Maricopa Community Colleges  LET125   20016-20082 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 06/26/01
LET125 20016-20082 LEC 2 Credit(s) 2 Period(s)
Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
Overview of the basic guidelines of the United States and state constitutions, focusing on those parts which deal with the rights of the individuals. Also covers laws of arrest, common civil and criminal liabilities experienced by law enforcement officers and agencies, the civil process, rules of evidence, and courtroom proceedings.
Prerequisites: Permission of Department or Division.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LET125   20016-20082 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
1. Identify the purpose of the Bill of Rights and the content of the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments of the United States Constitution. (I)
2. Explain constitutional concepts for police officers. (I)
3. Identify conditions and limitations under which officers and private persons may make lawful arrests with and without warrants. (II)
4. Identify the general principles of civil liability and civil litigation as they relate to law enforcement officers. (II, III)
5. Identify the leading causes of civil litigation against law enforcement officers and agencies. (II)
6. Identify writs applicable to the Civil Process. (IV)
7. Identify the purpose for and application of the rules of evidence as used in law enforcement. (V)
8. Differentiate between direct and circumstantial evidence. (V)
9. Define and explain hearsay, confessions, dying declarations, documentary evidence, competency of witnesses, and privileged and non-privileged communications. (V)
10. Identify the steps of a pre-trial preparation. (VI)
11. Identify the proper and improper techniques, attitude, appearance, and mannerisms displayed during a simulated trial. (VI)
12. Identify the rules of criminal procedures and investigation that apply to juveniles. (VII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LET125   20016-20082 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement
    I. Constitutional Law
        A. Brief History of the Constitution
        B. Content of the Constitution
        C. Relations Between the Nation and the States
          1. Distribution of Powers
          2. Reciprocal Duties
          3. Federalism at Work
        D. Constitutional Concepts for Police Officers
        E. Exclusionary Rule
        F. Case Law
        G. Statutory Law
        H. Information Given to Crime Victims
      II. Laws of Arrest
          A. Arrest Warrants
          B. Private Person Arrests
          C. Limitations
            1. Law
            2. Parole/Probation Violations
            3. Departmental Policies and Procedures
            4. Departmental Goals and Objectives
          D. Regulations
            1. Without Warrants
            2. Time
            3. Information Required
          E. Long Form Complaints
          F. Probable Cause Arrest
          G. Entrapment
          H. Health and Safety Risks
            1. Needles
            2. Drug Paraphernalia
            3. Weapons
            4. Communicable Diseases
          I. Court Order
          J. Degree of Force
          K. Persons Immune From Arrest
          L. Written Notice
        III. Civil Liability
            A. Definitions and General Principles
            B. Principles of Tort Liability
            C. Intentional Tort Liability
            D. Defenses
            E. Negligence
            F. Burden of Proof
            G. Early Termination
            H. General Police Duties
              1. Reasonable Care When Performing Duties
              2. Care of Incapacitated Persons
              3. Emergency Medical Care
              4. Arrestees
              5. Reasonable Medical Care
              6. Duty to Protect Property in Custody
              7. Police Aid to Private Citizens
              8. Statutory Duties
            I. Due Regard for the Safety of Others
            J. False Arrest
            K. False Imprisonment
            L. Constitutional Restrictions
            M. General Concepts
            N. Other Liability Issues
          IV. Civil Process
              A. Powers and Duties of Sheriff
              B. Summons/Complaints Issued by State Courts
              C. Civil Procedures
                1. Method of Service
                2. Return of Service
                3. Service/Executions
                4. Court Orders
                5. Seizures
                6. Pawnbrokers and Peddlers
              D. Writs
                1. of Attachment
                2. of Garnishment
                3. of Replevin
                4. of Restitution
                5. of Execution
              E. Repossessions
                1. What Property
                2. Who Repossesses
                3. Limitations
            V. Rules of Evidence
                A. Types of Evidence
                B. Witnesses
                C. Hearsay Rule and Exceptions
                D. Dying Declarations
                E. Public Records
                F. Former Testimony
                G. Privileged and Non-Privileged Communications
                H. Corpus Delicti
                I. "Preponderance of Evidence"
                J. Miscellaneous Rules of Evidence
              VI. Courtroom Proceedings
                  A. American Judicial System/Concept of Jurisdiction
                    1. Federal
                    2. State
                    3. Time Limitations
                  B. Participants and Roles in the American Judicial System
                  C. Officer's Role as A Witness in Court
                  D. Testimonial Conduct
                    1. Techniques
                    2. Attitude
                    3. Appearance
                    4. Mannerisms
                  E. Cross Examination
                  F. The Processing of a Criminal Case
                VII. Juvenile Procedures
                    A. Juvenile Investigations
                    B. Juvenile Court Structure
                    C. Terms Common to Juvenile Justice
                    D. Juvenile Rights
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