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Bucks County Community CollegeDepartment of Business Studies
Spring 2016
Criminal Procedure for the Paralegal, LAWS165, NW1Monday and Wednesday 6:30 to 9:00pm, Founders Hall Room 214
This course will run from 1/20/2016 through 3/9/2016
Instructor Contact:
Heather Costello, JD
215-968-8283 (office)
Penn Hall 407
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 to 12:30pm, Monday and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30am online
Course Syllabus: If not attached, the official college syllabus for this course canbe found at: http://www.bucks.edu/syllabi/syllabus.php?
lookup=LAWS165
Prerequisites: LAWS100 or LAWS110
Required Texts and Supplementary Material: Criminal Law and Procedure, A Systems Approach, third edition, McCord and McCord.
Technology used in this Class: Power Point, Canvas, Lexis Nexis
Grading Policy: Your grade will be a combination of a midterm and final exam, written exercises and class participation. Active participation in this course is expected and required, open discussions are encouraged.
Mid-term and Final Exam- There will be two tests given during the semester. These tests are not cumulative.
Written Assignments -There will be various writing assignments throughout the semester, which will be used to measure both your writing skills and your knowledge and understanding of the material.
Class Participation- As stated previously, I am hopeful that you will become actively engaged in this course and the discussions that take place in class.
Court House Visits- You will be expected to visit a local court house and write a one page reaction paper.
Grading Scale used- 90 to 100=A 80 to 89=B 70 to 79=C 60 to 69=D Any grade below a 60 is an F
Please note- I do not allow makeup exams or assignments. If you do not have documentation from a doctor you will not be able to make up missed work or exams. There are no exceptions to this policy. Attendance, Class Participation and Withdrawal Policies: You are expected to come to class for every meeting. Too many unexcused absences will result in withdrawal from the course, so please contact me if you are unable to make it to class. Students will be withdrawn from the course after 5 unexcused absences. Please not the following important dates regarding withdrawals:
Last day for Student withdrawal: 4.5.16Last day for instructor withdrawal: 3.11.16
Disability Accommodations:
In compliance with the Bucks County Community College policy and equal access laws, appropriate academic accommodations can be made for students eligible for such support. Students are encouraged to register with the Disability Services Office (215-968-8463) to verify their eligibility for appropriate accommodations. Please speak to your instructor about any requests for academic accommodations or other concerns as early in the semester as possible.
Cheating & Plagiarism:
The expectation at Bucks County Community College is that the principles of truth and honesty will be rigorously followed in all academic endeavors. This assumes that all work will be done by the person who purports to do the work without unauthorized aids. In addition, when making use of language and some idea not his or her own,
whether quoting them directly or paraphrasing them into his or her own words, the student must attribute the source of the material in some standard form, such as naming the source in the text or offering a footnote. (Source: BCCC Catalog, College Policy Regarding Cheating and Plagiarism)
Student’s Responsibility to Retain Course Materials
Students are always responsible for retaining copies of their own work and/or correspondence, including that posted to a web course space. Student access to a Bucks County Community College web course space is available only during the stated semester/session as indicated by the College’s academic calendar. All web course sites, including content, are routinely removed from the server at the conclusion of each semester/session.
Course Objectives: 1. Explain the elements of criminal procedure and practice as they relate to criminal arrests in local state and federal courts from both the prosecution and defendant standpoint, 2. Demonstrate the role of the paralegal in assisting an attorney or group of attorneys in the prosecution or defense of a criminal action, including the drafting of documents and pursuit of pretrial discovery, and 3 illustrate the unique ethical and legal rules that apply to the practice of criminal law.
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS, TESTS AND DUE DATES
Week of Topic Assignment
1/20 Intro to courseFoundations of Criminal Law Reading-Chapter 1Admin. Of Crim. Justice and the Paralegal Reading- Chapter 2
1/25 Components of a Crime Reading- Chapter 3Crimes against persons Reading- Chapter 4Crimes against property, public order, Reading-Chapter 5And safety
2/1 Organized crime Reading- Chapter 6Defenses Reading-Chapter 7
2/8 Midterm exam
2/15 Drafting the complaint Reading-Chapter 8Search and Seizure Reading-Chapter 9
2/22 Pre trial Appearances Reading-Chapter 11Trial rights and procedure Reading-Chapter 13
2/29 Sentencing and post trial Reading- Chapter 14
3/7 Court house visit presentationsFinal Exam
Bucks County Community CollegeNewtown, PA
Please fill out and return to instructor. Please print except for signature.
NAME:___________________ADDRESS:_________________STUDENT NUMBER:_____________TELEPHONE NUMBER:____________HOME:____________WORK:_____________CELL:______________COURSE AND SECTION:_______________
I have received, read and understand the course outline, schedule, grading, and withdrawal procedures. I have also received a list of office hours when the instructor is available. I understand that this time can and should be used to seek help on any course/class work with which I may be having difficulties or problems.
(Signature) (Date)
__________________ ________________
Bucks County Community CollegeNewtown, PA
Please fill out and return to instructor. Please print except for signature.
NAME:___________________ADDRESS:_________________STUDENT NUMBER:_____________TELEPHONE NUMBER:____________HOME:____________WORK:_____________CELL:______________COURSE AND SECTION:_______________
I have received, read and understand the course outline, schedule, grading, and withdrawal procedures. I have also received a list of office hours when the instructor is available. I understand that this time can and should be used to seek help on any course/class work with which I may be having difficulties or problems.
(Signature) (Date)
__________________ ________________
