Introduction To Criminal Court Systems –

cja224

(3 credits)

This course is an introduction and overview of the legal system, the participants, the courtroom process, and post conviction process of the course system. It demonstrates the connection among all participants and how they relate to each other. Additionally, the course covers the history of the court system and the different types of court at the state and federal levels.

This undergraduate-level course is 5 weeks. To enroll, speak with an Enrollment Advisor.

Topics and Objectives

Court Systems: History, Structure, and Philosophy
- Recognize the common law heritage of the American legal system.
- Explain the history of courts in the United States.
- Describe the hierarchal structure of criminal courts.
- Differentiate between the state court systems and the Federal court systems.
- Describe the Crime Control and Due Process models of criminal justice.
Participants in the Courtroom
- Identify the duties, role, and ethics of the prosecutor.
- Describe examples of prosecutorial misconduct.
- Identify the duties, role, and ethics of the defense attorney.
- Describe examples of ineffective representation of counsel.
- Identify the duties, role, and ethics of judges.
- Compare the various methods of judicial selection.
- Describe the role of the defendant in criminal procedures.
- Describe the role of the victim in criminal procedures.
- Identify the duties, role, and ethics of jurors.
Criminal Processes: Arrest, Pre-Trial, and Trial
- Review arrest, booking, and initial appearance procedures.
- Describe the right to bail.
- Identify types of bail.
- Compare grand jury and preliminary hearings.
- Identify rules of discovery.
- Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of plea bargaining.
- Describe the trial process.
- Define the elements of a crime.
- Identify legal defenses.
Emerging Issues and Challenges
- Explain the juvenile court process.
- Summarize the function of specialized courts.
- Describe differential treatment of women and minorities.
- Identify the causes of wrongful conviction.
- Explain the use of technology in the courtroom.
- Discuss contemporary challenges and emerging issues in the courts.
Post-Conviction Process
- Identify the major sentencing goals or philosophies.
- Identify the primary types of sanctions.
- Describe the legal factors in sentencing.
- Describe alternative sentencing options.
- Summarize the appellate process.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.
While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Advisor.
Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.

Introduction To Criminal Court Systems –

cja224

Court Systems: History, Structure, and Philosophy

Participants in the Courtroom

Criminal Processes: Arrest, Pre-Trial, and Trial

Emerging Issues and Challenges

Post-Conviction Process

We're here to help

Learn more today