welcome to cj 101!! kaplan university professor chad rosa unit 6

Welcome to CJ 101!!

Kaplan UniversityProfessor Chad Rosa

Unit 6

Kaplan University

Once again, a few reminders………

Your Professor – Me

Minnesota – southern metro area

Over 18 years of criminal justice experience including: private security, state patrol, municipal patrol officer and school resource officer

Online Learning at KU

KU stands for Kaplan University

Each class is 10 weeks long

Each week is called a Unit

Each unit has several graded items – check the gradebook!!


Each unit/week starts on Wednesday & ends at 1159 pm EST on Tuesday

Start your work for each Unit early – DON’T wait until the end of the week to complete your work


Want to be successful in my class?

The following are the secrets…

Reading

Each unit has a reading link – which tells you which chapter(s) to read

Electronic book/chapters in docsharing

PowerPoints – Read both Start your work for each Unit early

– DON’T wait until the end of the week to complete your work

Discussion Questions

Each unit has a discussion board question

Always answer the question with at least a 100 word response

Always “reply” to one other student for each question. Must give good input and thought – not “good post” etc

Quizzes

Many units will have a quiz You can always retake a quiz

to get a better grade – most recent score is kept

However, quizzes are only open during the unit, never accepted late

Seminars

EASTERN TIME No seminar during units 5 or

10 Participation & quality input

If you miss a seminar – alternate assignment to DocSharing, NOT Dropbox

Seminars

If you miss a seminar – Review the instructions in the

seminar link of each unit. To receive credit for the seminar if you are

unable to attend, you are required to write a 1 page paper summary on what we covered.

Review the seminar archive for additional information.

Submit your assignment using the Doc Sharing tab.

Select the option to send to your instructor only.

More Success

Go in to DocSharing and print out my example paper and EXACTLY follow that format

MUST write all papers in a Microsoft Word document

MUST write in Times New Roman size 12 font and double space

Cover/title page, body of text and reference page

Gradebook

Always check your grade book Click on each individual grade so you

can read my comments You can always redo and resubmit any

work for a better grade – BUT only within ONE week

For example, you receive a low grade on your Unit 2 paper – you have until the end of Unit 3 to resubmit it if you want to

Late Work

Late work will only be accepted one week late – for up to full credit

After one week – no credit will be given

Unit 5 Recap!!

Graded items:Midterm PowerPointComplete the StrengthsQuest Assessment

What do I have to do to complete this unit?

Read Chapters 9 Discussion Board – discuss SQ

results Attend the Seminar Complete the Quiz

StrengthsQuest (SQ) Results

Lets talk about your SQ results

Everyone please list some of your strengths


How can you use those strengths for your schooling and/or career?


Everyone please give some examples of how a courtroom participant could use 1 or more of your strengths in their job……..

Unit 6

The Courts: Structure and Participants

We examine the role of the judge in court proceedings and the responsibilities and

jurisdiction of state, federal and appellate courts. The prosecutor and defense attorney serve

different, but equally important functions in the administration of justice.

Unit 6 The development of the American court system

The differences between the state and federal court systems

About indigent defense, and how it is applied in the United States

The roles of expert and lay witnesses in a criminal trial, and describe how their testimony might differ

How professional and nonprofessional courtroom participants work together to bring most criminal trials to a successful close

Unit 6Unit 6

Court System

Explain the concept of the dual-court system in America

America’s Dual Court System

The United States has courts on both the federal and state levels.

This dual system reflects the state’s need to retain judicial autonomy separate from the federal government.

Most criminal cases originate within state courts.

America’s Dual Court System

Identify some of the differences between the state and federal court systems

Everybody give it a shot!!

The State Court System

Many differences among state courts Most use the three-tiered structure

Trial courts of limited jurisdiction Trial courts of general jurisdiction Appellate courts

Court reform movement seeks to simplify and unify court structures

Most criminal cases originate within state courts

Typical State Court System


Where criminal cases “begin.” Bail hearings Arraignments Enters pleas Conducts trials Sentences

Two types of trial courts: Courts of limited, or special, jurisdiction (lower

courts) Courts of general jurisdiction


State Trial Courts: Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

Authorized to hear: Misdemeanors Family disputes Traffic violations Small claims


State Trial Courts: Courts of Limited Jurisdiction

Lower courts: Rarely hold jury trials Do not maintain detailed records of

proceedings (just charge, plea, finding, and sentence)

Less formal than higher courts


State Trial Courts: Courts of General Jurisdiction Also called: high courts, circuit courts, or

superior courts. Formal courts that make full use of juries,

witnesses, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other actors.

