Curated OER
Mock Investigation
Students explore detective investigations. In this introduction to mysteries instructional activity, students role play eye witnesses and investigators related to a "crime" committed in their classroom. Students collect evidence and...
Curated OER
Voting Rights: Convicted Felons
Students explore the state right to revoke the voting privileges of convicted felons. In this voting rights lesson plan, students read an article and respond to discussion questions about the voting rights of felons.
Street Law
Mock Trial - Elyse Roberts v. the District of Columbia
A woman sues the District of Columbia for sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress in this mock trial case.
Judicial Learning Center
Types of Court Cases
How can one court acquit someone of a crime, while another convicts the person of the same one? It's all because of the differences between civil and criminal trials. An informative resource provides scholars in the field of criminology...
Curated OER
McDonald's and 'Spiked' Coffee
Students define whistle blowing and research its consequences, interview both employers and student employees for their opinions on reporting wrongdoing in the workplace, and write article that explores situation locally.
School Improvement in Maryland
Court Proceedings Civil Cases
What's the difference between civil and criminal law? How do the court proceedings differ in these two types of trials? How do the standards of proof differ? Why do these differences exist? As part of their examination of the...
Teaching Tolerance
My Voice, My Voter's Guide
Class members may be too young to vote, but that doesn't mean their voices are silent! After researching key information, such as policies for registering to what to expect at the polls, young scholars create and present election guides...
Curated OER
Dangers of drugs, lying
Students read articles and write an essay about three college students who wanted to see what it felt like to get high. Students discuss legal and ethical questions of illegal drug use, and stealing medication from someone else. Students...
Curated OER
Government Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan 9
Students examine and compare/contrast the steps of criminal and civil cases. They define key vocabulary terms, develop an outline of a criminal and civil trial, and analyze the differences in standards of proof in legal cases.
Curated OER
Mission Possible
Students, in teams, solve a crime using forensic lab techniques. They apply lab techniques to a real life situation using a crime scenario that takes place on campus. Sample activities include Blood, Fiber, and Hair Lab.
Curated OER
Civics: State Vs. Rowe
Students examine the case of State vs. Rowe to discover the duties of the three branches of government. They explore the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances to assess how they apply to an actual situation.
Curated OER
McDonald's and 'Spiked' Coffee
Students explore food safety. Pupils research what laws relate to food you cook yourself, food you may buy in a restaurant and food bought in a grocery store. They interview food inspectors. Students create a chart to indicate who...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Piracies, Felonies, and Offenses Against the Law
This resource explains Clause 10 of Article I of the U.S. Constitution beginning with the origins of "Piracies, Felonies, and Offenses Against the Law of Nations." Further historical background as considered by the Constitutional...
Grammar Check
Grammar Check: Oh My Grammar! Language Felonies (Infographic)
This infographic is provided to alert writing students about the worst mistakes. Spelling, usage, and punctuation errors are highlighted as being the worst writing mistakes that employers will note.
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota: Criminal Law: Classification of Crimes
An article which explains the four classes of crimes: felony, misdemeanor, felony misdemeanor, and infraction.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Immigrant Felons and Deportation
Read a case study of a 63 year-old woman who was almost deported recently because of a felony she committed in 1998. An audio version of this story is also available.
PBS
Pbs Need to Know: Florida Ex Felon Voting Laws
Did you know that one in ten adults in Florida is currently not eligible to vote due to having been convicted of a felony? Find out how African Americans in particular are disproportionately affected. Article has particular emphasis on...
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Supreme Court: Expanding Our Civil Rights: Gideon v. Wainwright
This is a synopsis of the landmark Supreme Court case of Gideon v. Wainwright, which ruled that states must provide defense attorneys to any indigent criminal defendant charged with a felony. The decision was written by Justice Hugo Black.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Crime Science Investigation
In this comprehensive interactive tutorial you will learn the basic components of a crime scene investigation and how they are implemented. You will also learn various evidence collecting techniques, as well as how to properly document...
Other
Landmark Cases: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
This provides a wealth of information about this landmark Supreme Court case. There are excerpts from the opinions, background summaries, and many learning activities for teachers to use.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Antonia Novello
A picture of Dr. Novello in the uniform of the U.S. Surgeon General accompanies this article about her life and her accomplishments as first Hispanic and first woman Surgeon General of the United States. Her career was marred by a felony...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Becoming a Voter
In this lesson, students apply their state's requirements for registering to vote. Students learn when and how to register, how to complete a voter registration form, and when and how to reregister.
Other
Differences Between Civil and Criminal Law in the Usa
This website provides a well-organized introduction to the differences between civil and criminal law. Addresses topics such as "punishment," "burden of proof," "protections for criminal defendants" and "ignorance of the law." Examples...
Other
Pine Tree Legal Assistance: Legal Guide for Immigrants: Criminal Procedure
English-Spanish site that explains crimes and criminal procedure for immigrants in the state of Maine.