1.2  Explain jurisdiction to create and enforce criminal law.

1.3  Discuss the adversarial system and standards of proof in criminal cases.

1.4  Discuss the concept of criminal liability.

1.5  Define accomplice liability.

1.6  Define inchoate offenses: Solicitation, conspiracy and attempt.

1.7  Analyze essential elements of selected criminal offenses.

Read Ch. 1–4 of Criminal Law Today.

Review the Electronic Reserve Readings.

Read the following documents on the student website:

·         Learning Team Toolkit

·         Toolkit Essentials

·         Why Learning Teams?

·         Team Basics

·         Getting Started

·         Getting to Results

·         Project Planning

·         Decisions/Conflict Resolution

·         Team Learning

Review and begin working on the Week Two Learning Team assignment, Q&A: Criminal Capacity.

Review and begin working on the Week Five Learning Team assignment (SEE Page 7); start brainstorming about your final 9 laws for the final team paper.  Each team member must come up with 9 laws (3 new; 3 to repeal; 3 to modify) and team must vote on final 9 to use in paper.

Criminal Law Evaluation Paper

·         Examine both the sources and purposes of criminal law.

·         Identify and explain jurisdiction to create and enforce criminal law.

·         Discuss and define the adversarial system and the two standards of proof in criminal cases.

·         Define and differentiate the concepts of criminal liability and accomplice liability.

·         Define 3 types of inchoate offenses (Solicitation, conspiracy, and attempt) AND then link all 3 of them to the elements of ONE specific crime (ie, burglary or murder or theft), with hypothetical examples of each.  For example, attempted murder, solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Format your paper according to APA standards, and include level headings throughout the paper itself. (See Sample APA Paper in the Center for Writing Excellence if you are not familiar with these types of headings–https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/APA6thWritingStyleSamplePaperV8.pdf).

Limit your outside (ie, other than the textbooks for this

class) sources to two, total.

2.1  Explain the nature of and types of defenses to criminal liability.

2.2  Distinguish justification from excuse.

2.3  Explore the concept of criminal capacity.

2.4  Discuss the differences between legal and medical perspectives on mental illness and insanity.

Read Ch. 5-7 of Criminal Law Today.

Review the Electronic Reserve Readings.

Paper Q&A: Criminal Defenses and Criminal Capacity

·         What is the definition of justification? What are some examples of justification?  What is the definition of excuse?  Some examples of excuse?  How does justification differ from an excuse? Compare and contrast the criteria between excuse and justification.

·         What is criminal capacity? How does criminal capacity impact the defense process?  Research data regarding rate of conviction of those suffering from mental illness.  How does the data support the connection between criminal convictions and criminal capacity? Explain.

Each team member must write a substantive portion of the final team paper (ie, editing the final draft or writing the introduction and conclusion will NOT earn full points).

Format your paper according to APA standards, and include level headings throughout the paper itself. (See Sample APA Paper in the Center for Writing Excellence if you are not familiar with these types of headings–https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/APA6thWritingStyleSamplePaperV8.pdf).

Limit your outside (ie, other than the textbooks for this

class) sources to three, total.

3.1  Understand the different types of homicide.

3.2  Distinguish Assault, Battery, and Mayhem.

3.3  Explain the differences between Rape and Statutory Rape.

3.4  Define Kidnapping and False Imprisonment.

3.5  Differentiate Robbery, Burglary, and Theft.

3.6  Explore computer and high-technology crimes.

Read Ch. 8-9 of Criminal Law Today.

Review the Electronic Reserve Readings.

Personal Crimes Analysis

·         Then, analyze how the intent of various types of homicide compares with the intent of these 5 forms of personal crimes, in your own words.  (NOT degree, but Intent.)  Be sure to DEFINE and differentiate all of following types of personal crimes, AND include examples (hypothetical or real-life) of each:

·         Assault (premeditated like 1st degree murder? Or knowing like 2nd degree murder? Reckless like manslaughter, etc)

·         Battery (Premeditated like 1st degree murder? etc)

·         Mayhem (etc)

·         Rape (etc)

·         Statutory rape (etc)

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Format your paper according to APA standards, and include level headings throughout the paper itself. (See Sample APA Paper in the Center for Writing Excellence if you are not familiar with these types of headings–https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CWE/pdfs/APA6thWritingStyleSamplePaperV8.pdf).

Limit your outside (ie, other than the textbooks for this

class) sources to three, total.

