Faculty

CRIJ-2323 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement

Dale Toler

Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

CRIJ-2323-003 (16028)
LEC DIL ONL DIL

Course Requirements

Students are expected to follow the directions provided in the Online Orientation, Instructors Syllabus and Master Syllabus. The due dates are shown in Course Calendar and in the online learning system MindTap. This course cannot be completed without using the MindTap online content with the Criminal Procedure Textbook. Assignments and exams are embedded in MindTap.

Students will complete all TCOLE Worksheets, textbook assignments, quizzes and tests on or before the assigned due date. The course assignment calendar is considered adjustable and may be revised during the semester to facilitate learning objectives. All students will be informed of any calendar revisions via Bb Announcement and email.

It is the responsibility of all students to read class emails and Bb Announcements each day.

Students will not be allowed to make-up any missed class assignment.

Overdue and incomplete assignments and tests will receive the grade of zero.

Withdrawal Policy: Any student may be dropped from the course by the instructor for disruptive behavior, repetitive non-attendance, non-responsiveness and/or lack of academic progress in the course.

NOTE: IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE INSTRUCTOR’S TO DROP A COURSE. A STUDENT THAT STOPS COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS AND FAILS TO DROP THIS COURSE IS SUBJECT TO RECEIVING A PERMANENT FINAL GRADE OF “F”.

Assignments/Projects: MindTap has all lesson assignments, quizzes and tests. The grades for all MindTap work will be averaged to be computed in to the student’s final grade.

No Make-ups or extensions are available.

Every student has free use and access to Microsoft Software Suite and all ACC computer labs.

Getting Started

Please explore the Blackboard (Bb) Menu immediately. There are several folders containing important instructions that you must familiarize yourself with to navigate the course effectively.

📝 Assignment Areas

Your coursework is divided into two primary categories:

Textbook Assignments
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Worksheets

⚠️ Important Deadlines

Assignments are due the first week. I strongly encourage you to begin right away to ensure you meet these initial deadlines.

❓ Questions?

If you run into any issues, please read through all instructions in the Blackboard Menu folders first. Most procedural questions are covered in those guides.

Readings

REQUIRED TEXTS/MATERIALS/SOFTWARE

‘Criminal Procedure', Joel Samaha Cengage Publishing 10th ed.

This is a First Day Access course and students do not need to purchase textbook, it is included in the course. Note: the online section of this course will use MindTap Access. Please refer to the instructor’s distance learning orientation for more information.

TCOLE Material is included in this course and must be completed as assigned.

Course Subjects

I. Sources of Police Authority

A. Police Powers

B. Constitutions

C. State Statutes

D. Traditions

II. Police Responsibilities

A. Legal Obligation to Enforce Statutory Law

B. Legal Obligation to Uphold Constitution

III. Constitutional Constraints

A. Bill of Rights

1. Due process and equal protection

2. Applicability to the States

B. Exclusionary Rule

1. Historical context

2. Alternatives to the rule

3. "Police the police" concepts

4. "Fruit of the poisonous tree" doctrine

IV. Laws of Arrest, Search and Seizure

A. Definitions

1. Arrest

2. Search

3. Probable cause

4. Entrapment

B. Legal Justification for Arrest

C. Legal Justification for Search

D. Use of Warrants

V. Case Studies in Arrest, Search, and Seizure

A. Probable Cause

B. Search Incident to Arrest

1. Scope

2. Other requirements

C. Consent Search

1. Requirement of voluntariness

2. Scope

3. Authority to consent

D. Plain View Doctrine

E. Warrantless Search and Seizure of Vehicles

1. Permissible circumstances

2. Impoundment

3. Routine inventory

F. Open Fields and Abandoned Property

G. Stop and Frisk

H. Admissions and Confessions

I. Pre-trial Identification Procedures

J. Emergency Circumstances/Exigent Circumstances

K. Electronic Searches

VI. Police Liability

A. Civil

1. Direct

2. Vicarious

B. Criminal

1. Federal

2. State

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES, GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES, & SCANS

Department scans skills for this course are reading, writing, mathematics, thinking skills, personal qualities, workplace competencies and basic use of computers. Students will demonstrate their mastery of these skills using class discussions, written assignments, demonstrations, and test taking.