Transcript title

People and Property Crimes

Credits

3

Grading mode

Standard letter grades

Total contact hours

30

Lecture hours

30

Course Description

Examines key criminal law concepts, focusing on crimes against persons and property, such as homicide, theft, fraud, drug offenses, and sexual crimes. Explores the legal elements that define crimes, as well as the social and legal distinctions between criminal behavior and social deviance. Covers various legal defenses to crimes, including self-defense, insanity, and duress, and how these defenses are applied in the courtroom.

Course learning outcomes

1. Distinguish between what is a crime and what is social deviance.
2. Describe the various elements of person and property crimes including homicide, theft, vice, public order, drugs, conspiracy and sexual based offenses.
3. Describe the defenses to crimes and each of those requirements.
4. Compare Model Penal Code to Oregon Statues.
5. Analyze the key elements of criminal liability and the essence of crime.

Content outline

1. Introduction to Criminal Law
   1. Overview of criminal law and its purpose
   2. Introduction to criminal liability and the essence of crime
   3. Distinguishing criminal behavior vs. social deviance
2. Understanding the Model Penal Code (MPC) vs. Oregon Statutes
   1. Overview of the Model Penal Code (MPC) and its role in US criminal law
   2. Comparing and contrasting the MPC with Oregon's criminal statutes
   3. Case studies and real-world applications
3. Elements of Person and Property Crimes
   1. Crimes Against Persons:
      1. Homicide (e.g., murder, manslaughter)
      2. Assault and battery
      3. Sexual offenses
   2. Crimes Against Property:
      1. Theft and burglary
      2. Arson and vandalism
      3. Fraud and embezzlement
   3. Drug Offenses and Conspiracy:
      1. Drug possession, trafficking, and distribution
      2. Conspiracy and its legal implications
4. Social Deviance vs. Criminal Behavior/Defining and analyzing social deviance
   1. Legal vs. societal definitions of crime and deviance
   2. The impact of social norms on criminal laws
5. Legal Defenses to Crimes
   1. Justifications:
      1. Self-defense and defense of others
      2. Necessity (e.g., preventing harm)
   2. Excuses:
      1. Insanity defense (e.g., M’Naghten Rule, Durham Rule)
      2. Duress (coercion under threat)
   3. Analyzing the legal requirements and criteria for each defense
6. The Process of Criminal Prosecution and Defense
   1. Steps of a criminal trial (e.g., arrest, trial, sentencing)
   2. Role of the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, and jury
   3. Pre-trial motions, plea bargaining, and sentencing
7. The Impact of Criminal Law on Society
   1. The role of criminal law in shaping societal norms and behaviors
   2. Analyzing case studies and real-life examples
   3. Ethical issues in criminal law
8. Conclusion: Application of Criminal Law
   1. Review of key topics and their real-world applications
   2. Final analysis of criminal liability and defenses

Required materials

Textbook is required.

General education/Related instruction lists

• Social Science