MCCCD Program Description

Substantive Criminal Law

Course: AJS109

First Term: 2020 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: 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.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
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 major felonies. (VII-X, XIV) 8. Describe the elements of property crimes. (XI-XIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
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. Intoxication 3. Religious belief 4. Mistake 5. Age 6. Self-defense 7. Duress 8. Double jeopardy B. Other 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

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 25, 2020

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.