CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
This course is a split-level senior and graduate level course, and as such
it is expected that the student is capable of determining whether he or she
should attend class. However, the University’s rules and regulations
require that a student attend at least 75% of class meetings in order to
receive credit for the course. With this in mind, each student will be
given 8 absences, which will include both excused and unexcused absences.
Each subsequent absence will result in the student receiving a penalty of one
letter grade. Any student missing more than 11 classes will be given an
automatic grade of “F” for the course. Additionally, participation in
class discussions will be instrumental in the student’s understanding of the
course materials. Failure to attend class may result in the student
being unable to adequately discuss materials on the examinations.
TARDINESS
An individual entering the classroom after class has begun is not only
disrupting for the instructor, it is also disrupting for other students.
If you arrive to class late and the door is already closed, then do not
interrupt the class by coming in. Arriving late will still count as one
of your allotted absences. If you have a continuous problem that will
result in your being late for class, please see the professor as soon as
possible.
GRADING
Each student’s grade for this course will be computed using a combination
of test scores and the student’s grade on assigned essays.
EXAMS:
There will be a minimum of three examinations (maximum of four) in this
course. Each examination will consist of 100 points. Each
examination will consist of a combination of multiple choice, short answer,
and essay. Short answer questions will consist of definitions,
understanding of legal terminology, and questions relating to case law
discussed in class. Essay questions will consist of legal scenarios in
which the student will apply the materials discussed in class. For
undergraduate students the examinations will account for 50% of their final
average. For graduate students the examinations will account for 40% of
their final average.
RESEARCH PAPER:
Each student will select a topic that is associated with forensic science and
the law that is of interest to them. These papers may be related to any
type of forensic evidence regardless of whether the evidence is discussed in
class or not. This research paper will be divided into three sections.
The first section will address the history and development of the scientific
evidence (i.e. how has DNA testing developed over the last two decades).
The second section will address how the evidence is generally collected and
preserved for trial (i.e. how are fingerprints lifted and secured until the
trial begins). The final section will address the legal issues
associated with the admission of the evidence into trial (i.e. how have the
courts addressed the admission of digital photographs into trial). To
ensure that there is no confusion about what is an acceptable topic, each
student will submit a brief synopsis (a typed abstract of less than one page
indicating what the student will write their paper on, as well as what
resources they intend to use, etc.) of their intended research paper no later
than February 11, 2005. Additionally, to assist students who have a
propensity for continuously putting off the writing of their research papers,
each student will submit a copy of their reference page (listing of all books,
articles, websites, etc.) to the professor no later than April 1, 2005.
Failure to submit either of these assignments on a timely basis will result in
reductions to the student’s final grade on the paper. The final paper
will be due to the professor no later than April 22, 2005.
Undergraduate Requirements:
Undergraduate students will
complete a 12 to 15 page paper (does not include title page and abstract but
does include reference page). This paper must be written in either Times
New Roman (should be close to 12 pages) or Ariel font (must be closer to 15
pages). The margins will be 1.25 left and 1.00 top, right, and bottom.
The paper will be double spaced and will contain no spaces greater than 2.0.
Undergraduate papers must have a minimum of 10 sources, no more than 5 of
which may be electronic (NOTE: The professor will allow the use of EBSCOHOST
without considering this to be one of the 5 electronic sources). This
research paper must be completed in the APA format and will be graded on:
content (what information is provided), grammar (punctuation, verb usage,
etc.) and APA format (how well the paper adheres to the APA format. The
paper will account for 30% of the undergraduate student’s final grade.
Graduate Requirements:
Graduate students will complete
an 18 to 20 page paper (does not include title page and abstract but does
include reference page). This paper must be written in Times New Roman
with margins of 1.25 left and 1.00 top, right, and bottom. Graduate
papers must have a minimum of 15 sources, no more than 8 of which may be
electronic (NOTE: As in the case of undergraduate papers, EBSCOHOST does not
count as an electronic source). This research paper will be graded on:
content (what information is provided), grammar (punctuation, verb usage,
etc.) and APA format (how well the paper adheres to the APA format. The
paper will account for 40% of the graduate student’s final grade.
CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION
Each student is expected to complete all chapter reading assignments, as well
as any case briefings assigned. During class students will be selected
randomly to brief cases for the class. Students will receive one of four
grades for their case briefings. An unsatisfactory briefing will receive
a “-“ mark on the grade roster. A satisfactory briefing will receive a
“±” mark on the grade roster. An excellent briefing will receive a “+”
mark on the grade roster. Any student who cannot provide a briefing when
called upon will receive a mark of “0” on the roster. At the end of the
semester the professor will examine all marks from the semester and assign a
grade based upon the overall quality of the student’s briefings. Class
participation will account for 20% of both the undergraduate and graduate
student’s final grade.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Any student count cheating on an examination or plagiarizing their final
paper will receive a grade of “F” for the course. Additionally, the
student will be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs, with the possibility
of the student being dismissed from their academic program and/or dismissal
from Delta State University. Any student who is uncertain of what
plagiarism is should contact the professor when they begin working on their
research paper. The policy on plagiarism is one of zero tolerance,
meaning ANY plagiarism will result in an “F” for the course.
GRADING SCALE:
92 to 100 – A
84 to 91 – B
73 to 83 – C
62 to 72 – D
< 62
- F
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with
Disabilities Act and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office
for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies
and procedures.
Tentative
Schedule
Spring 2005
Week One Jan 10-14:
Introduction to Professor
Introduction to Legal Citation and Case Briefing
Week Two Jan 17-21:
What is Evidence?
Rights of Defendants at Trial.
Chapter One in Textbook
Week Three Jan 24-28:
The Criminal Trial Process
Chapter Three in Textbook and Assigned Cases
Week Four Jan 21- Feb 4:
Relevance and Competency of Evidence
When Evidence Must be Revealed to Opposing Parties
The Use of False or Perjured Evidence
Chapter Two in Textbook and Assigned Cases
Week Five Feb 7-11:
Direct and Circumstantial Evidence
Situations Where Inference of Guilt May Not be Inferred
Proving Corpus Delicti
Chapter Four in Textbook and Assigned Cases
Week Six Feb 14-18:
Examination One
Introduction to the Exclusionary Rule
Chapter Nine in Textbook and Assigned Cases
Week Seven Feb 21-25:
Exclusions to the Exclusionary Rule
Chapter Ten in Textbook and Assigned Cases
Week Eight Feb 28- Mar 4:
The Introduction of Scientific Evidence
Frye Versus Daubert
Chapter Eighteen in Textbook and Assigned Cases
Week Nine Mar 7-11:
History of DNA Evidence
DNA Evidence in Trial
Lecture Notes and Assigned Cases
Week Ten Mar 14-18:
Examination Two
Week Eleven Mar 21-25:
No Class! Spring Break
Week Twelve Mar 28-Apr 1:
History of Fingerprinting
The Admission of Fingerprint Evidence at Trial
Lecture Notes and Assigned Cases
Week Thirteen Apr 4-8:
History of Photography as Evidence
Admission of Photographs as Evidence
The Admission of Digital Photographs
Lecture Notes and Assigned Cases
Week Fourteen Apr 11-15:
Ballistic Fingerprinting as Evidence
Forensic Entomology as Evidence in Trial
Lecture Notes and Assigned Cases
Week Fifteen Apr 18-22:
Forensic Odontology as Evidence
Computer-Related Evidence
Lecture Notes and Assigned Cases
Week Sixteen Apr 25-29:
The Importance of the Chain of Custody
Preparing for Trial Testimony
Being Certified as an Expert Witness
Lecture Notes
Week Seventeen May 2-6:
Wrap up Course Materials
Review for Final Examination
Week Eighteen May 9-13:
Final Examination
