CJUS 220 - Criminal Evidence and Procedure

Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory (or Other) Hours: 0

Prerequisite(s): CJUS 100
Restriction(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

This course is a comprehensive analysis of the rules of evidence and criminal procedural law. Topics include the laws pertaining to confessions, arrests, searches and seizures, and the rights and procedures pursuant to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments. The Federal Rules of Evidence will be reviewed, as well as evidentiary processes that are central to the criminal justice system.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course:

Define the concepts of seizure, search, reasonableness and probable cause through U.S. Supreme Court cases concerning the Fourth Amendment
Define “custody” and “interrogation” through U.S. Supreme Court cases interpreting the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.
Explain how the concept of due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments has been defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in identification and investigation procedures.
Identify the holdings of the U.S. Supreme Court in pivotal criminal procedure cases presented in this course.
Distinguish between admissible and inadmissible evidence.
Identify the differences between direct and circumstantial evidence and the effects thereof.
Evaluate opinion evidence as to its weight and effect.
Identify the exceptions to the hearsay exclusionary rule.
Discuss the effect of privileged communications and the necessity of waivers for admissibility.
Explain the effect of unconstitutionally obtained evidence (fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine/violations of Miranda)