Criminal Procedure: Adjudication

The subject of this course is the criminal process "from bail to jail." We examine the theory, policy, history, and development of the constitutional and non-constitutional procedural components of the criminal trial process, as well as pre-trial and post-trial proceedings. Topics include: bail and pre-trial detention, initiating prosecution, grand juries and preliminary hearings, joinder and severance of charges and defendants, double jeopardy, right to counsel, competency to stand trial and right to self-representation, discovery and disclosure of information to other parties, plea-bargaining and guilty pleas, speedy trial rights, jury selection, right to confrontation, privilege against self-incrimination, sentencing, direct appeals, and collateral review.

This course is designed to complement Law 202 ("Criminal Procedure: Investigations"), Law 296 (“Habeas Corpus”); Law 312 (“Professional Responsibility”); Law 429 ("Capital Punishment in America"); Law 711 ("Pre-trial Criminal Litigation"), Law 715 ("Criminal Defense Clinic"), and Law 720 ("Criminal Trial Advocacy"), but those courses are not prerequisites.