This course is a detailed examination of the Massachusetts criminal justice system, as well as an in-depth analysis of individual civil liberties and their basis in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Landmark American trials, key constitutional cases, and current legal issues are extensively reviewed.  Current criminology theories will be examined and researched.   The course features guest lectures by Waltham police officers, state police officials, district attorneys and defense lawyers.

Unit

Timeframe

Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit 

Intro to Law and Crime

September

Crime Data [Frequency and Commonalities]

Classifications of Crime [Felonies and Misdemeanors]

Local Ordinances

Written Reactions (1 pagers)

Landmark Criminal and Constitutional Law Trials

October

Description / Significance of Leading Historical Trials and their outcomes

Case Studies

Research




Diagnose individuals from historical trials with knowledge from theories.

Criminal Causation and Theory

October

Analysis of Biological, Psychological and Sociological theories of crime

Research through modern media

Violence in America

November

Case study: The Violence phenomenon in American society - a sociological study.

Assign In Cold Blood

Police Procedure

November / December

Police investigation of crime from first report to appearance at trial.

Focus on procedure and forensics

Mock Trial

Suffolk Superior Court Field Trip

The Trial Process and Mock Trials

January

Steps in a trial, trial preparation, comparison to actual trials.

Justice biography


Supreme Court Briefs

Jury System and Supreme Court Case Study

February

Jury duties and procedures. 

Historical look at the Supreme Court. 

Cases Every student should know.

12 Angry Men viewing and analysis


Visit from Jury Commission official

Prison Systems

March

Sentencing alternatives, Massachusetts Prison System, philosophies of the Penal System and the use of the death penalty in America

Research and analysis of the Massachusetts and US prison systems


Study of the history of the death penalty and its current use


Consideration of alternative punishments / sentencing

Organized Crime

April

History and characteristics of organized crime.  The US government vs. organized crime.  Organized crime today.

Constitutional Law

May

Precedent setting Supreme Court cases involving school and the rights of teenagers

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