CECsst.240


TITLE:  A Day At The Court House

AUTHOR:  Martin Freed, Adobe Mountain School;
         Phoenix, Az.

GRADE LEVEL:  Appropriate for grades 5-12

OVERVIEW:  This activity can be adapted to any age group and
can be a class research project.

PURPOSE:  To provide an understanding of the operation of
the Court System.

OBJECTIVE:  Students will observe a court session and answer
questions provided on a worksheet designed to increase
knowledge via observation.

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                   Field Activity Report

                  A Day at the Courthouse


Name: _________________ Class: ___________ Date: ________

Name of Courthouse:______________________________________

Address:_______________________ Reporting Time: _________

Contact Person (s) :_____________________________________

Name of Judge Interviewed: ______________________________


A.   Things to look for and report while on your
     courthouse visit:

     1)  Describe the general environment of the
         courthouse.  Are the facilities crowded and
         noisy or calm and businesslike ?

     2)  Try to find a preliminary hearing.  What is
         going on ?

     3)  Try to find a criminal trial in progress.
         a)   What is the nature of the case ?
         b)   Describe the work of the prosecuting and
              defense attorneys.
         c)   Describe the questioning of one of the
              witness during the trial.
         d)   Describe the actions of the judge.

B)   Questions to ask a judge if you can interview one:

     1)  Does the court presently have a large backlog of
         cases? If so, why?

     2)  What percentage of the cases before the court
         end in plea bargaining ?  What is your opinion
         of plea bargaining ?

     3)  What percentage of those convicted by the court
         are locked up in correctional institutions ?
         Fined ? Put on  probation ?