Discussion topics

TOPIC1

Discussion topics support this unit’s objective and should be completed after reading all materials. Your responses ought to include original evaluation, synthesis, or analysis of the topic, and contribute to the weekly discussion in a meaningful way. You must complete all discussion topics and reply to your peers’ posts. Refer to the Discussion Board Rubric under Course Resources for additional requirements.

Discussion Topic: Fourth Amendment and Search and Seizure

Discuss the way in which Chimel v. California (1969) defined what officers may search, when they may search, and why. Why are such directives necessary and how do they help individual suspects but may hinder police activity? How else might search parameters be defined?

TOPIC2

Complete the Unit 7 Assignment: How does Search and Seizure relate to the B.I.G. case?

The ability to think critically is a key skill for success in the criminal justice field. It means not taking what you heard or read at face value, but using your critical thinking faculties to weigh up the evidence, and consider the implications and conclusions of the situation.

Resource: Chapter 10: “Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial.”

Watch the video of a Mock Trial Flow to understand how a mock trial is conducted and follow this criteria in creating the trial for the assignment.

Reference: Texas Y&G Training Videos (Producer). (2014, October 9). Example mock trial flow. Podcast retrieved from