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Anatomy of a Murder: A Trip Through Our Nation's Legal Justice System

Ratings

Overall Rating:
Content Quality:
Effectiveness:
Ease of Use:

Reviewed:	Dec 15, 2008 by Criminal Justice Editorial Board
Overview:	This learning object is maintained by ThinkQuest. It presents the story of a fictional defendant as he faces a murder charge in a New Jersey State criminal court. According to the author, the story describes the events of a criminal prosecution, as they would actually unfold in New Jersey, and provides a glossary for legal terms, as well as links to Supreme Court cases that influence criminal investigation and prosecution.
Learning Goals:	Describe an overview of the criminal justice system. Trace the stages of a murder investigation and trial. Identify leading Supreme Court cases related to criminal trials. Explore controversial issues related to criminal cases
Target Student Population:	Criminal justice students. Undergraduate students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:	None, but an introduction to criminal justice course would be helpful.
Type of Material:	Case study
Recommended Uses:	This material lends itself more to an individual rather than group assignment, since it requires a lot of reading and navigation.
Technical Requirements:	Browser, Windows Media Player

Evaluation and Observation

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:	This site presents key issues and stages of a murder case in an engaging manner that will hold the attention of users who might otherwise lose interest in a typical text book presentation of the same information.
Concerns:	There are a lot of links to choose from on any given page; some students are likely to get confused. Three of the Top 10 Links to explanatory information are broken.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:	Uses plain language to explain complex legal issues. Provides links to briefs of leading Supreme Court cases germane to a criminal trial.
Concerns:	Legal processes in other states may differ from those presented in this New Jersey case. This site is reading-intensive.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:	This site is very easy to use, especially if you have your computer set to show you which links you have already visited (different color for links you've already clicked on.) The material is created by students and presented in a manner that is engaging to students.
Concerns:	The fact sheets take users several clicks away from the case materials being presented in chapters. This may cause users to lose focus on the issue being presented. Statements about the law and the behaviors of decision makers are not consistently accompanied by citations.

Other Issues and Comments:

This is a fun way to learn about the criminal justice system.

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