CJ 233 - Principles of Criminal Law
Description
This course explores the basic principles of criminal law, including the role of criminal law in controlling deviant behavior, the elements of crimes, and the legal defenses that address criminal responsibility.
Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
School: School of Business & Industry
Department: Criminal Justice
Discipline: CJ
Course Review & Revision Year: 2026-2027
Course Type:
Elective- Offering designed to expand learning opportunities for degree seeking students. May or may not be required for students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
General Education Requirement: None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Describe the role of the criminal law in society.
2. Identify the primary theories of punishment and explain their differences.
3. Explain the Constitutional limitations on the criminal law.
4. Explain the concepts of actus reus and mens rea and identify those elements in substantive crimes.
5. Describe the difference between justification and excuse defenses and explain the role they play in determining criminal liability.
6. Apply the principles of vicarious liability to determine the extent of accessory liability.
7. Describes the elements of the inchoate offenses and apply them to factual scenarios.
8. Apply the elements of major criminal offenses to factual scenarios to determine whether a suspect is guilty of a particular crime.
9. Use rules or frameworks to provide context for and understand problems or issues.
10. Make connections between academic learning at GRCC and the knowledge and skills necessary for careers of interest.
Approved for Online Delivery?: No
Course Outline:
I. Overview
I.A. Criminal Law in US Society
I.B. Classifying Crimes
I.C. Sources of Criminal Law
I.D. Criminal Punishment in US Society
II. Constitutional Limits on Criminal Law
II.A. Principle of Legality
II.B. Bill of Rights
III. Actus Reus
IV. Mens Rea
V. Justication Defenses
V.A. Self-Defense and Defense of Others
V.B. Choice of Evils Defense
V.C. Consent
VI. Excuse Defenses
VI.A. Insanity and Diminished Capacity
VI.B. Duress
VI.C. Intoxication
VI.D. Entrapment
VII. Vicarious Liability
VIII. Inchoate Offenses
VIII.A. Attempt
VIII.B. Conspiracy
VIII.C. Solicitation
IX. Crimes Against Persons
IX.A. Homicide
IX.B. Sex Offenses
IX.C. Assault
IX.D. Domestic VIolence
IX.E. Kidnapping
IX.F. Other
X. Crimes Against Property
X.A. Larceny
X.B. Vandalism and Arson
X.C. Burglary and Trespass
X.D. Cybercrimes
X.E. Other
XI. Public Order Crimes
XI.A. Disorderly Conduct
XI.B. Quality of Life Crimes
XI.C. Victimless Crimes
XI.D. Other
XII. Crimes Against the State
XII.A. Treason
XII.B. Sedition, Sabotage, and Espionage
XII.C. Terrorism
Mandatory CLO Competency Assessment Measures:
None
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 50 to 75%
DIscussion: 25 to 50%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corerequisite(s): None
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with IRW: NA
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Other (list below), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Professionally qualified through work experience in field (Perkins Act or Other) (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details: Must possess a Juris Doctor from an accredited Law School.
General Room Request: None
Maximum Course Enrollment: 24
Equivalent Courses: None
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
First Term Valid: Fall 2022 (8/1/2022)
Programs Where This Courses is a Requirement:
None
1st Catalog Year: 2022-2023
People Soft Course ID Number: 105127
Course CIP Code: 43.9999
Name of Course Author:
Martin Hillard
High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
Non-Credit GRCC Agreement exist?: No
Corporate Articulation Agreement exist?: No
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