Frederick Community College CJ -110 Criminal Law SPRING 2011
Class begins:	Class ends:	Last Day to Withdraw:

Jan. 24, 2011 May 13, 2011 April 9, 2011

Instructor Information:
Name: Dr. Tracy R. Parker	Office: H229
E-mail: tparker@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-624-2819
Contact Hours: Tuesdays 10:00-11:15am Wednesdays 2:00-3:15pm (Thursdays/Fridays by appointment) Reply to student email within 24 to 36 hours	Campus Mail Box #: 290

Course Information:
Credits: 3
On-campus Meetings: N/A	On-campus Exams: 1
Prerequisites: EN 52 or ESL 99	Corequisites:

Course Description:

Explores the history and purpose of criminal law. Also examines elements of substantive criminal common law as modified by statute. Introduces legal research and a case study review of appellate court decisions relative to selective aspects of criminal law.

Core Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify and evaluate various state prohibitions of certain activities and behaviors as well the punishments for transgressions thereof;

2. Apply the elements of a major common law and statutory crimes as well as the defenses and justifications/excuses that are available to find one not guilty or to limit criminal liability;

3. Recognize the various crimes, defenses, justifications, and excuses in hypothetical situations;

4. Evaluate and synthesize judicial decisions in creating legal principles; and

5. “Brief” and therefore properly analyze court options.

Instructional Methods:

Lecture (optional in-class sessions as determined by the instructor)

Group Discussion

Practical Exercises

Guided Independent Study

 How is this course organized:

This course is online, but it is not a self-paced course. Assignments are posted on Mondays by 5pm. Each assignment week begins on Monday at 5pm and ends the following Monday at 4:30pm. You are responsible for checking your class located on Blackboard and your email regularly (at least a few times a week). If you have questions regarding the organization of the course, you are responsible for contacting the instructor.

Text(s) and Course Materials:

Joel Samaha, Criminal Law, 10^th Ed. (required)

Progress Report:

By the end of the 4th week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course.

Evaluation Methods:

Tests / Papers / Projects	Point Value	Final Grade Scale
Exams (There will be 3-5 exams. Exams will use a variety of formats and testing methods to assess student learning. For example, you will see short answers, multiple choice, true/false, and essay questions. Further, exams will be offered in varied formats including online and proctored. Details for all exams will be provided in the weekly assignment folders.)	100 points each	A=90-100%
Projects (Students will participate in practical exercises and provide a written report. Details will be provided in the weekly assignment folders.)	80 points each	B=80-89%
Participation		C=70-79%
		D=60-69%
		F=59% or below

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

Student Services

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx.

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

Participation Policy:

You are required to login as directed and check the weekly assignment folders and your FCC email. This course requires students’ participation in all learning activities.

All course assignments are due on the dates specified. Course assignments includes all work covered in the assignment folders. The instructor will allow a make-up exam if the exam is missed due to a serious illness, emergency, religious holiday, or participation in an official college function. The student must provide supporting documentation for missing the exam. A make-up exam must be taken within the deadline set by the instructor.

Email Policy:

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 36 hours.

Academic Integrity:

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times. Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

Topical Outline (ONLINE COURSES)

Week	SUBJECT	CONTENT
Week 1	Criminal Law and Criminal Punishment (An Overview) Criminal vs. Civil Court	Chapter 1: Nature & Origins of Criminal Law; Classifying Crimes; Sources of Criminal Law Distinctions between Criminal and Civil Court Systems
Week 2	Critical Thinking and the Law Case Briefing	Chapter 2: Constitutional Limits on Criminal Law Case Briefing (review material on Case briefing in Chapter 1) IRAC: Critical Thinking Exercise
Week 3	General Principles of Criminal Liability	Chapter 3: Elements of Criminal Liability; Actus Reus; Omissions as Criminal Acts and Possession as a Criminal Act ASSIGN PROJECT #1
Week 4	General Principles of Criminal Liability (continued)	Chapter 4: Mens Rea; Concurrence Causation; and Ignorance and Mistake
Week 5	EXAM : Covers Chapters 1-4 Defenses to Criminal Liability	EXAM Chapter 5: Affirmative Defenses and Proving Them; Self-Defense; Defense of Others; Defense of Home and Property; The “New Castle Laws”; “Choice of Evils
Week 6	Defenses to Criminal Liability Project #1 Due	Chapter 6: Defense of Insanity; Defense of Diminished Capacity; The Excuse of Age; Duress; Intoxication; Entrapment; and the Syndromes Defense Project #1 Due
Week 7	Parties to Crime and Vicarious Liability	Chapter 7: Parties to Crime; Participation Before and During the Commission of a Crime; Participation After the Commission of a Crime; Vicarious Liability ASSIGN PROJECT #2
Week 8	Inchoate Crimes	Chapter 8: Inchoate Crimes; Attempt; Conspiracy; Solicitation
Week 9	EXAM Covers Chapters 5-8 Crimes Against Persons I	EXAM Chapter 9: Criminal Homicide in Context
Week 10	Crimes Against Persons I	Chapter 9: The Meaning of “Person” and “Human” Murder and Manslaughter
Week 11	Crimes Against Persons II	Chapter 10: Criminal Sexual Conduct, Bodily Injury, and Personal Restraint
Week 12	Crimes Against Property	Chapter 11: History; Larceny and Theft; Robbery and Extortion; Receiving Stolen Property; Damaging and Destroying Other’s Property; Invading Other People’s Property; Cybercrimes
Week 13	Crimes Against Public Order and Morals	Chapter 12: Disorderly Conduct; Quality of Life Crimes; Panhandling; Gang Activity; Victimless Crimes
Week 14	Crimes Against State	Chapter 13: Treason; Sedition, Sabotage, and Espionage; Anti-Terrism Crimes Project #2 Due
Week 15	EXAM Covers Chapters 9-13	EXAM

Break	Online Courses observe Spring and Fall Break	March 14-15, 2011 No Classed, College Open March 16-20, 2011 No Classes, College Closed
	Official Make-up Dates	May 16-17, 2011

NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this outline as needed. You are to follow the weekly assignment folders. This outline is tentative.