GSU Library Research Guides: Criminal Evidence: Affordable Learning Grant: Course Description and Objectives

Open Access Course Made Possible by Affordable Learning Grant

This Open Access Criminal Evidence course was created by Cyntoria Johnson, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, and Sonyja Johnson George, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.

Course Description

This course provides a general overview of the law of evidence applicable to the adjudication of criminal cases. The course examines the criminal justice trial process and traces the historical development of the basic evidentiary rules and standards used in criminal proceedings. Students will analyze the rules and procedures governing the collection, admissibility and presentation of evidence. We will examine the rights afforded under the United States Constitution and the rules of evidence set forth by the Federal Rules of Evidence as well as various state law distinctions. Specific topics of discussion will include, but are not limited to, relevance, witness competency, privileges, the exclusionary rule, hearsay and its exceptions.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate abilities to:

1. Describe the history and development of the law of criminal evidence;

2. Explain the basic rules of evidence applicable to criminal prosecutions and their exceptions;

3. Analyze the rationale behind the various evidentiary rules and standards;

4. Discuss the constitutional and statutory authority for criminal evidentiary rules, including the Federal Rules of
Evidence and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure;

5. Distinguish the various types of evidence and their admissibility in court; and

6. Apply evidentiary law to real and hypothetical case scenarios.

Related Textbooks

Evidence Casebook
Examines the Federal Rules of Evidence and provides caselaw
Criminal Procedure: Undergraduate Edition
An open textbook for undergraduate Criminal Procedure courses that are typically required of criminal justice majors. The book uses U.S. Supreme Court opinions to illuminate the definition of rights concerning search and seizure, right to counsel, and other aspects of the criminal justice process. This resource seeks to make undergraduates familiar with judicial reasoning as well as the definitions of rights relevant to individuals who are drawn into contact with criminal justice officials.
Do Exclusionary Rules Ensure a Fair Trial?
Compares exclusion of evidence in criminal proceedings across a broad selection of legal systems
Identifies key points for an efficient implementation of exclusionary rules
It is an open access
Evidence Cases Outline
The Federal Rules of Evidence and parallel rules at the state level define the scope of the evidence that can be introduced in civil and criminal trials. However, a student of this topic also must understand how courts have interpreted these rules and certain related constitutional doctrines. Courts have addressed issues such as relevance, character evidence, witness qualifications and impeachment, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, and privileges that shield communications from disclosure. Below is an outline of key cases in evidence law with links to the full text of virtually every case, provided free by Justia.

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike 4.0 International.