
A brief introduction on what to expect from the course.
A general overview into what homicide is defined to be. Make sure to download the outline to use for the rest of the courses.
An overview of common law first degree murder and an example of a state law for first degree murder. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
An overview of common law second degree murder and an example of a state law for second degree murder. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
An overview of common law felony murder and an example of a state law for felony murder. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
An overview of common law voluntary manslaughter and an example of a state law for voluntary manslaughter. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
An overview of common law involuntary manslaughter and an example of a state law for involuntary manslaughter. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
An overview of common law assault and battery and an example of a state law for assault and battery. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
A description of common law kidnapping. (Make sure you have the outline from the first video in this section to use to help you learn)
A description of the state law from Michigan of stalking.
A description of common law larceny and a brief description of state law larceny. (Make sure to download the outline that goes along with the videos to improve your learning experience)
A description of common law embezzlement and a brief description of state law embezzlement. (Make sure to download the outline that goes along with the videos to improve your learning experience)
A description of common law receipt of stolen goods and a brief description of state law receipt of stolen goods. (Make sure to download the outline that goes along with the videos to improve your learning experience)
A description of common law burglary and a brief description of state law of home invasion. (Make sure to download the outline that goes along with the videos to improve your learning experience)
A description of common law robbery and a brief description of state law robbery. (Make sure to download the outline that goes along with the videos to improve your learning experience)
A description of common law extortion.
A description of arson.
A wide-ranging description of the very complex topic of the defense of insanity. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of intoxication works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of infancy works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of duress works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of necessity works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of self-defense works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of defense of others works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of defense of property works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of consent works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of maintaining domestic authority works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
A description of how the defense of entrapment works. (Make sure you download the outline to help your learning experience)
Are you interested in becoming a lawyer? Or are you just interested in law in general? This course will give you a beginner's look into what Criminal Law is all about - modeled after real law school classes, but taught in a way that is accessible to anyone.
For each section, I will provide a discussion outline that has mini-case studies on it that will help students work through these concepts. I will accompany the discussion outline with a video presentation, but this is not a lecture-based class. There may be brief points where I teach on concepts, but students will engage in these concepts themselves as they work through the concepts towards a better understanding of criminal law.
In Section 1, you will learn about the basic elements of a crime. We will look at the underlying elements that make up a crime: Actus Reus, Mens Rea, Concurrence, and Causation. Almost every crime is made up of these four elements. We will get a concrete understanding of what each of those four parts are, and we will explore other factors in crimes that will increase our understanding of the topic.
In Section 2, you will look at topics like what is the difference between first and second degree murder? What is felony murder? What role does the "heat of passion" play in voluntary manslaughter? We will explore all of this and more in an interactive and exciting way. We will be studying the common law version of these crimes as they may be different in every state or country (which we will also explore).
In Section 3, you will learn about what is the difference between larceny (and what is larceny?) and embezzlement. Can you be charged with Receipt of Stolen Property if you didn't know it was stolen? We will explore all of this and more in an interactive and exciting way. We will be studying the common law version of these crimes as they may be different in every state or country (which we will also explore).
Finally, in Section 4, you will learn about criminal defenses. A criminal defense is used when you have committed a crime, but you have a reason that you are either not responsible for your actions (insanity, intoxication, etc.) or you have a justification or excuse for your actions (self-defense, defense of others, consent, etc.). Many people believe that if you claim insanity as a defense, you can go free. But is that what really happens? That's just one of the things you will learn in this class.
After you finish this class, you will have a solid basic knowledge of criminal law. I look forward to seeing you in class!