AJ 103: Legal Aspects of Evidence

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2021
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

Origin, development, philosophy and constitutional basis of evidence, constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest, search and seizure; kinds and degrees of evidence and rules governing admissibility; judicial decisions interpreting individual rights and case studies. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • provide a working knowledge of the rules of evidence, the various kinds of evidence, and the admissibility of evidence
  • develop the ability to evaluate the various kinds of evidence available in a given case in order to determine its admissibility in court
  • develop the skills needed in handling case material so that evidence admissibility will not be destroyed by improper techniques or procedures
  • explain the value of all kinds of evidence and the need to use proper procedures and techniques so as to maintain the value and admissibility of evidence
  • demonstrate a working knowledge of the rules of evidence and the admissibility of evidence
  • evaluate the various kinds of evidence available in a given case and its admissibility in court
  • demonstrate his or her ability to use proper procedures in maintaining the value of evidence involving a hypothetical case
  • demonstrate that he or she knows how to relate legally admissible evidence to the corpus delicti of the crime under investigation

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction
  2. The Court Process
  3. Types of Evidence
  4. Direct and Circumstantial Evidence
  5. Witnesses
  6. Crime Scene Evidence and Experiments
  7. Documentary Evidence, Models, Maps, and Diagrams
  8. Hearsay and Its Exceptions
  9. Privileged Communications
  10. Developing Law of Search and Seizure
  11. Field Interviews, Arrests and Jail Searches
  12. Plain View, Consent, Vehicle, and Administrative Searches
  13. USA PATRIOT Act, Foreign Intelligence, and Other Types of Electronic Surveillance Covered by Federal Law
  14. Self-Incrimination
  15. Identification Procedures
  16. Preparing the Case for Court

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Books and/or articles discussing true crime situations including investigation, prosecution, and defense, as well as evidence associated with the incident

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Conduct research regarding California District Court of Appeals and/or California Supreme Court case decisions and prepare written analysis
Read true crime books and prepare book reports

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will review text material to prepare for discussion during class sessions
Study for weekly chapter quizzes, midterm,

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture