I. General Information
1. Course Title:
Criminal Law
2. Course Prefix & Number:
CRJU 2101
3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:
Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
4. Course Description:
This is a course in substantive law, including the elements of major crimes and their possible legal defenses. This course will also familiarize students with the Minnesota Criminal Statutes and help prepare students by covering a large portion of the Minnesota POST objectives.
5. Placement Tests Required:
6. Prerequisite Courses:
CRJU 2101 - Criminal Law
There are no prerequisites for this course.
9. Co-requisite Courses:
CRJU 2101 - Criminal Law
There are no corequisites for this course.
II. Transfer and Articulation
1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:
|
Name of Institution |
Course Number and Title |
Credits |
|
Bemidji State University |
CRJS 3358 Criminal Law |
4 |
2. Transfer - regional institutions with which this course has a written articulation agreement:
|
Name of Institution
|
Date of Acceptance
|
Discipline/Area/Program of Transfer
|
|
Bemidji State University
|
June 2009
|
Criminal Justice
|
III. Course Purpose
1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):
|
Name of Program(s)
|
Program Type
|
|
Criminal Justice
|
AAS Diploma Certificate
|
IV. Learning Outcomes
1. College-Wide Outcomes
| College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies |
Students will be able to: |
| Demonstrate reading and listening skills |
Interviewing and interrogation skills |
2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of
the course:
|
Expected Outcome
|
MnTC
Goal Area
|
|
Legal requirements to arrest
|
|
|
Legal requirements governing interrogations
|
|
|
Legal requirements governing suspect identification
|
|
|
Distinguishing between criminal law and criminal procedure
|
|
|
Criminal law for law enforcement
|
|
V. Topical Outline
Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.
1. Lecture Sessions
1. Criminal Law and Criminal Punishment: An Overview
- What Behavior Deserves Criminal Punishment
- Crimes and Noncriminal Wrongs
- Classifying Crimes
- The General and Special Parts of Criminal Law
2. Constitutional Limits on Criminal Law
- The Principle of Legality
- The Ban on Ex Post Facto Laws
- The Void for Vagueness Doctrine
- Equal Protection of the Laws
3. The General Principles of Criminal Liability: Actus Reus
- The Elements of Criminal Liability
- The Criminal Act
- Actus reus and the U.S. Constitution
4. The General Principles of Criminal Liability: Mens Rea, Concurrence, Causation, and Ignorance
and Mistake
- Mens Rea
- Concurrence
- Causation
- Ignorance and Mistake
5. Defenses to Criminal Liability: Justifications
- Affirmation Defenses and Proving Them
- Self Defense
- Defense of Others
- Defense of Home and Property
6. Defenses to Criminal Liability: Excuse
- Defense of Insanity
- Defense of Diminished Capacity
- The Excuse of Age
- Defense of Duress
- The Defense of Intoxication
- The Defense of Entrapment
7. Parties to Crime and Vicarious Liability
- Parties to Crime
- Participation Before and During the Commission of a Crime
- Participation after the Commission of a Crime
- Vicarious Liability
8. Inchoate Crimes: Attempt, Conspiracy, and Solicitation
- Attempt
- Conspiracy
- Solicitation
9. Crimes Against Persons I: Murder and Manslaughter
- Criminal Homicide in Context
- The Meaning of Person or Human Being
- Murder
- Manslaughter
10. Crimes Against Persons II: Criminal Sexual Conduct, Bodily Injury, and Personal Restraint
- Sex Offenses
- The Elements of Modern Rape Law
- Bodily Injury Crimes
- Domestic Violence Crimes
11. Crimes Against Property
- History of Criminal Taking of Others’ Property
12. Crimes Against Public Order and Morals
13. Crimes Against the State