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National College Credit Recommendation Service

Board of Regents  |  University of the State of New York

National Paralegal College | Evaluated Learning Experience

Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure (PLG-110)

Length: 

Varies; self-study.

Location: 
Various, distance learning format.
Dates: 
December 2008 - Present.
Instructional delivery format: 
Online/distance learning
Learner Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: articulate roles of the federal, state, and local governments; explain the concept of separation of powers; determine whether a particular state or federal law is at risk of being found unconstitutional; describe due process and equal protection clauses of the United States Constitution and the impact on civil rights; outline standards that courts use in determining whether the government may make classifications that treat people differently from one another; define when laws can deprive people of certain freedoms; research case law involving claims of government deprivation of civil rights; outline freedoms protected by the First Amendment, such as speech, assembly, and religion; define and apply rights and responsibilities of police officers under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments regarding search and seizure and identify which searches that are regulated by the Fourth Amendment and police actions that are not considered searches and are thus not restricted by the Amendment; analyze whether findings in an illegal search will be admissible in a particular case based on governing case law; outline the process by which a criminal suspect is arrested, held, interrogated, and eventually tried and describe protections afforded a criminal suspect in police custody; and decide whether a suspect when properly "Mirandized"' and outline the rights of a criminal suspect through the trial and sentencing process.

Instruction: 
This course provides students with a general understanding of the major issues in Constitutional Law, including the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of the Federal Government; federalism and states' rights; concept of interstate commerce; freedom of speech (The First Amendment); substantive and procedural due process; equal protection clause; and various areas of discrimination. Evaluation criteria include: required readings, essay assignments, class participation, and final exam.
Credit recommendation: 

In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category OR in the upper division baccalaureate degree category, 3 semester hours in Constitutional Law or Criminal Procedures (1/13) (3/18 revalidation) (5/23 revalidation). 

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