Unit 1667: Foundations of Criminal Law and Procedure

1. Introduction to Criminal Law

• Definition and purpose of criminal law
• Elements of a crime
  • Actus Reus (guilty act)
  • Mens Rea (guilty mind)
• Classifications of crimes
  • Felonies
  • Misdemeanors
  • Infractions
• Differences between criminal law and civil law
  • Objectives
  • Parties involved
  • Burden of proof

2. Sources of Criminal Law

• Statutory Law
  • Role of legislatures
  • Examples of criminal statutes
• Common Law
  • Judicial precedent
  • Evolution of criminal law through case law
• Constitutional Law
  • Protections and limitations (e.g., due process, rights of the accused)
• Administrative Regulations
  • Role of regulatory agencies
  • Examples impacting criminal conduct
• Interaction and hierarchy between these sources

3. Criminal Liability

• Mental states required for liability
  • Intention
  • Knowledge
  • Recklessness
  • Negligence
• Principles of Actus Reus and Mens Rea in liability
• Defenses to criminal liability
  • Insanity
  • Self-defense
  • Duress
  • Entrapment
  • Mistake of fact

4. Criminal Procedure Overview

• Stages of a criminal case
  • Investigation
  • Arrest
  • Charging
  • Arraignment
  • Trial
  • Sentencing
  • Appeal
• Rights of the accused
  • Presumption of innocence
  • Right to counsel
  • Right to a fair trial
• Key players in the criminal justice system
  • Police
  • Prosecutors
  • Defense attorneys
  • Judges
  • Jury

5. Search and Seizure

• Fourth Amendment protections
• Warrant requirements
  • Probable cause
  • Particularity
• Exceptions to warrant requirements
  • Consent
  • Plain view
  • Exigent circumstances
  • Search incident to arrest
• The exclusionary rule
  • Purpose and application
  • Good faith exception

6. Arrest and Interrogation

• Legal requirements for a valid arrest
  • Probable cause
  • Arrest warrants
• Miranda rights
  • Right to remain silent
  • Right to an attorney
• Right to counsel during interrogation
• Admissibility of statements
  • Voluntariness
  • Custodial interrogation rules
  • Exceptions and limitations

7. Pretrial Procedures

• Bail and bond
  • Purpose and types
  • Factors influencing bail decisions
• Arraignment process
• Plea bargaining
  • Advantages and criticisms
• Discovery
  • Prosecution and defense obligations
  • Types of evidence disclosed

8. Trial Procedures

• Jury selection (voir dire)
• Opening statements
• Presentation of evidence
  • Direct and cross-examination of witnesses
  • Introduction of physical and documentary evidence
• Closing arguments
• Jury instructions
• Verdicts
  • Types (guilty, not guilty, hung jury)

9. Sentencing and Appeals

• Purposes of sentencing
  • Punishment
  • Deterrence
  • Rehabilitation
  • Restitution
• Factors in sentencing decisions
  • Severity of the crime
  • Criminal history
  • Mitigating and aggravating circumstances
• Types of sentences
  • Incarceration
  • Probation
  • Fines
  • Community service
• Appeals process
  • Grounds for appeal
  • Appellate court procedures
• Post-conviction remedies
  • Habeas corpus
  • Sentence modification

10. Emerging Issues in Criminal Law

• Technology’s impact on crime
  • Cybercrime
  • Digital evidence
• Intersection of mental health and criminal justice
  • Competency to stand trial
  • Mental health courts
• Evolving criminal procedure in the digital age
  • Surveillance
  • Data privacy
  • Challenges to traditional legal concepts