Maricopa Community Colleges  AJS109   19946-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 05/24/94
AJS109 19946-99999 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Substantive Criminal Law
Covers philosophy of legal sanctions and historical development from the common law to modern American criminal law, classifications of crimes, elements of and parties to crimes, general definition of crimes, common defenses utilized. Includes specific offenses and the essential elements of each offense. Required in AJS curriculum. Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
AJS109   19946-99999 Substantive Criminal Law
1. Describe the development of common law and statutory law. (I)
2. Explain the relationship of the legislature to the law and the law making process. (II)
3. Describe the basic elements of crime. (III)
4. Describe the common defenses against criminal responsibility. (III, IV)
5. Describe the classification of crimes. (V)
6. Describe jurisdiction and venue and their relationship. (VI)
7. Describe the elements of homicide. (VII)
8. Describe the elements of assault. (VIII)
9. Describe the elements of robbery. (IX)
10. Describe the elements of kidnapping. (X)
11. Describe the elements of arson. (XI)
12. Describe the elements of burglary. (XII)
13. Describe the elements of theft. (XIII)
14. Describe the elements of rape. (XIV)
15. Describe offenses against public health, safety, and morality. (XV)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
AJS109   19946-99999 Substantive Criminal Law
    I. Evaluation of the criminal law
        A. English Common Law
        B. Federal and state constitutions
        C. Congress and state legislatures
        D. Case law
      II. The lawmakers
          A. How laws are made or changed
          B. Judicial powers of review
          C. Judicial powers to interpret
        III. Crime: intent, act, and causation
            A. Corpus delicti and the elements of proof
            B. Mens rea (intent)
            C. The act
            D. Concurrence of act with intent
          IV. Criminal responsibility
              A. Defenses
                1. Insanity
                2. Amnesia/unconsciousness
                3. Intoxication
                4. Religious belief
                5. Mistake
                6. Age
                7. Self defense
                8. Duress
                9. Double jeopardy
            V. Crime classifications
                A. Grade of seriousness
                B. Moral turpitude
                C. Social harm
                D. Physical injury
              VI. Jurisdiction and venue
                  A. Relationship between jurisdiction and venue
                  B. Trial jurisdiction
                  C. Appellate jurisdiction
                  D. Federal and state jurisdiction
                  E. Statute of limitations
                VII. Homicides
                    A. Non-criminal homicide
                    B. Murder
                    C. Voluntary manslaughter
                    D. Involuntary manslaughter
                    E. Suicide
                  VIII. Assaults
                      A. Battery
                      B. Assault/simple
                      C. Assault/aggravated
                    IX. Robbery
                        A. Elements
                        B. Circumstances of the crime
                        C. Inherent assault factor
                      X. Kidnapping
                          A. Elements
                          B. Comparison of federal and state laws
                        XI. Arson
                            A. Elements
                            B. Aggravating factors
                          XII. Burglary
                              A. Elements
                              B. Aggravating factors
                            XIII. Thefts
                                A. Elements of petty larceny
                                B. Elements of grand larceny
                              XIV. Rape
                                  A. Statutory - elements
                                  B. Forcible elements
                                  C. Problems of proof
                                XV. Crimes against health, safety, and morality
                                    A. Nuisances
                                    B. Adultery
                                    C. Perjury
                                    D. Bribery
                                    E. Incest
                                    F. Bigamy
                                    G. Abortion
                                    H. Obscenity
                                    I. Prostitution
                                    J. Sodomy
                                    K. Alcohol offenses
                                    L. Drug offenses
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