NCJ Number
59107
Date Published
1976
Length
44 pages
Annotation
TO PROVIDE EDUCATION IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE CONCEPTS AND TO SUGGEST POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES REINFORCING THESE CONCEPTS, THIS TEACHER'S MANUAL HAS BEEN COMPILED FOR STUDENTS IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Abstract
SOME OF THE TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, A GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES, THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT, ROLES OF PERSONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE POLICE, DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS), GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF CRIMINAL STATUTES, STRICT LIABILITY CRIMES, AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES, THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT, DUE PROCESS AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE, REASONABLE SEARCHES, STOP AND FRISK AND SEARCHES OF AUTOMOBILES, AND INCORPORATED AND NONINCORPORATED PROCEDURES. IN ADDITION, GOALS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR APPROACHING PROBLEMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE NOTED. DISCUSSION TOPICS RELATING TO THE DEFINITIONS OF CRIME AND CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURES ARE INCLUDED. OTHER TOPICS ADDRESSED OUTLINE THE BASIC SKILLS INVOLVED IN FINDING AND READING JUDICIAL DECISIONS, INTERPRETATION OF CRIMINAL STATUTES, ANALYZING CONCEPTS, AND DIFFERENT METHODS OF TEACHING ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE CONSTITUTION. ONE OF THE STRATEGIES USED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS THE 'PROBLEM APPROACH', IN WHICH STUDENTS DISCUSS DISCREPANCIES IN THE SYSTEM, SUCH AS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIVING OFFICIALS DISCRETION IN REACHING A DECISION AND REQUIRING THEM TO FUNCTION WITHIN A SET OF DETAILED RULES AND PROCEDURES. MOREOVER, A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSTITUTION CAN BE TAUGHT BY THE 'CASE METHOD APPROACH', WHEREBY STUDENTS READ CASES INVOLVING REAL SITUATIONS THAT ARE CONCERNED WITH MORE THAN ONE POINT OF VIEW AND WHICH PROMOTE STUDENT INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE ISSUES. CONSTITUTIONAL DOCTRINES, AS THEY AFFECT SCHOOL RULINGS AND STUDENTS' RIGHTS, WOULD ALSO BE OF INTEREST TO STUDENTS. FINALLY, SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS CONCERNING FURTHER STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ARE NOTED. A DESCRIPTION OF SESSIONS CONCERNING FUTURE GOALS, HELD WITH MALE OFFENDERS PARTICIPATING IN A WORK RELEASE PROGRAM, IS APPENDED. (WJR)