzle from you.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain your answer.

DQ 1–Week 4

What are “fighting words” in your own words? How can fighting words be distinguished from protected forms of speech?

DQ 2–Week 4

What is a public order crime, in your own words? How do public order crimes differ from other types of crime, as defined by the criminal justice system? How can we improve the ways in which the criminal justice system helps to decrease the number of public order crimes? Explain.

DQ 3–Week 4

Define lewdness. How can the criminal justice system more effectively combat prostitution, obscenity, and lewdness? What changes to law enforcement strategy would you suggest?

DQ 1–Week 5

Do you believe that a victims’ rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution is needed to balance the rights of crime victims with those of suspects? Why or why not?

DQ 2–Week 5

Should the death penalty be abolished? Why or why not?

DQ 3–Week 5

Do you believe that three-strikes laws can be an effective deterrent to crime? Why or why not? Are three-strikes laws economically efficient? Why or why not?