Learning Resources

Required Readings

Lippman, M. (2018). Contemporary criminal law: Concepts, cases, and controversies (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

• Chapter 8, “Justifications” (pp. 196–199)

Contemporary Criminal Law Concepts, Cases, and Controversies, 5th Edition by Lippman, M. Copyright 2018 by Sage Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications, Inc. via the Copyright Clearance Center.

LII / Legal Information Institute (17 Sept. 2009.). Probable cause. Retrieved from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/probable_cause

Reid, S. T. (2016). Criminal law: The essentials (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

• Chapter 2, “Elements of a Crime” (pp. 35–36, the “Causation” section)

Criminal Law: The Essentials, 3rd Edition by Reid, S. T. Copyright 2016 by Oxford University Press. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Illinois Legal Aid Online. (n.d.). Difference between dismissed with or without prejudice. Retrieved November 4, 2018, from https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information…

Vera, A. (2018, July 25). Florida man could avoid charges in fatal shooting because of ‘stand your ground’ law. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/23/us/florida-stand-yo…

NOLO. (n.d.). Arrests that don’t result in criminal charges. Retrieved November 4, 2018, from https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/arrests-th…

Scott Baio will not face Nicole Eggert’s sexual assault charges, prosecutors say. (2018, June 19). USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/06…

Britt, S. (2018, April 19). Judge rejects Missouri governor’s bid to dismiss criminal case. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-missouri-govern…

To prepare:

• In this Discussion, your Instructor may post a contemporary news story or other current example about a crime that has occurred, or you may find of your own story.
• In the story, identify the action that may or may not be defensible.
• Use information from the story to respond to the prompt.

By Day 3 of Week 2

Post a response to the following based on information in the story:

• How do you determine whether actions are considered criminal when defensible?
• If there is probable cause that a crime has been committed, what is the obligation (duty) of the police?
• Who decides if the defense presented is usable—the police, the prosecutor, or the judge?
• Support your responses with information from the story and evidence from the Learning Resources.

By Day 5 of Week 2

Respond to two colleagues:

• Choose a response that is different from your own.
• Explain how your colleague’s position has changed your perception or understanding.