Criminal Law

Criminal Law examines the origin and development of criminal law in the United States, with particular attention to the basic elements of crimes and criminal defenses. Students will explore the purposes, principles, and sources of criminal law and apply legal concepts to contemporary criminal justice issues and hypothetical fact patterns. The course addresses foundational concepts such as actus reus, mens rea, concurrence, and causation, as well as crimes against persons and property, inchoate offenses, and criminal defenses. Students will also examine relevant statutes, case law, and constitutional limitations while developing their ability to analyze criminal liability and construct legal arguments.

Learning Outcomes/Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain the purposes, principles, and sources of criminal law, including statutory law, case law, and constitutional limitations.
• Apply the elements of crimes, including actus reus, mens rea, concurrence, and causation, to hypothetical fact patterns.
• Analyze and differentiate among categories of crimes and applicable criminal defenses.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and fairness of criminal statutes, penalties, and legal defenses using relevant legal principles and case law.
• Construct persuasive legal arguments for the prosecution or defense using statutory interpretation, precedent, and policy considerations.