Career Certificate in
Criminal Law & Procedure

This lesson introduces you to online learning, with instruction on how to be successful as an Ashworth student. You’ll learn proven study skills, find out how to take advantage of different learning styles, and discover time management techniques. The lesson also includes a guide to career opportunities plus supplementary readings.

The origins of criminal law, how criminal law differs from civil law, what constitutes a crime, theories of punishment, defenses, and criminal jurisdiction. You will also learn about the basic rights that help to protect a person accused of criminal activity, such as the right to be represented by legal counsel and the right to have a speedy trial by jury.

The basic elements of a crime and the relationship among those elements. You will also learn about the crime of homicide and about how homicide is classified by type and degree.

Crimes involving bodily injury, restraints on freedom, and sexual offenses. You will also learn about the different types of property crimes.

Crimes against habitation, sometimes called structure crimes, and the laws designed to protect people against such crimes. You will also learn about the crime of complicity—that a person can be criminally liable for the crimes of another.

How criminal liability can exist when a crime has been attempted, but not completed. Inchoate crimes are those that are never completed. You will also learn about the defenses available to a person who commits a crime.

Crimes against the state and the administration of justice as well as crimes against public order and morality. You will also learn about criminal procedural law and the types of criminal processes found in most jurisdictions.

Steps and procedures involved in a criminal trial and the role of the jury. Also examined will be the sentencing process, including the goals of sentencing, the different types of sentencing and post-trial procedures.