Critical Thinking Assignment – Part 1
Part I – define and describe the following legal concepts:
• Reasonable Suspicion
• Probable Cause
• Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Part II – explain which of these concepts requires the most amount of evidence and which requires the least amount of evidence.
Part III – explain how each of these terms relates to a particular stage in the criminal justice system (e.g., detention, arrest, conviction).
Part IV – watch the video in the hyperlink below and answer the following questions:
NOTE: FOR THIS PART OF THE ASSIGNMENT (PART IV), I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO GIVE THE LEGALLY CORRECT ANSWER; I DO EXPECT YOU TO APPLY WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED IN THIS PART OF THE COURSE TO EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER AND WHY YOU THINK IT IS CORRECT.
• At what point do you think the officer had enough evidence to lawfully detain the suspect?
• At what point do you think the officer had enough evidence to arrest the suspect?
• Do you think the video recording of the suspect and the testimony of the officer is sufficient evidence to convict the suspect for the crime of being in possession of a controlled substance? What about the crime of being under the influence of a controlled substance?
Your analysis should be at least 500 words. make sure to view the grading rubric below so that you understand how your grade on this assignment will be determined.
