CCOG for CJA 213 Winter 2025
- Course Number:
- CJA 213
- Course Title:
- Evidence
- Credit Hours:
- 3
- Lecture Hours:
- 30
- Lecture/Lab Hours:
- 0
- Lab Hours:
- 0
Course Description
Explores a wide variety of topics relating to evidence, including: collection, preservation, chain of custody, admissibility and exclusion at trial. Introduces the rules regarding the use of evidence according to state and federal laws. Prerequisites: WR 121. Audit available.
Addendum to Course Description
Provides a broad overview of evidentiary rules and procedure, primarily related to the courtroom. Forensics, a separate course addresses analysis of crime scenes and laboratory analysis of evidence.
Intended Outcomes for the course
Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:
- Recognize, document, and preserve evidence in a manner that complies with rules of evidence.
- Prepare for and testify at trial with an understanding of rules regarding evidence admissibility.
- Evaluate fact scenarios in terms of the admissibility of evidence introduced at trial.
Course Activities and Design
Course work may include, but is not limited to, the use of texts, the Criminal Code, journal articles, lecture, group discussion, activities, videos, guest speakers, field trips, community volunteer work, and student presentations.
Outcome Assessment Strategies
Objective and subjective examinations, written assignments and projects.
Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)
Themes and Concepts:
This course will address topics including, but not limited to,
- Evidence and the Pre-Trial process
- Evidence and the Trial Process
- Witness competency and privileged communications
- Lay and expert witnesses
- Credibility and impeachment of witnesses
- The Hearsay Rule
- Admissions and Confessions
- The Exclusionary Rule
- Circumstantial evidence
- Documentary evidence
- Physical evidence
- Rules of Discovery
- Computer-generated evidence
- How to testify effectively as a law-enforcement officer