Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for CJA 225 archive revision 202504

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Effective Term:
Fall 2025

Course Number:
CJA 225
Course Title:
Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Introduces the Bill of Rights with a focus on rights associated with government intrusion during police contact and investigation. Covers rights related to free expression, police interrogation, self-incrimination, right to counsel, and others. Presents remedies available for unlawful police conduct. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of Constitutional Law as it relates to criminal justice with a focus on the Bill of Rights. Most of the legal analysis will be done through the study of judicial opinions from case law interpreting the Constitution. Students will be provided with opportunities to evaluate the purpose, intent and effectiveness of the various amendments and US Supreme Court cases.
This course is a requirement for completing an A.A.S. degree. Course work may include, but is not limited to, the use of texts, the US and Oregon Constitutions, journal articles, lecture, group discussions and activities, videos, guest speakers, field trips, community volunteer work and student presentations.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Assess constitutional rights that exist during police-citizen encounters, with consideration of how these rights are asserted.
  2. Evaluate evidence to be offered at trial to determine whether exclusion is a viable option as the result of unlawful police conduct.
  3. Identify constitutional violations during police-citizen encounters in order to assess possible remedies.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Examinations, written assignments and projects.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

This course will address topics including but not limited to:

  • The History, Structure, and Content of the United States Constitution
  • State and Federal Constitutional Freedoms of Speech", Press, Religion and Assembly
  • State and Federal Constitutional Authority to Detain and Arrest and Requirements for Stops and Arrests by Law Enforcement Personnel
  • State and Federal Constitutional Requirements for Search and Seizure of Persons, Vehicles, and Other Property
  • State and Federal Constitutional Right to Counsel for the Accused in a Criminal Action
  • State and Federal Constitutional Rights in the Trial and Punishment Phases
  • State and Federal Criminal and Civil Remedies for Unconstitutional Conduct of Criminal Justice Personnel
  • Major Judicial Decisions in Federal Constitutional Law