MVV105K The Criminal Justice Process in the United States: It’s Framework and Operation

Faculty of Law
Spring 2012
Extent and Intensity
0/1. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mark A. Speiser (seminar tutor), doc. JUDr. Jiří Valdhans, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Jiří Valdhans, Ph.D.
Department of International and European Law – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Mgr. Eva Kolečková
Supplier department: Department of International and European Law – Faculty of Law
Timetable of Seminar Groups
MVV105K/01: Wed 2. 5. 13:30–15:00 209, Thu 3. 5. 8:00–9:30 025, Fri 4. 5. 8:00–9:30 133, Wed 9. 5. 8:00–9:30 025, Thu 10. 5. 8:00–9:30 025, 9:35–11:05 148
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Law (programme PrF, M-PPV)
Course objectives
THE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THIS COURSE WILL BE AFFORDED AN EXTENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AN ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND THE “SEPARATIONS OF POWERS” DOCTRINE WILL BE THE INITIAL FOCAL POINT FOR THE LECTURE SERIES, FOLLOWED BY AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SIMILAR YET DISTINCT FEDERAL AND STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEMS THAT EXIST FOR THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMINAL CASES.
THEREAFTER, THE CLASS WILL SHIFT ITS ATTENTION TO THE SOURCES OF LAW UTILIZED IN CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS WITH PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION KNOWN AS THE “BILL OF RIGHTS” DESIGNED TO BOTH LIMIT THE POWER OF THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES OF THOSE PERSONS SUSPECTED AND/OR CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
THE COURSE WILL ALSO EXAMINE VARIOUS AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES UTILITZED TO UNCOVER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AND CONSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS ADDRESSING THESE MEASURES. LEGAL ISSUES THAT ROUTINELY OCCUR DURING CRIMINAL TRIALS THAT JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS MUST ADDRESS AND BE COGNIZANT OF WILL ALSO BE INDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED. LASTLY, THE COURSE WILL REVIEW SEVERAL TOPICS THAT GENERATE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE, NAMELY DEATH PENALTY CASES, JURY SELECTION AND PROBLEM- SOLVING SPECIALTY COURTS.
Syllabus
  • LECTURES:
  • A. STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT • FEDERAL V. STATE SYSTEMS • THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT o LEGISLATIVE o EXECUTIVE o JUDICIAL • CONCEPT OF “SEPARATION OF POWERS”
  • B. STRUCTURE OF COURT SYSTEMS AND JURISDICTION OF COURTS • FEDERAL o ARTICLE III CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS o COURTS WITH JURISDICTION OVER SPECIFIC SUBJECT MATTERS • STATE (FLORIDA) • ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
  • C. U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS DESIGNED TO LIMIT GOVERNMENT OVERREACHING AND TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS BEING INVESTIGATED OR CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, • AMMENDMENTS TO U.S. CONSTITUTION o 1ST, 4TH, 5TH, 6TH, 8TH, 10TH, 14TH
  • D. OTHER SOURCES OF LAW APPLICABLE TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS • STATUTES • APPELLATE JUDICIAL DECISSIONS • RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE • EVIDENCE CODE • JURY INSTRUCTIONS • COMMON LAW
  • E. LAW ENFORCEMENT MEASURES UTILIZED TO DETECT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY • UNDERCOVER POLICE • INFORMANTS • MOBILE TRACKING DEVICES • PEN REGISTER AND TRAP AND TRACE DEVICES • SEARCH WARRANTS • WIRETAPS
  • F. ROLE OF A JUDGE DURING CRMINAL TRIAL
  • G. JURY CONSIDERATIONS AND ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED DURING A CRIMINAL TRIAL
  • H. CONSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT ROUTINELY OCCUR IN A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION • RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY • RIGHT TO COUNSEL • RIGHT TO SELF-REPRESENTATION • RIGHT TO CONFRONT WITNESSES • RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION • RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE • SEARCH WARRANT AND EXCEPTIONS TO SEARCH WARRANT REQUIREMENTS • EXCLUSIONARY RULE • MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE • BURDEN OF PROOF/PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE • DOUBLE JEOPARDY • PUNISHMENT VERSUS REHABILITATION • SENTENCING
  • I. DEATH PENALTY CONSIDERATIONS IN CAPITAL PREMEDITATED MURDER CASES
  • J. PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS AND SPECIALTY COURTS • DRUG COURTS • MENTAL HEALTH COURTS • VETERANS COURT • HABITUAL OFFENDER COURTS • DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURTS
Literature
  • Study materials will be handed over to the students before and during the course.
Teaching methods
lecture, class discussion
Assessment methods
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND DISCUSSION IS STRONGLY ENCOURGAGED AND IN FACT INVITED. THE GRADE FOR THE COURSE WILL BE BASED UPON CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE AS WELL AS A FINAL EXAM CONSISTING OF A COMBINATION OF MULTIPLE CHOICE AND TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS AS WELL AS A SHORT ESSAY.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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