Course Outline for Administration of Justice 60
Criminal Law

Effective: Fall 2021
SLO Rev: 02/24/2020
Catalog Description:

ADMJ 60 - Criminal Law

3.00 Units

This course offers an analysis of the doctrine of criminal liability in the United States and classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public welfare. Emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, elements of particular crimes, and defenses to crime. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to criminal law and will include some limited discussion of prosecution and defense decision making, criminal culpability, and defenses to crime.
2105.00 - Administration of Justice*
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. discuss the goals and characteristics of criminal law;
  2. discuss the philosophical and historical evolution of criminal law, noting the role of the judiciary in its development;
  3. write briefs concerning decisions rendered in appropriate cases;
  4. explain the sources of criminal law and the concept of "police power";
  5. demonstrate knowledge of the basic terminology, definitions, and theories of criminal law;
  6. distinguish between substantive and procedural laws;
  7. contrast criminal with civil liability;
  8. explain the classification of crimes;
  9. identify elements of offenses against the person, property, morals, and public peace and safety;
  10. explain the capacity to commit crimes, causation, and culpability;
  11. explain the laws of arrest and detention;
  12. explain and discuss criminal defenses, legal justifications, and burdens of proof.
Course Content:
  1. Historical development and structure of criminal law
    1. Common Law
    2. General and specific sources of statutory law
    3. The concept of Stare Decisis
    4. Pre-emption
    5. Mala in Se vs. Mala prohibita crime
    6. Crimes without victims
    7. Federal constitutional provisions
    8. Police power
    9. Substantive vs. procedural law
    10. Civil vs. Criminal
  2. Classification of crimes
    1. Distinction between felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions
    2. Punishments
    3. Prior convictions
    4. Lesser and included offenses
  3. Corpus Delicti – elements of crime
    1. Act and intent – negligence
    2. Proximate cause
    3. General intent
    4. Specific intent
    5. Transferred intent
  4. Capacity to commit crime
  5. Overview of specific crimes
    1. Crimes against the person and property
    2. Crimes against public decency, morality and the public peace
  6. Criminal defenses and justifications
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Oral and Written Analysis
  3. Class and group discussions
  4. Case Study
  5. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Based on provided fact patterns, in a small group, determine and present various defenses that could be raised based on listed evidence.
  2. Choose a specific Supreme Court decision of interest to you and write a "case brief" to present to the class.
  3. In a small group create and present a "mock trial" to the class.
  1. Class Participation
  2. Quizzes
  3. Midterm Examination
  4. Oral and written presentation of group research project.
  5. Final Examination
  6. Homework
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Identify the different categories of crime and the elements of major crimes against persons, property, the justice system, and the state;
  2. discuss, describe, and state the main sources of criminal law and the reasons for the limits on criminal law and punishment in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights;
  3. Know the laws of arrest.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Garland, N (2017). Criminal Law for the Criminal Justice Professional (4th ). McGraw Hill.
  2. Schmalleger, F.; Hall, D (2016). Criminal Law Today (6th). Pearson.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This course offers an analysis of the doctrine of criminal liability in the United States and classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public welfare. Emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, elements of particular crimes, and defenses to crime. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to criminal law.