Instructor: 

Mr. Gary A. Sokolow, B.B.A.; M.A.; J.D.

gary-sokolow@redwoods.edu; phone: 707-476-4540

Welcome:

Welcome to the Introduction to Evidence online course. This site is for students who are considering this course or have already registered.

Course Description:   

A course designed to provide students a working knowledge of evidence and case law relating to the admission of evidence in legal proceedings  Topics include the following: Origin, development, philosophy, and constitutional basis of evidence; constitutional, statutory, and procedural considerations which affect the admissibility of evidence; kinds and degrees of evidence; and case studies viewed from the conceptual level

Required Textbooks:

Criminal Evidence: Ninth Edition; Klotter & Ingram; Lexis-Nexis Publishing; (2007)  

ISBN:  978-1-59345-428-9

Course Availability:

The course will become available on BlackBoard the weekend before CR classes begin in the Fall.  

Instructor Contact:

You may contact me at the email address listed above.

During the academic year: On weekdays I usually respond within a day. At other times, including weekends, I check my email and class website every day, except Sunday. My office phone number is 707-476-4540 where you can also leave a voice-mail message. You can always visit me in person at my Eureka campus office in the Administration of Justice Building (AJ 106).

During the summer and holidays:  I check my email intermittently, usually weekly.

On-Campus Requirement:

There are no requirements to attend on-campus class sessions. All exams and other work will be online.

Student Requirements:

Prerequisite:  None

Recommended: English 150

Computer Set-Up and Skills

Your Computer Skills: Online courses require adequate computer skills. You should be able to navigate websites, open and download files, use a word processor and be able to convert files into rich text format, and submit files to Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the technological demands of the course.

Computer Requirements: Most computers and internet providers are adequate. You will need Windows MediaPlayer, QuickTime, or RealTime players software (free and common with most computers) and speakers to listen to lectures.  I would recommend broadband services through cable, DSL, or satelite providers.  You need to have regular access to the internet at least twice a week for fifteen weeks.

Online Commitment: 

Your commitment will require at least as much time as you would dedicate to a traditional class. This is a 4.0  unit class.  It will require about ten hours per week of your time. You will need to listen to lectures, read textbook chapters, participate in online discussions using a discussion board, and complete the three exams.  At a minimum, plan to be online at least 2-3 times each week.

Waitlist Policy:

Registration is easiest for online classes using web advisor. I have increased the class capacity for registration but do not have a waitlist. If the class is closed, please do not contact me as I will direct you to web advisor and encourage you to keep trying to add the class. The class will open and close during the summer months depending on the number of students who drop the class before it begins. As a result, although the class may be closed you should check periodically as it will open whenever someone withdraws.

Accommodations:  

If you need accommodations to succeed in this online class you should contact Disabled and Student Services Program at 707-476-4280 and the instructor.   

Classroom "Time": 

This online class requires weekly participation consistent with the College’s semester schedule. The class will be available at any hour with no requirements to participate at any given time.

Getting Started: 

On or shortly after the College’s first day of class go to the Blackboard login site at http://bb.redwoods.edu/   Username and password instructions are available at this site. After you login you will find a link to the class where you will receive detailed instructions on how to proceed. You must participate fully by the end of the first week (Sunday) or you may be dropped from the class.

Class Orientation Packet:  

For those of you who register no later than one to two weeks before the beginning of class, an orientation packet will be mailed to you, no less than one week before the start of the class in the Fall. For those who register later than one week before the start of class until the start of class, you will need to contact me and I will send you an electronic copy of the orientation packet via E-mail.  

The packet will contain:

1. an introductory letter,
2. the course syllabus,  
3. a short quick guide to logging on to and using the BlackBoard course website, and
4. a short guide to logging on and using the Turnitin.com website. 

The latter site is where you will need to submit electronic copies of the exams.