Criminal Procedural Law LWEN 4337

Course description:

This course is designed to take the student through: Police Investigation, Apprehension, Interrogation and Seizure, Self-incrimination, use of the Exclusionary rule, right to Counsel. Bringing Accused Persons to Court, Prosecution and Defence. The Reception of Evidence and the Idea of the Fair Trial. Proceedings at trial and post-trial. Discussion includes a number of issues relevant to the constitutional safeguards, as well as the cases reflecting current trends in criminal procedure.

Course Aims:

Course outcomes:

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Understand the nature of criminal process as a legal framework that consists of rules designed to ensure properand fair enforcement of substantive criminal law and adjudication of criminal cases.
  • Identify constitutional limitations of government in the manner it proceeds against citizens in criminal matters
  • Understand distinctly different models of criminal proceedings in different societies and legal traditions.
  • Discuss the roles of the police, the prosecutor, the judge, criminal defense attorney, and other key actor in criminal process.
  • Identify the differences in the processing of felony and misdemeanor cases, and discuss the steps and procedures in the accusatory process, and understand the various stages in the conduct of a criminal trial.
  • Explain the nature of sentencing process and functions of the appellate review by which the appeals system functions in matters of criminal law