Criminal Justice is a one semester elective course for 11th and 12th grade students. This course examines the major topics of law, crime, and justice, with a detailed examination of the American Criminal Justice System. Specific topics of coverage include: the police and law enforcement; prosecution; the court system; trial procedure; and juvenile justice.

COURSE OBJECTIVES...After completing this course, each student will be able to: 1. Evaluate why each citizen should have a knowledge of crime, law, and justice in our society. 2. Trace the role played by discretion in the criminal justice system. 3. Critique various controversial elements of American Criminal Justice, including police investigation and search procedures; plea-bargaining; judge and jury selection, the U.S. prison system and the death penalty. 4. Compare and contrast the adult and juvenile justice systems.

UNIT EXAMS: Upon completion of each of the six major units of the course, a unit exam will be given. Such exams will be both objective and subjective, using TF, matching, completion, multiple choice, and short essay questions. Exams will count 100 points each.

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS: During each unit, students will also be assigned a variety of smaller written assignments. Such assignments will include opinion essays, review questions, quizzes, and special projects, such as the creation of an opinion poll or student-created legislative bill. These assignments will normally count 20 points.

INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH: Three different options for student research are available. Detailed information about the research requirement and due dates will be communicated to students early in the semester.

MOCK TRIAL ACTIVITY...During the Trial Procedure Unit, students will be formed into Mock Trial Teams. Teams will be given cases and roles to research. Class time for this research will be provided. The final mock trial performance will be a major unit grade equivalent to a unit test grade. There will be both an individual and a team grade given.

FIELD TRIPS: All Criminal Justice class members have the opportunity to participate in two excellent field trip activities. Toward the end of the semester, field trips will be planned, which will allow students to visit/tour an Iowa Prison and the Juvenile Correctional Center in Eldora. In past years, these two trips have been particularly popular aspects of the Criminal Justice Class.

Criminal Justice Benchmarks and Standards

Criminal Justice Research

UNIT ONE: INTRODUCTION

UNIT TWO: LAW ENFORCEMENT

UNIT THREE: PROSECUTION AND COURTS

UNIT FOUR: TRIAL PROCEDURE

UNIT FIVE: MOCK TRIAL

UNIT SIX: SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS

UNIT SEVEN: JUVENILE JUSTICE