Table of Contents

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Introduction: A Walk-Through of the Case of State v. Andrea Davidson, a Fictional Robbery Prosecution

1. Talking to the Police

Section I: Police Questioning of People Who Haven’t Been Taken Into Custody
Section II: Police Questioning of Arrestees

2. Search and Seizure

Section I: The Constitutional Background
Section II: Search Warrants
Section III: Consent Searches
Section IV: The Plain View Doctrine
Section V: Warrantless Searches That Are Incident to Arrest
Section VI: “Stop and Frisk” Searches
Section VII: Searches of Car and Occupants
Section VIII: Warrantless Searches or Entries Under Emergency (Exigent) Circumstances
Section IX: Miscellaneous Warrantless Searches

3. Arrest: When It Happens, What It Means

Section I: General Arrest Principles
Section II: Arrest Warrants
Section III: Warrantless Arrests
Section IV: Use of Force When Making Arrests
Section V: Citizens’ Arrests

4. Eyewitness Identification: Psychology and Procedures

Section I: An Overview of Eyewitness Identification Procedures
Section II: The Psychology of Eyewitness Identification
Section III. Lineups
Section IV: Showups
Section V: Photo Identifications
Section VI: Motions to Suppress Identifications

5. Booking and Bail: Checking In and Out of Jail

Section I: The Booking Process
Section II: Arranging for Bail
Section III: Own Recognizance Release (Release O.R.)

6. From Suspect to Defendant

Section I: Crime and Criminal Cases
Section II: To Charge or Not to Charge, That Is the Question
Section III: The Mechanics of Charging
Section IV: Grand Juries
Section V: Diversion

7. Criminal Defense Lawyers

Section I: Do I Need a Lawyer?
Section II: Court-Appointed Attorneys
Section III: Private Defense Attorneys
Section IV: Self-Representation

8. Understanding the Attorney-Client Relationship in a Criminal Case

Section I: Confidentiality
Section II: Client-Centered Decision Making
Section III: Lawyer-Client Communication
Section IV: Representing Guilty Defendants
Section V: Competent Clients

9. A Walk Through Criminal Court

Section I: The Courthouse
Section II: The Courtroom
Section III: The Courtroom Players
Section IV: Courtroom Behavior

10. Arraignments

Section I: Timing of Arraignments
Section II: Self-Representation at Arraignment

11. Developing the Defense Strategy

Section I: Overview
Section II: How the Defendant’s Version of Events May Limit Defense Strategies
Section III: When Attorneys Ignore a Defendant’s Version of Events
Section IV: The Importance of Honesty in Developing a Defense Strategy

12. Crimespeak: Understanding the Language of Criminal Laws

Section I: Mens Rea
Section II: The Meaning of Frequently Used Legal Language
Section III: Derivative Criminal Responsibility
Section IV: Murder and Manslaughter
Section V: Rape
Section VI: Burglary
Section VII: Robbery
Section VIII: Theft
Section IX: Hate Crimes
Section X: The Patriot Act
Section XI: White Collar Crimes

13. Defensespeak: Common Defenses to Criminal Charges

Section I: Prosecutor’s Failure to Prove Guilt
Section II: “Partial” Defenses
Section III: Self-Defense
Section IV: Alibi
Section V: Insanity
Section VI: Intoxication (Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol)
Section VII: Entrapment
Section VIII: Jury Nullification

14. Discovery: Exchanging Information With the Prosecution

Section I: Modern Discovery Policy
Section II: Discovery of Helpful Information
Section III: Discovery of Harmful Information
Section IV: Reciprocal Discovery

15. Investigating the Facts

Section I: Interviewing Prosecution Witnesses
Section II: Finding and Interviewing Defense Witnesses
Section III: Other Investigation Tasks and Their Costs

16. Preliminary Hearings

Section I: What Preliminary Hearings Are and When They Are Held
Section II: Basic Rights During Preliminary Hearings
Section III: Common Defense and Prosecution Strategies at the Preliminary Hearing

17. Fundamental Trial Rights of the Defense

Section I: The Defendant’s Right to Due Process of Law
Section II: The Prosecution’s Burden of Proof
Section III: The Defendant’s Right to Remain Silent
Section IV: The Defendant’s Right to Confront Witnesses
Section V: The Defendant’s (and the Media’s) Right to a Public Trial
Section VI: A Defendant’s Right to a Jury Trial
Section VII: A Defendant’s Right to Counsel
Section VIII: A Defendant’s Right to a Speedy Trial
Section IX: The Defendant’s Right Not to Be Placed in Double Jeopardy

18. Basic Evidence Rules in Criminal Trials

Section I: Overview
Section II: Rules Regulating the Content of Testimony
Section III: Rules Regulating the Manner of Testimony
Section IV: Scientific Evidence
Section V: Privileged (Confidential) Information

19. Motions and Their Role in Criminal Cases

Section I: The Basic Procedures
Section II: Common Pretrial Motions
Section III: Motions During Trial
Section IV: Motions After Trial

20. Plea Bargains: How Most Criminal Cases End

Section I: Plea Bargaining—The Basics
Section II: The Pros and Cons of Plea Bargains
Section III: The Plea Bargaining Process
Section IV: The Strategy of Negotiating Plea Bargains

21. The Trial Process

Section I: Summary of the Trial Process
Section II: Choosing a Judge or Jury Trial
Section III: Jury Voir Dire
Section IV: Motions in Limine
Section V: Opening Statements
Section VI: Prosecution’s Case-in-Chief
Section VII: Direct Examination of Witnesses
Section VIII: Cross-Examination
Section IX: Defense Motion to Dismiss
Section X: Defendant’s Case-in-Chief
Section XI: Closing Argument
Section XII: Instructing the Jury
Section XIII: Jury Deliberations and Verdict

22. Sentencing: How the Court Punishes Convicted Defendants

Section I: Overview of Sentencing
Section II: Sentencing Procedures
Section III: Sentence Options.
Section IV: The Death Penalty

23. Appeals: Seeking Review by a Higher Court

Section I: Appeals
Section II: Writs

24. How the Criminal Justice System Works: A Walk Through Two Drunk Driving Cases

Section I: Questions and Answers About DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
Section II: DUI Case Examples

25. Juvenile Courts and Procedures

Section I: A Brief History of U.S. Juvenile Courts
Section II: Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
Section III: Deciding Whether to File Charges
Section IV: The Right to Counsel and Other Constitutional Rights
Section V: Trying Juveniles as Adults
Section VI: Sentencing (Disposition) Options
Section VII: Sealing Juvenile Court Records

26. Prisoners’ Rules

Section I: Prisons and Prisoners’ Rights
Section II: Legal Resources for Prisoners and Their Families
Section III: Parole
Section IV: Pardons

27. Looking Up the Law

Section I: What to Research
Section II: Where to Do Research
Section III: Glossary

Index

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