The Mock Trial Teaches Students About the Court System

BY REBECCA WEBER
Juniors and seniors of Ms. Rogers’ sociology class have arranged a fictitious trial called "Mock Trial" to help them learn about the Defense and Crime Unit. The Mock Trial helps the students bring the unit to life. This helps them grasp the concept of what a trial entails instead of reading about it in a textbook.

The Mock Trial has three main key points: to have a crime take place, to investigate, and to have the trial. Most crimes are murders that are acted out between teachers and students. Later, as the students investigate, everyone has their own role. Some of these roles include: a lawyer, an FBI agent, a CSI investigator, a judge, a forensic scientist and even a po-lice officer. A number of these roles help students later find a career option in the study of sociology. Members of the stu-dent body make up the jury of the trial. Testimonies are made at the trail and explain the suspect’s involvement in the crime. After the trial, the jury decides whether or not the sus-pect is guilty.

Ms. Rogers says, "The Mock Trial is one of the students’ favorite activities in the class because it is spectacular, fun and includes other students."