CRJ302-31 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Final Assignment for CRJ302 –Criminal Procedure Due: 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) Saturday of Unit 8. This course is designed to expose you to the process in which law enforcement investigates crimes, builds cases, collects evidence, and how it affects arrests of individuals. It also presents the court process and prosecution of the individuals charged with the violation of law. The knowledge you will gain and the research you will undertake, should yield a final project in which you can conduct a technical analysis and discussion of the mechanics of a criminal case and prosecution.

The final product will be an APA formatted paper that is a minimum of five pages and no more than 20 (not including the cover & reference pages). The final submission must include:

• APA formatted title page • Body of paper, and • Reference page

Synopsis: There are a three graded phases which will impact your project and final grade. Stated simply, this project will consist of a case study and analysis of a criminal case of your choice. The case study focuses on the investigative efforts, actions and procedures undertaken by law enforcement while building a case against a defendant. For example, look at the court testimony of the State Trooper who arrested the Oklahoma City bomber.

If this were your case, (which it cannot be), you would outline all of the steps taken by the Trooper from the time of the motor vehicle stop until McVeigh was taken into custody and including the additional steps taken by the FBI in lawfully searching the vehicle. All of the actions in this case can be supported by acceptable criminal procedures prescribed by state and federal laws. The intent of this project is for you, to analyze, compare and either support the steps taken or else identify those actions which could be considered illegal. This course will provide you with the methods, concepts and case law to be utilized as a basis for such evaluation and application. During Unit 2, you will be required to submit a criminal case you wish to utilize as your final project. You must however, provide a case report , court documentation or some other type of proof to confirm that your case study is actually based on a real case, which will provide a road map for your analysis. Remember, this type of assignment will require research, thought, analysis and the application of the material we will cover in this course. You will be required to submit a five (5) page minimum (standard size) and a twenty (20) page maximum APA formatted paper using APA citation to acknowledge all source materials.

You should review the grading rubric before beginning the project, while writing the document and upon completion to ensure you have covered all that is required in your final draft. In Unit 6 you will be called upon to conduct a peer review of another classmates’ project.

Evaluation Rubric for Final Project CRITERIA Deficient

(0 - 5 Points) Proficient to

Development Needed (6 – 8 Points)

Exemplary to Proficient (9 - 10 Points)

Points Earned (70 Pts.)

1. Submitted an overview / summary of the case selected for analysis. Also identified those procedural steps to be analyzed.

Did not provide an adequate overview or summary of the selected case or failed to identify those steps to be analyzed.

Provides an adequate overview or summary of the selected case and steps to be analyzed though may not be clear or complete.

Case overview is clearly presented including all appropriate investigative steps to be analyzed.

2. During Unit 2 of the course, Student selected a case Case was selected and Student identified and adequate proof, research or but failed to submit the submitted during Unit 2, submitted a real case to evidence was provided to case during Unit 2 of the but failed to provide be utilized for the case confirm the case selected was course. proof that the case was study during Unit 2. Also a real criminal case. a real life event. provided supporting proof

to establish that the case was not a fabrication.

3. Student relied on or incorporated some of the constructive peer review critiques provided during their rough draft.

Student failed to take advantage of constructive criticism from peer review, which would have resulted in an improved final project.

Student recognized the value of peer review critique and made some minor improvements to the final project.

Student recognized the value of the peer review, incorporated the advice which improved the quality, professionalism and impact of the writing.

4. The submission incorporated all technical requirements as follows: Minimum 5 pages and maximum 20 pages in length, all pages are double spaced, font size of 12 and contained APA citations. Student’s name, mod and course title must appear on the document.

Some but not all technical requirements were incorporated.

Most technical requirements were incorporated but APA citations were not included.

All technical requirements were incorporated as well as APA citations.

5. How accurate is the support and substance of the written product / project submitted.

Document contained many inaccuracies or assumptions not supported by law, precedents or established criminal procedures.

Project contained only minor inaccuracies or at least one assumption not supported by law, precedents or established criminal procedures.

Writing is accurate, substantive and assumptions are completely supported by applicable law, precedents or acceptable criminal procedures.

6. Clear and professional writing and format

Errors impede professional presentation; guidelines not followed.

Few errors that do not impede professional presentation, but should have been edited.

Writing and format is clear, professional, APA compliant, and error free

7. Written project displays a clear understanding of how the criminal procedure process either operated as designed or was abused during the criminal investigation and /or prosecution.

Project simply stated the steps taken, but failed to explain if those steps were lawful or not and did not provide the legal support for the actions portrayed. No critical evaluation.

Submission described some but not all of the steps taken in detail with support and analysis.

Document clearly identifies the steps taken, provides legal support for or against the actions and presents a logical picture of the process from beginning to end. A true product of critical thinking and analysis.

Total Points: /70