Introduction to Criminal Evidence and Court Procedure

Special Features of the Book

A complete glossary of terms
A thorough index to topics covered
Appendix on rules of evidence

Features of the Instructor s Guide

Sixteen lesson plans provide step-by-step instructions for covering the key topics and the major points of each topic
About twenty-five review questions for each lesson
Two mid-term examinations with fifty questions each
A one-hundred-question final examination

Contents
1. The Criminal Justice System. Provides an overview of the U.S. criminal justice system from arrest to sentencing.
2. The American Court System. Presents the structure and organization of the American dual court system, including the various courts, their roles in the criminal justice system, and the appellate structure and processes.
3. Arrests, Searches, and Seizures. Distinguishes between a detention and an arrest and describes elements of each. De- scribes the procedures involved in obtaining an arrest or search warrant, stressing the need for police officers to arrange their facts and arguments carefully.
4. Interrogations, Confessions, and Nontestimonial Evidence. Traces the history (since 1964) of procedures governing the admissibility of a confession or admission, comparing decisions of the Warren Court and the Burger Court.
5. Pretrial Procedures. Covers procedures for handling criminal cases prior to the trial stage, including the filing of a complaint, set-ting a bail for felonies and misdemeanors, conduct of a preliminary hearing, and the process of posting bail.
6. Discovery and Privileged Communications. Discusses the current trend in all courts to allow pretrial discovery. Describes communications between certain people that are legally privileged and cannot be used in court without consent.
7. Prosecution and Defense. Discusses the roles of the prosecutor and the defense attorney, their individual strategies, and the role of plea bargaining in the criminal justice system.
8. The Trial. Examines the trial from its opening phases to its end, including the roles of the trial participants.
9. Rules of Evidence. Overview of legal evidence, which is any matter offered in court to prove the truth or falsity of a fact in issue. Points out that to be admissible evidence must be relevant, and even then it must pass a variety of other tests.
10. Examination of Witnesses. Details the questioning process in both direct examination and cross-examination. Includes officer testimony
11. Articles and Exhibits of Evidence. Covers the underlying rules governing admissibility of documentary evidence. Shows how relevant physical evidence can be used if properly taken and preserved. Also describes what scientific proof can be used as evidence.
12. Opinion Evidence. Discusses several areas of opinion evidence that are accepted in court.
13. Hearsay Evidence. Discusses hearsay, gives examples of various types, and provides a two-step exercise in deciding hearsay.
14. The Jury Process and Verdict. Describes the history of U.S. juries, jury selection, and the deliberation process. Explains the verdict process and civil juries and details civil liability for peace officers.
15. Sentencing. Explains various ramifications in sentencing and the judge s role in the process, including an example of a presentence investigation report.
16. Appeals Before the U.S. Supreme Court. Explains the process of appealing court cases. Describes the specific rules and procedural methods to follow. Provides examples of recent cases.
16. Justice for All or Justice for Some ? Challenges the reader to improve on mistakes of the past and highlight recent court cases that intrigued the nation.

Appendix A. Rules of Evidence for United States Courts and Magistrates.

Glossary
Index

Julian R. Hanley has practiced as both a district attorney and a public defender, and he was a judge in Wyoming County, New York, where Attica Prison is located. Wayne W. Schmidt is Executive Director of Americans for Effective Law Enforcement, Inc. Larry D. Nichols is a retired Professor of Law Enforcement Technology, and was Coordinator of the Police Academy at South Plains College, Levelland, Texas.