CJ 3055 - Applied Criminal Procedure for Law Enforcement

3 cr. 3 hr. Day course offered annually.

This course takes a practical approach to constitutional law and criminal procedure, as applied to Massachusetts law enforcement. It is intended to enable students to read, analyze, and apply legal issues that might arise in the course of a Massachusetts police officer’s career. Topics relate to the 4th, 5th, and 14th amendments to the United States Constitution and the corresponding provisions in the Massachusetts Constitution. Students will be expected to understand the relevant constitutional amendments and provisions; analyze and evaluate how the Massachusetts and federal courts have interpreted these amendments and provisions; and recognize how these court decisions govern police behavior. Students will be expected to apply these principles to real-world situations in writing assignments. They will also learn how police officers take field notes and will practice summarizing those notes in police reports. Topics include search and seizure, probable cause to arrest with and without a warrant, searching with and without a warrant, automobile searches, use of force, and due process. Additionally, students will be expected to learn when and how police officers and departments can be sued in civil court. This course meets the Report Writing and Constitutional Law requirements of the MPTC Curriculum for Police Program students.

Note: Note: Course required for students in the Police Academy Certification Concentration. Open to other Criminal Justice majors as elective. Prerequisite(s): CJ 1000