About this course
What you’ll learn
This intensive course deals with the constitutional dimensions of criminal law and procedure. Students will leave the course with an appreciation of how the U.S. Constitution focuses on the rights of the accused and the impact upon our law enforcement system.
Learning objectives
Participants will demonstrate the following skills through successful completion of all required coursework and assignments:
- Identify the criminal procedure provisions of the Constitution
- Discuss the application of the Bill of Rights guarantees to the states
- Examine the principles of Constitutional interpretation
- Explain the concepts of Arrest, Search and Seizure
- Identify the major issues involving the Fourth Amendment
- Explain the meaning of protected areas and interests
- Explain the meaning of “Probable Cause” and related issues
- Summarize the issuance and execution of search warrants
- Identify the parameters of warrantless searches and seizures of persons
- Determine the issues involved in warrantless searches and seizures of automobiles
- Recall the parameters of “Stop and Frisk” and other brief detention
- Explain consent searches
- Discuss the application of the Fourth Amendment to wiretapping, electronic eavesdropping and other surveillance
- Summarize the constitutionality of Title III of the Crime Control Act
- Examine the use of secret agents
- Define the meaning of “entrapment”
- Explain the “voluntariness-totality of the circumstances” test for confessions
- Discuss the right to counsel and related issues
- Describe the privilege against self-incrimination
- Identify the provisions of the Miranda Rule, what warnings are required, and what constitutes waiver
- Examine the privilege against self-incrimination as it applies to lineups
- Explain the right to counsel and confrontation in lineups
- Explain the right to counsel and confrontation in other identification procedures
- Discuss due process concerns and identification procedures
- Summarize the Exclusionary Rules
- Explain the Good Faith exception to the Exclusionary Rules
- Discuss the Sixth Amendment right to counsel
- Define waiver of counsel
- Explain the meaning of effective assistance of counsel
- Identify the basic elements of the privilege against self-incrimination
- Summarize the issues involved in compelling witness testimony
- Summarize the issues involved in compelling the production of documents
- Discuss due process and other issues regarding bail and pre-trial release
- Explain the presumption of innocence
- Summarize plea bargaining
- Discuss the right to a speedy trial and impartial jury
- Identify post-trial procedures
- Explain the meaning of harmless error
- Define double jeopardy
Continuing Education Information
This is an accelerated course. Students will be expected to spend an average of about 8 hours per week reading and completing assignments. Please note that extensions will not be granted for this online course. This course is the equivalent of 45 clock hours of study. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course.
Requirements & policies
Accommodations
The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education is committed to providing equal access to continuing education programs for students living with permanent or temporary disabilities. Learn more about the program accommodations (Opens in a new window).
Textbooks
Required textbooks for this course:
- Gilbert Pocket Size Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition. West Academic.
Highly Recommended Legal Resources:
- Criminal Procedure: Constitutional Limitations in a Nutshell, most recent edition, Israel, LaFave and Simmons, Nutshell Series, and may be purchased from CLS by BARBRI Online Store.
Organizations
Supporting associations
The Advanced Legal Research and Writing Certificate is offered by the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education in partnership with CLS by BARBRI.

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