IP 41 Law and Justice 1 Course Development

Unit Details

Course Weight: 20%
Hours of Instruction: 28 +/-
Course Assessment Questions: 20
Standard: The Learner will be able to understand basic criminal and constitutional law (RBT: B2)

Indicators

Examine the structure and processes of the criminal justice system.
Differentiate between civil law and criminal law.
Explore the rights of citizens guaranteed by the United States.
Explain the powers granted to the police and the restrictions placed upon them by the respective constitutions and amendments.
Describe how laws are classified.
Describe a crime that includes all ideal elements.
Select criminal charges based on given scenarios.

My Lesson

Feel free to use my plans as a guide. My course is based on 52 minute class periods. My students in the first year course are 9th or 10th graders. These materials may need updating. Be sure to check web links.
I use the textbook Introduction to Criminal Justice by Bohm/Haley. References to assignments or readings would be from this text. You may be able to get a complementary copy from Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
I split this into two sections. One that focuses on the the legal system and U.S. Constitution and the other that focuses more on state law.
You will need to apply the corresponding North Carolina criminal code.
We have to certify our students in CPR and AEDs each year. So those are in the daily outline.

Daily Outline

1 – Media: A Case for Innocence, Reading Notes Assigned for Chapter 8
2 – Media: A Case for Innocence (or media on false convictions)
3 – Media: Plea Bargaining: Dealing for Justice (or some media on plea bargaining), discuss A Case for Innocence
4 – Chapter 4 Reading Notes in class
5 – Notes
6 – Notes
7 – Notes
8 – Notes
9 – CPR Certification
10 – CPR Certification
11 – Notes
12 – Notes
13 – Case Scenarios from Search & Seizure Bulletin (or other case law source)
14 – Case Scenarios day 2
15 – Notes
16 – Notes
17 – Notes
18 – Game Show
19 – Review
20 – Test, Assign Reading Notes for Chapter 2
21 – Media: Court TV: Courtroom Myths (or other introductory media about courts)
22 – In Class Reading Notes
23 – 60 Minutes – Journey into Madness (about Capitol Hill gunman Russell Weston, Jr.), insanity debate/discussion
24 – Notes
25 – Notes
26 – Code
27 – Code
28 – Code
29 – Code
30 – Criminal Law Scenarios
31 – Criminal Law Scenarios, Review
32 – Game Show
33 – Test

My Dropbox

All the files I used in the this unit can be viewed and downloaded. To print, be sure to download first.

For the first section Con Law Click Here

For the second section Criminal Law Click Here (remember it is Georgia Law specific)

Additional Resources

TEA CTE

Texas Education Agency has online teacher materials for Texas courses. Click Here

LE I:

LE II

Court Systems & Practices

Others

Bill of Rights Institute – tons of lessons. Click Here
The Constitution Project – many streamed documentaries and lesson plans – Click Here
Annenberg Classroom – Civics in general, but great stuff on Constitution. Be sure to check the games – Click Here
Foundations in Law and Foundations in Criminal Justice – many, many lessons to review. Many high quality lesson links within. Click Here
Judicial Learning Center – ridiculous amount of materials. Teacher and student sections. Student sections have “challenges” they can take. Click Here
Texas Bar LRE has an awesome game on jury selection. Students get a score – and let the competition begin! Click Here
North Carolina General Assembly – North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14: Criminal Law Click Here