Criminal Law and Procedure: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Criminal Law and Procedure is a specialized academic discipline focused on the legal frameworks governing criminal conduct, the enforcement of laws, and the structured processes involved in criminal trials. This program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of constitutional protections, legal standards, and procedural safeguards within the justice system.

• Criminal Law Foundations: Explores the principles and doctrines that define criminal behavior, including elements of crimes, liability, and defenses under statutory and common law.
• Constitutional Rights in Criminal Justice: Examines the role of the U.S. Constitution—particularly the Bill of Rights—in shaping the limits of law enforcement and protecting individual liberties during investigations and trials.
• Pretrial Procedures: Investigates the steps preceding trial, including arrest, booking, bail, arraignment, and pretrial motions, emphasizing due process and procedural fairness.
• Trial Advocacy and Evidence Rules: Focuses on the rules governing the admission and presentation of evidence, as well as the strategies and ethical responsibilities of legal practitioners during courtroom proceedings.
• Appeals and Post-Conviction Remedies: Analyzes the mechanisms available for challenging convictions, including appellate review, habeas corpus, and sentencing appeals, with an emphasis on legal error and constitutional violations.
• Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility: Addresses the ethical obligations of attorneys, prosecutors, and judges within the criminal justice process, including confidentiality, conflict of interest, and duty to the court.