Criminal Evidence

Description

Professor Robert M. Donley has taught in the legal studies and criminal justice programs at Central Penn College since 2002. Before beginning his teaching career, he practiced law for twelve years. He is a 1990 graduate of Temple University School of Law, where he wrote for the Temple Law Review on the subject of juvenile justice. He is also a certified mediator and teaches in the fields of alternative dispute resolution and conflict management.

Robert lives in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, with his wife of 24 years, Melissa. His daughter, Katelyn, attends Central Penn College as a legal studies major, and hopes to follow in his footsteps as a lawyer.

A detailed, hands-on introduction to evidence law

• Motivate students with a clear, easy-to-read writing style that is designed to be understood by those without formal legal training, but is thorough in its coverage so that depth is not sacrificed to simplicity.

• Contextualize how evidence law fits into the larger system with concise but thorough explanations of the legal system, trial processes, and principles of constitutional and criminal law as they pertain to understanding evidence.

• Thoroughly cover the rules of evidence law–topics covered include the rules of evidence and statutory and case law which form the law of evidence in a logical progression, to the attributes which make evidence admissible (competence, authentication, and relevance) to those which make relevant evidence inadmissible (prejudice, hearsay, privilege, and public policy).  

A practical, real-world approach that resonates with students.

• Practice tips and sample trial transcripts give students a deeper understanding of how the law of evidence works in the real world.

• A fully annotated transcript of testimony taken at an actual criminal trial is included in Appendix B. The author’s commentary points out the various evidence principles at play, the strategies used, and the missteps made by the attorneys as they examine and cross-examine witnesses.  

• Evidence and Technology sections explain in clear and direct terms how current technology is affecting the law of evidence, from how jurisdiction over internet crimes is determined to the use of metadata in authenticating documents, and even whether a “like” on Facebook can be used against a defendant in court.

• Court opinions illustrate legal principles while remaining accessible to college students with no formal legal training. Two analytical questions follow each court opinion that allow students to further explore the court’s treatment of principles of evidence law.

• Key Terms are defined in the margins and compiled in a comprehensive glossary to focus students’ study.

• End-of-Chapter Summaries, Web Excursions, and Practical Exercises are included in each chapter to help make studying and retention easier, allow students to extend their learning, and further drive home the lessons of the chapter through hands-on experience.

PART I: The Criminal Legal System

1: The American Legal System

2: Criminal Law

3: Criminal Trial Process

4: Types and Forms of Evidence

5: Admissibility and Weight of Evidence

6: Evidence and the Constitution

PART II: The Law of Evidence

7: Competence

8: Authenticity and the Best Evidence Rule

9: Relevance

10: Relevance Exceptions: Prejudice, Cumulativeness, and Public Policy

11: Hearsay

12: Privilege

13: Witnesses: Credibility and Impeachment

APPENDICES

A. The Federal Rules of Evidence

B. Annotated trial transcript

GLOSSARY

This book provides college students in Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, and other law or forensic-related fields with a detailed understanding of evidence law.

A detailed, hands-on introduction to evidence law

Criminal Evidence uses clear writing and real-world examples to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the laws that determine what make evidence admissible in court, and the factors that make it credible to a jury. Concise but thorough explanations of the legal system, trial processes, and principles of constitutional and criminal law are carefully tailored to provide background on the role of evidence law. Coverage then continues to the rules of evidence and statutory and case law which form the law of evidence in a logical progression, from the attributes which make evidence admissible, to those which make relevant evidence inadmissible. Throughout, practice tips, sample trial transcripts, court opinions, and critical-thinking questions help students develop and retain their understanding. The appendix includes an annotated transcript of testimony taken at an actual criminal trial to give students a look at how evidence law is applied in practice. With its hands-on approach to evidence law, Criminal Evidence clearly explains the law of evidence and the context of that law in a manner that is accessible to students studying criminal justice as well as those studying law.

This book provides college students in Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, and other law or forensic-related fields with a detailed understanding of evidence law.  

A detailed, hands-on introduction to evidence law

Criminal Evidence uses clear writing and real-world examples to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the laws that determine what make evidence admissible in court, and the factors that make it credible to a jury. Concise but thorough explanations of the legal system, trial processes, and principles of constitutional and criminal law are carefully tailored to provide background on the role of evidence law. Coverage then continues to the rules of evidence and statutory and case law which form the law of evidence in a logical progression, from the attributes which make evidence admissible, to those which make relevant evidence inadmissible. Throughout, practice tips, sample trial transcripts, court opinions, and critical-thinking questions help students develop and retain their understanding. The appendix includes an annotated transcript of testimony taken at an actual criminal trial to give students a look at how evidence law is applied in practice. With its hands-on approach to evidence law, Criminal Evidence clearly explains the law of evidence and the context of that law in a manner that is accessible to students studying criminal justice as well as those studying law.