AJ 002- Concepts of California Criminal Law - Online

What you need to do immediately:

1. Register for the class

2. Send instructor your email address immediately upon enrollment and before the first day of instruction to avoid being dropped.

What you will Need: A computer with internet access and an Email account. If you do not have a computer of your own, you can use the Technology Center at West Valley College and they will provide you with an Email account.

CLASS Format: All Assignments/Deadlines/etc. will be handled via email.
Only one email account is permitted for class use.
PRINT and read this syllabi.
NO on-campus meetings will be held.
TEXTS: The two required texts are listed below.

Note: It is a student's responsibility to officially drop classes they are not attending.

Units: 3

Instructor: Marge Faulstich

Phone: (408) 741-2180 (Voice Mail)
Fax# (408) 741-4009
College Email: marge_faulstich@westvalley.edu
Instructor Homepage: http://instruct.westvalley.edu/faulstich

COURSE SYLLABUS

TITLE AND NUMBER OF COURSE:

Concepts of Criminal Law, Units-3

Administration of Justice 002, Online

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

Historical development, philosophy of law and constitutional

provisions; definitions, classification of crime and their

application to the system of administration of justice; legal

research, study of case law, methodology, and concepts of

law as a social force.

REQUIRED TEXT:

Concepts of California Criminal Law, Dr. George Payton, 11th Edition.

To Kill Again, Dr. Donald Sears (WVC bookstore packet)

OBJECTIVES:

To provide the student with a knowledge of the historical development of law and the philosophy of law.
To familiarize the student with the United States constitution and to integrate constitutional provisions with the fundamentals of law.
To introduce the student to the basic legal definitions and concepts which provide a foundation for law.
To develop within the student an appreciation for the value of a case study and legal research as a means of interpreting court decisions in relation to the written statutes.

COURSE CONTENT:

A. Legal research and methodology

B. Philosophical and historical development of law

C. The nature of criminal law

D. Classification of crimes

E. Corpus Delecti--elements of crimes

F. Capacity to commit crimes

G. Overview of specific types of crime (i.e., Serial killers/mass murders).

EVALUATION PROCEDURE:

EXAM-Payton Text: Chapters 1-10 = 200 pts.

EXAM-Sears Text: Chapters 1-4, "To Kill Again" = 65 pts.

TERM PROJECT: Internet Research Assignment = 300 pts.

GRADING PROCEDURE:

A= 565-508

B= 507-450

C= 449-392

D= 391-334

F= 333, or below

ONLINE ASSIGNMENT AND TEST INFORMATION:

Students will be emailed all assignments, projects, and exams.
Students will be emailed a Deadline to submit work, via email..
Tests must be turned in on time. Late work is not acceptable for credit. No exceptions.
Keep a file of all work in case any problems arise, & you must forward the work to the instructor as evidence that you met the stated deadline..
Completed tests: must be turned in via email to your instructor. Do not attach it as a document. (Documents often do not open or cannot be read). Cut and paste ALLtest questions & answers into an email to the instructor.
Internet Assignments: a) will take you on the world wide web; b) will introduce you to legal research and criminal justice websites.

"Concepts of California Criminal Law" textbook, by Dr. George Payton

Chapter One-The Development of Law
Chapter Two-Constitutional Law in the United States, Provisions for Making, and Administration of Law
Chapter Three-Legal Research and Methodology
Chapter Four-General Aspects of Criminal Law
Chapter Five-Classification of Offenses & Punishment
Chapter Six-Components Needed for a Criminal Offense
Chapter Seven-Parties to Criminal Acts
Chapter Eight-The Inchoate Offenses
Chapter Nine-Defenses Against Criminal Prosecution
Chapter Ten-Common Crimes and Their Elements

"To Kill Again", Dr. Donald Sears,WVC bookstore packet

Exam-Chapter One-Four, 65 questions @ 1pt.each=65 pts.

STUDENT CHEATING

Assignments, tests, and exams are the property of instructor and are not to be copied, duplicated, or shared with others without the express approval of instrucor. Above all, students who major in Administration of Justice or who hope to become a Criminal Justice career professional should be exemplary in their honesty and integrity. Any student found to be cheating may receive the following sanction(s): verbal or written warning (copy to Dean); receive a drop with an “F” grade, and or recommended for expulsion from the Administration of Justice program. Do your own work.

MAKEUP POLICY:

Failure to take the final exam and to verify illness/emergency will result in an "F" course grade.

Makeup exams are approved only in case of verified illness/emergency permitting a student to receive an "incomplete" grade, with pre-approval of the instructor. .

Instructor Availability:

Student office hours: TBA

Links:

Click here to go the West Valley College Bookstore

West Valley College Disability Statement: West Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. College materials will be available in alternate formats (Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request. Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.

marge_faulstich@westvalley.edu

revised September 20, 2008
by Marge Faulstich, e-mail address: marge_faulstich@westvalley.edu