Authorized to hear: Any criminal case Lower court appeals

Trial de novo (New trial)


State Appellate Courts

39 states have intermediate and high-level appellate courts (courts of last resorts)

All states have supreme courts


Appeals

Appeals are requests by a defendant to a higher court asking it to review the actions of a lower court

Some cases (involving death penalty or life sentences) are automatically appealed


Appeals – the Results Most convictions are confirmed Some decisions are reversed and

cases remanded Recourse may be to a state supreme

court Generally, state supreme court is the

court of last resort

The Federal Court System

Established by the U.S. Constitution

Article III, Section 1

“One Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”


Article III, Section 2

Federal courts are to have jurisdiction over cases arising under the Constitution, federal law, and treaties.

Federal courts are to settle disputes between states and to have jurisdiction in cases where one of the parties is a state.


What at the three Levels of federal courts?


What at the three Levels of federal courts?

U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Courts of Appeals U.S. District Courts

U.S. District Court

There are 94 judicial districts At least 1 district court per state District courts in Puerto Rico, the

District of Columbia, and other U.S. Territories

U.S. District Court

The trial courts of the federal system

Original jurisdiction over all cases involving alleged violations of federal statutes

U.S. District Court

There are 650 district court judges. Appointed by the President and confirmed by

the Senate Serve for life

District court judges are assisted by magistrate judges, who: Conduct arraignments Set bail Issue warrants Try minor offenders

U.S. Supreme Court

How many justices serve on the U.S. Supreme Court??

How does one become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice?

U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court consists of nine justices:

Eight Associate JusticesOne Chief Justice

Justices are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and serve for life.

U.S. Supreme Court: Appeals

Of 5,000 annual requests for review, only about 200 are heard

Four justices must vote in favor of a hearing for a case to be heard

Usually the Court only reviews cases that involve a substantial federal question

The Court issues a writ of certiorari (order by a higher court) to a lower court

The Court reviews transcripts and hears brief oral arguments

U.S. Supreme Court: Appeals

Opinions of the Court Supreme Court decisions are rarely

unanimous

Types of opinions: Majority—Justices agree in outcome and

reasoning. This is the opinion of the court. Concurring—Agree with outcome, but for

different reasons Dissenting—Disagree with outcome

Courtroom Work Group

Identify and explain the roles of the professional members of the courtroom work group?

Nonprofessional courtroom participants?


Professional Judge Prosecuting

attorney Defense attorney Bailiff Court reporter Clerk of the court Expert witnesses

Non-Professional Lay witnesses Jurors Defendant Victim Spectators Press


The Judge Primary duty to ensure justice

Responsibilities include: Ruling on most matters of the law Weighing objections Deciding the admissibility of evidence Sentencing offenders Disciplining disorderly courtroom attendees Deciding guilt or innocence (for bench trials)


The Prosecutor

Present the state’s case against the defendant State has the burden of proof

Supervise staff of assistant district attorneys Serve as quasi-legal advisor to police Files appeals on behalf of the state Makes presentations to parole boards


Explain the roles of expert and lay witnesses in a criminal trial, and describe how their testimony might differ


Expert Witness

a person who has special knowledge and skills in an established profession or technical area. This person is usually a paid professional

unlike lay witnesses, they may express opinions and draw conclusions in their testimony


Lay Witness Non-expert witness

May be: Eye witness Character witness Victim

Are subpoenaed to appear Testify to that which they have direct

knowledge of


How do professional and nonprofessional courtroom participants work together to bring most criminal trials to a successful close?

Unit 6 Requirements

Read Chapter 9 Attend the Weekly Seminar Respond to the Discussion Board –

100 word answer and respond to at least one other student

Take the Quiz Complete everything by Tuesday at

1159pm EST

Good Night

That is all I have for tonight!! Have a great upcoming week!!

welcome to cj 101!! kaplan university professor chad rosa unit 6

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