Mini 2016 Advanced Criminal Law CRMJ 384 Sylabus

Syllabus: Advanced Criminal Law

CRMJ 384, Section 001

Minimester 2016

Prerequisite(s): (see UG Catalog)

Contact Information

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Instructor Name: Brian Gorman, J.D.

Office Location: Liberal Arts–Room 3220

Office Phone: (410) 704-2206

E-mail Address: bgorman@towson.edu

Office Hours: After class 4:30PM-5:00PM, or by appointment.

Department Office Phone: (410) 704-2852

Course Classroom: Liberal Arts–Room 3317

Class Meeting Time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 1:00PM- 4:30 PM (Jan 4-Jan 21)

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Course Overview

This course examines the basic concepts of substantive criminal law through the case method approach. The role of the common law in the development of criminal law doctrines is examined through an examination of the elements of crime including the role of criminal intent and mental states, in addition to criminal actions. Defenses such as mental disease or defect, youth, self-defense, and involuntary intoxication are examined as well. A number of crimes including: murder, rape, robbery, and assault are covered to explore the aforementioned concepts.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Identify common law doctrines and the impact of historical development upon modern law.
Critique the application of substantive criminal law in the criminal justice system.
Apply substantive criminal law doctrines to real and hypothetical fact patterns.
Demonstrate competence in traditional elements of legal scholarship including oral defense of opinions, briefing cases, maintaining course outline, and legal essay writing..

Required Reading Materials

Wayne R. LaFave, Modern Criminal Law: Cases, Comments and Questions, 2006, 4^th Ed. Thomson/West.

Recommended: A pocket legal dictionary such as Black’s.

Class Format

The class requires class participation since the Socratic Method will be used with the case method approach. Each student will be required to share the results of their case briefs with the class and contribute to class discussion.

Course Work

Regular class participation is required to successfully complete the course. Class lecture is limited; learning takes place from the sharing of case briefs and joint analysis of legal doctrines. Also, students must create an outline summarizing the legal tests and doctrines of the cases covered. Outlines must be brought to class on two occasions listed below or face a reduction in your final grade. The outlines will not be graded and may be the product of individuals or study groups working together, but they must reflect cases up to and including the date of inspection or face a loss of 3 points from the final grade of the course for each date. Thus, failure to present a course outline on both of the dates below could result in the loss of a total of 6 points from your final grade.

Outline Check , January 7, 2016

Outline Check , January 14, 2016

Exam Schedule & Policies

Failure to take an exam without an approved excuse results in an “F” for that exam. Approved excuses include: documented illness or injury such that attendance is not possible, recognized religious holiday/observance, participation in university activities such as athletics so long as advance notice is given, or any other verifiable exigent circumstance beyond the student’s control. Vacations are not exigent circumstances, no matter how far in advance the trip is booked or costly it may be. It is the student’s responsibility to plan work, travel and vacation schedules around university obligations.

Week 2. Mid-term exam #1: 33% Monday, January 11, 2015.

Week 3. Mid-term exam #2: 33%, Monday, January 18, 2015.

Final: 34% Thursday, January 21, 2014 (Take Home).

Academic Integrity

Department Statement on Academic Integrity (Updated Spring 2015)

The faculty of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice expects students to demonstrate academic integrity at all times, and takes a strong stand against academic dishonesty of all forms. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any class. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, any form of cheating or unapproved help on an exam or academic exercise, copying someone else’s written work without citation, presenting fabricated information as legitimate, any unauthorized collaboration among students, or assisting someone to cheat in any way. Penalties for academic dishonesty are determined by the individual faculty member. The minimum penalty in for academic dishonesty in this class is a failing grade for the assignment. Students who are charged with academic dishonesty must remain enrolled in the course and cannot withdraw. Instructors will file a report of academic dishonesty with the Office of the Student Conduct and Civility Education, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and to the Chair’s Office in the department.

For more information on academic integrity, see the TU Student Academic Integrity Policy (http://catalog.towson.edu/undergraduate/appendices/appendix-f-code-student-conduct/) and the College of Liberal Arts’ Academic Integrity and Appeals Information, (http://www.towson.edu/cla/acadviolations).

We also encourage students to make use of campus resources to learn more about academic integrity and how to avoid academic dishonesty, such as the resources provided by Cook Library (http://pages.towson.edu/sara/plagiarism.html#students).

Disability and Support Services

Students who have, or suspect that they may have, a disability should seek services through Disability Support Services. Students must be registered with DSS and receive written authorization to obtain disability-related accommodations. If you need accommodation due to a disability, please visit DSS for guidance. The office is located at 7720 York Road, Ph: 410-704-2638 or 3475.

Class Participation/Attendance

Students will be expected to sit in seats in compliance with a seating chart created on the first class to receive credit for attendance. Attendance and participation in class is expected and worth a half grade (+, -, or, no change) on the course grade. Students will be called on to answer questions and participate in class activities. Positive contributions to class combined with regular attendance can result in an increase of a half grade on the course grade, i.e. a “B” would be raised to a “B+”. Detraction from class via disruptions from inappropriate cell phone or laptop usage etc. and/or absences in excess of 2 classes could result in reduction of the course grade by one half grade, i.e. a “B” would be reduced to an “B-”. Otherwise, if there is neither a positive nor negative impact on class from attendance or participation, there will be no change in the course grade. Class participation will be measured by the quantity and quality of class participation. Commitments to participate will be documented regularly at the end of each class when students have the opportunity to volunteer in advance for the presentation of case briefs for the following class

Public Health Emergency/General Emergency Contingency Plans/Notifications.

In the event of a University-wide emergency course requirements deadlines and grading schemes are subject to changes that may include alternative delivery methods, alternative methods of interaction with the instructor, class materials, and/or classmates, a revised attendance policy, and a revised semester calendar and/or grading scheme. In the case of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the following about changes in this course:

Course web page on Blackboard.

E-mail’s from your instructor at bgorman@towson.edu
Instructor’s chosen emergency telephone number: 410-704-2206.
For general information about any emergency situation, please refer to the following:

Web Site: www.towson.edu
TU Text Alert System: This is a service designed to alert the Towson University community via text messages to cell phones when situations arise on campus that affect the ability of the campus to function normally. Sign up: http://www.towson.edu/adminfinance/facilities/police/campusemergency/

Policy on Repeating Course

Students may not repeat this course more than once (make a third attempt at this course) without the prior approval of the Academic Standards Committee. Please call 4-4351 or visit ES 235 for more information.

Final Grades

The grades that can be issued to students in undergraduate courses are: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D+, D, F. Note that there is no A+, C-, or D- grade at the undergraduate level. The breakdown for determining grades is: A = 93-100%, A- = 90-92.9, B+ = 87-89.9, B = 83-86.9, B- = 80-82.9, C+ = 77-79.9, C = 72-76.9, D+ = 67-71.9, D = 62.1-66.9, F = 62 and below.

Course Schedule

Introduction.

Class Flow Chart