This is an introductory course in the study of criminal law, general legal principles, and how the criminal law functions in and affects modern society. This course highlights a variety of key topics, including the concept of crime and the development of criminal law, defenses to criminal charges, and a number of specific types of crimes, including personal crimes, property crimes, public order crimes, and offenses against public morality. Legal issues affecting punishment will also be discussed, as will ways the criminal law impacts victims of crime.
Explain the evolution of victims’ assistance and protection programs.
Analyze the resources related to victim advocacy and witness support.
Describe the Eighth Amendment and its relationship to capital punishment.
Analyze forms of sentencing and their rationale.
Define plea bargaining and intermediate sanctions.
Evaluate the goals of sentencing and alternative sanctions.
Public Order Crimes
Analyze federal and state and asset forfeiture. anti-drug legislation.
Evaluate the criminalization of prostitution, obscenity and lewdness.
Identify crimes related to drugs and alcohol.
Define crimes against public order, safety and national security.
Personal, Property, and Computer Crimes
Describe computer and high-technology crimes.
Differentiate between robbery, burglary, and theft.
Define kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Identify sexual assault and the elements of sex crimes.
Distinguish between assault, battery, and mayhem.
Define the meaning of corpus delicti.
Define different types of homicide.
Criminal Responsibility and Defenses
Investigate the determination of insanity in the criminal law.
Assess the legal aspects of competency to stand trial.
Compare justification and excuse.
Explain the nature of and types of defenses to criminal charges.
Criminal Law, the Concept of Crime, and Criminal Liability
Explain how to read citations and brief a case.
Describe the elements of crime: actus reus, mens rea, and concurrence.
Define inchoate offenses.
Define accomplice liability.
Describe the adversarial system and the concept of criminal liability.
Identify the sources, purposes and jurisdiction of criminal law.
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.