This bulletin on criminal justice focuses on selected aspects of the U.S. legal system, including the police, the courts, and the prisons as well as on the protections and guarantees that reinforce the legitimacy of the U.S. legal process. Unit 1, "The Role of Law in a Free Society," is designed to enhance the awareness of students about…

Arguing that there is no better opportunity to teach about the law than when a sensational trial overwhelms the media, this booklet outlines the legal issues involved in the O. J. Simpson trial and presents teaching methods for introducing these issues to students. In a discussion of the trial phase, the booklet explains the concepts of reasonable…

Prepared by the District of Columbia Street Law Project for its annual city-wide mock trial competition, this instructional handout provides material for a murder trial. The defendant shot the victim in the course of a violent dispute. The prosecution charges murder while the defendant claims to have acted in self-defense. The handout clarifies…

Prepared by the District of Columbia Street Law Project for its 21 annual city-wide mock trial competition, this instructional handout provides material for a mock rape trial. David Jones and Susan Williams, both students at Capital University, had dated on and off during the previous years and on the night of the incident had attended a party…

Presents a lesson plan calling upon students to consider U.S. law from a cross-cultural perspective. Explains that students participate in a mock hearing involving a culturally based defense to a charge of murder. Includes student handouts, arguments for and against the defense, objectives, and procedures. (SG)

Prepared by the District of Columbia Street Law Project for its 17th annual city-wide mock trial competition, this instructional handout provides the material for a mock criminal trial. The federal government charges Martha Monroe with first degree murder for shooting her husband, George Monroe, while he slept. Martha Monroe asserts that she acted…

Prepared by the District of Columbia Street Law Project for its 16th annual city-wide mock trial competition, this instructional handout provides the material for a mock civil trial in which Dana Barr, a former corrections officer, brings suit against the Lorton Medium Security Facility for firing him on the basis of his status as Human…

These instructional materials involve secondary students in simulating a criminal trial concerning teenage drinking. Included are all materials necessary for participation in the 1984 California Mock Trial Competition. Part I of the document describes a hypothetical situation involving a high school senior who faces state felony charges for…

Course outlines and timelines for a junior high school elective, "Youth and the Law," and a senior high school elective, "Criminal and Civil Law," are provided. A sample brochure about a supplementary television series for the junior high course is also included. (SR)

Presents a lesson on American Indian tribal sovereignty. Discusses the concept of sovereignty as it developed in the United States. Describes three Supreme Court decisions that established (1) Indian tribes were sovereign before European contact and (2) some sovereign powers were restricted after the United States was established. Includes a chart…

These instructional materials involve secondary students in simulating a criminal case concerning drug abuse. Included are all materials necessary for participation in the 1983 California State Mock Trial Competition. Part I of the document contains a hypothetical situation concerning legal and ethical aspects of drug abuse and drug trafficking on…

This lesson plan about Indiana's court system is designed to work with any classroom resources a teacher may use when teaching a U.S. history, government, or Indiana history class. The lesson also provides online suggestions, general legal links at the end of the lesson to aid a teacher or student interested in exploring other legal topics, and a…

Discusses fictional media portrayals of crimefighting, such as Superman and Dick Tracy programs, that often constitute civil rights violations. Describes a learning activity that calls upon students to observe and log such portrayals and evaluate them critically. Suggests sources of program materials and lists other activities on the topic. (SG)

Six cases from Rhode Island court history are presented in this document. The cases, dating from the time of Roger Williams to the 1970s, examine religious freedom, personal freedom, treason, robbery, murder, and drug possession. Each case is summarized and questions are supplied to help students understand crime and punishment in Rhode Island. A…

Course outlines, evaluation instruments, and background information to help teachers implement two legal education courses, one for junior and one for senior high school, are provided. The junior high course, "Youth and the Law," introduces basic legal terminology and criminal and civil processes, giving special attention to the concepts…