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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 | Standards (Including WIDA Standards) | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intro to Law and Crime | September | Crime Data [Frequency and Commonalities] Classifications of Crime [Felonies and Misdemeanors] Local Ordinances | Written Reactions (1 pagers) Data on Crime Today Frequency, Commonalities, Classifications of Crime Felonies, Misdemeanors, Local Ordinances. | Topic 1.10: Argue and defend positions on issues in which foundational ideas or values are in tension or conflict (e.g., liberty in conflict with equality or authority, individual rights in conflict with national or community interests or perceptions of the common good, or majority rule in conflict with minority rights). | articles, pictures, videos, books [Justice D. Dunne] |
Landmark Criminal and Constitutional Law Trials | October | Description / Significance of Leading Historical Trials and their outcomes | Description/ Significance of Leading Historical Trials and their Outcomes, Case Studies Political Trials, Term Paper Assignment Given. Research Methods Reviewed. | Grades 11–12 Reading Standards for Literacy in the Content Areas: History and Social Science [RCA-H] Grades 11–12 Writing Standards for Literacy in the Content Areas [WCA] 2. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes. | articles, pictures, videos, Handouts on how to write a research paper |
Criminal Causation and Theory | October | Analysis of Biological, Psychological and Sociological theories of crime | Research through modern media Case Study and Psych Study of Current Criminal Behaviors Diagnose individuals from historical trials with knowledge from theories. | Grades 11–12 Writing Standards for Literacy in the Content Areas [WCA] 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation. | articles, pictures, videos, |
Violence in America | November | Case study: The Violence phenomenon in American society - a sociological study. | Assign In Cold Blood Current Event Articles / Video Case Study: the Violence Phenomenon in American Society – a sociological study | Grades 11–12 Speaking and Listening Standards for Literacy in the Content Areas [SLCA] Comprehension and Collaboration 2. Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data. 3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used. | Video Articles, Book -[In Cold Blood T. Capote] |
Police Procedure | November / December | Police investigation of crime from first report to appearance at trial. Focus on procedure and forensics | Police Investigation of Crime from First Report to Appearance at Trial, Forensic Science Search Warrants and Privacy Rights; Criminal and Victims’ Rights – Analysis of Relevant Constitutional Cases. Landmark Supreme Court Cases Involving Rights of the Accused, Assignment and teaching of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote | Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective, such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning, alternative or opposing perspectives are addressed, and the organization, development, vocabulary, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and a range of formal and informal tasks. 5. Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, claims, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. 6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate. | Video Articles, Book -[In Cold Blood T. Capote] |
The Trial Process and Mock Trials | January | Steps in a trial, trial preparation, comparison to actual trials. | Mock Trial Suffolk Superior Court Field Trip Justice biography Supreme Court Briefs Steps in a Trial: Assignment of Class Mock Trial – Trial Preparation and Performance, Comparison to Actual Cases Involved. Constitutional Rights Illustrated. | Topic 2.6: Explain the functions of the courts of law in the governments of the United States and the state of Massachusetts with emphasis on the principles of judicial review and an independent judiciary. | Video Articles, Guest Speakers [Lawyers] |
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 | PS 5 Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and relevance of each source. RCA-H] Craft and Structure 5. Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text contribute to the whole. ELD-SS.9-12.Argue.InterpretiveMultilingual learners will interpret social studies arguments by
| Video Articles, Guest Speakers [Jury Commissioner's Office] |
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 Sentencing Alternatives, Massachusetts Prison System, Philosophies of the Penal System. Use of Death Penalty in America | PS 4 Analyze the purpose and point of view of each source; distinguish opinion from fact. RCA-H Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 8. Evaluate an author’s premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information. 9. Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources. | articles, pictures, videos, |
Organized Crime | April | History and characteristics of organized crime. The US government vs. organized crime. Organized crime today. | Historical Overview of Organized Crime – Spain, Italy, U.S. – Creation of the Mafia, Code of Conduct, Government Prosecution of Crime Families. Sociological impact of economy on America’s Gangs | PS 3 Organize information and data from multiple primary and secondary sources. WCA] Text Types and Purposes 1. Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content. | articles, pictures, videos, |
Constitutional Law | May | Precedent setting Supreme Court cases involving school and the rights of teenagers | .Historical look at the Supreme Court, Justice biographies and 10 Cases Every Student Should Know. Supreme Court Mock Trial | Topic 3.2: Research, analyze, and present orally, in writing or through a multimedia presentation the historical context of two Supreme Court decisions on a topic related to individual rights and what the respective decisions demonstrate about how the protection of individual rights has evolved over time. Cite textual evidence to summarize key perspectives in the decisions and provide historical context for the particular decisions cited. | articles, pictures, videos, |