4.1  Define crimes against public order.

4.2  Define DWI crimes.

4.3  Identify crimes against the administration of government.

4.4  Discuss prostitution, obscenity and lewdness.

4.5  Analyze federal and state anti-drug legislation and asset forfeiture.

Read Ch. 10-12 of Criminal Law Today.

Review the Electronic Reserve Readings.

Anti-drug Legislation Analysis

Prepare a minimum 1,300- word analysis in which you BRIEFLY assess federal and state anti-drug laws, focusing on ONE drug OTHER than marijuana (ie, cocaine/prescription drugs/meth). Then compare and contrast the similarities and differences among at least TWO states, AND federal law, in your own words. Focus on penalties/details of all 3 laws. Finally, what conclusions can be drawn?  . 

(Do not discuss history of laws; only discuss current laws on books. Do not use legalized marijuana as your law of choice as this is not an anti-drug law.)  The bulk of your paper should consist of this analysis.

Then, briefly examine the proposition of legalization of marijuana and the potential impact this legislation change could have at the different levels of the current war

on drugs, both federal and state.

Finally, how would this legalization affect asset forfeiture, and if so, is it worth it?

·         Format your brief according to APA standards, including level headings throughout the paper.

·         Limit your outside sources to four total.

5.1  Define the concept of “victim.”

5.2  Explain victims’ assistance programs.

5.3  Evaluate “Problem Solving Courts” and restorative justice.

5.4  Define plea bargaining and intermediate sanctions.

5.5  Analyze forms of sentencing and their rationale.

5.6  Discuss the Eighth Amendment and its relationship to capital punishment.

Read Ch. 13 & 14 of Criminal Law Today.

Review the Electronic Reserve Readings.

Criminal Legislation Paper

·         First, draft three criminal laws that currently do not exist (think outside the box here; the more original and unique, the better).  These MUST be substantive laws that criminalize some type of behavior; procedural (ie, sentencing) laws will NOT count. 

·         Make sure your legislation includes elements of the offense, including the intent necessary to be established for conviction (ie, knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly).  For example, Arizona’s Reckless Burning law has the following elements that must be proven by the state for someone to be found guilty:

Reckless burning; classification

A. A person commits reckless burning by recklessly causing a fire or explosion which results in damage to:

1. an occupied structure,

2. a structure,

3. wildland or

4. property.

B. Reckless burning is a class 1 misdemeanor.

***Structure each of your 3 new laws as above. 

Next, give me the reason for enacting each new law specifying why the law must be enacted in these times. Next, include your  team member comments in this section.

·         Second, propose three criminal laws (in any state or in the MPC) you believe must be repealed. Include a VERY BRIEF summary of the law/penal code (with the citation and link to that law) and your reasons for the laws’ repeal.  Next, include team member comments.

·         Third, tell me three criminal laws you believe must be modified. The modification must be SUBSTANTIVE (ie, arguing for stricter penalty will NOT count).   Include a brief summary of the law/penal codes (with citation to that law AND to that particular element that is being modified) and your suggestions for the specific element that should be modified.  (For example, if you were modifying AZ’ Reckless Burning statute, you’d tell me you’re eliminating subsection (3) because wild lands should not be the subject of criminal prosecution.)  Next, include team member comments.

·         As a team, you should have already conducted a team discussion about the elements of the assignment.  All team members must comment on ALL 9 laws as these comments will appear in the paper itself.  ***Aim for 50% of your paper to be comprised of your comments.

·         Prior to team discussion: each team member must propose 9 laws (3 new laws; 3 laws to be repealed; 3 laws to be modified).  THEN, team must vote and pick which 9 will be used in team paper.  After outline feedback is returned, THEN, discuss these 9 laws.  These comments will comprise the BULK of your paper.

·         Format your paper according to APA standards (level headings required also).  2,500 words minimum.

·         Include your individual team member comments from your team discussion in the paper so I know by reading the paper, who thinks what.  You may do this by directly quoting from the discussing and/or paraphrasing team member comments from discussion in your forum.  (Again, aim for at least half of your paper to contain these comments.)   Show the back and forth amongst team mates, and do not lump individual comments in separate paragraphs.

·         Resources to Start your Search (for Modified and/or Repealed Laws): Penal codes at http://www.findlaw.com and dumb laws at http://www.dumblaws.com/

Each team member must write a substantive portion of the final team paper (ie, editing the final draft or writing the introduction and conclusion will NOT earn full points).