THE COURSE IS AN ELECTIVE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES COURSE FOR SEVENTH THROUGH NINTH GRADERS WHO READ AT OR ABOVE THE SIXTH-GRADE LEVEL. THE COURSE'S PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE STUDENT KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE U.S. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND ITS BASES, THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF CRIMES, AND SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO CRIMES UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. COURSE TOPICS INCLUDE THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAWMAKING PROCESS, THE LAW, CRIME AND CRIMINAL LAW, THE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONTROLS OF CRIMINAL LAW, CURRENT CRIMINAL PROBLEMS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COSTS. FOR EACH CONCEPT, THE GUIDE PRESENTS A SUMMARY, LEARNING OBJECTIVES, AND ORAL AND WRITTEN EXERCISES TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES. EACH EXERCISE'S LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY (BELOW AVERAGE TO AVERAGE AND AVERAGE TO ABOVE AVERAGE) IS NOTED TO ENABLE TEACHERS TO CHOOSE THE ACTIVITIES MOST SUITABLE FOR THEIR CLASSES. THE COURSE IS PART OF A PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE LAW EDUCATION GOALS AND LEARNING (LEGAL) PROJECT OPERATED BY THE DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND FUNDED UNDER TITLE IV OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO DEVELOP STUDENT UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL (CONSUMER) JUSTICE SYSTEMS. SAMPLE EXERCISES, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, LISTS OF PRINTED AND FILM RESOURCES, AND AN ANNOTATED APPENDIX PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CLASS EXERCISES ARE INCLUDED. FOR OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE LEGAL PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SEE NCJ 62129-62139. (CFW)