EDIS 3610

Amie Currie

November 20, 2016

Production 6: Creating a Game

Create Your Case: Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Game Overview: Create Your Case: Innocent Until Proven Guilty is an educational
game intended for use in a high school law classroom (Grade 11 or 12 law). This game
incorporates the idea of a traditional mock trial, but instead of a scripted case and
witnesses, the participants create their own prosecution or defense case by completing
trivia questions to receive evidence pertinent to their case. This game should be played
after the process, standards, and party roles in a criminal trial are discussed and/or
shown in class.

Game Objective: The objective of the game is to win the trial as either the prosecution
or the defense. In other words, if you are playing as the prosecution, your goal is to get
the Jury to vote Guilty; if you are playing as the defense the goal is to get the Jury to
vote Not Guilty.

Materials: The Card Deck encompasses 2 Categories of Cards: Case File Cards (for
prosecution and defense) which include Crime, Evidence, Witnesses; and Trivia Cards.
The game also includes a criminal trial procedure sheet for use if the teacher running
the game is unfamiliar with the process.

Instructions for Game Play:

1.) One game will be played with approximately 12-15 players.
2.) Assign 4 players to play for the prosecution (Prosecutors and Witnesses), 4
players to play for the defense (Defense Lawyers, Accused and Witnesses), and
assign the leftover players to become the jury.
3.) The teacher will be the judge to ensure the game goes smoothly.
4.) Start by giving the prosecution and defense the Crime card. There are two
copies of this card. Each group gets one. This card gives a brief description of a
crime and the suspect charged.
5.) Ensure the Case File Cards are separated into separate piles for prosecution
and defense based on the labeling on the bottom of the cards.

EDIS 3610

Amie Currie

November 20, 2016

6.) Next comes trivia! To gain evidence for their case, the students must prove their
knowledge. The idea here is that the prosecution and defense must answer trivia
questions correctly in order to receive a new evidence/witness card for their
case. The more trivia each group answers correctly, the more evidence and
witness information they receive to help their case.
7.) Begin by asking the prosecution a trivia question. If they answer correctly allow
them to pick up a prosecution Case File card. If not, they do not get to pick up
a card. Next, repeat the same with the defense group and allow them to pick up a
defense Case File card only if they answer correctly.
8.) Go back and forth asking trivia until the trivia cards are finished.
9.) Once the trivia cards are complete, allow the prosecution and the defense about
10 minutes to form their case with the evidence they have gathered.
10.) Next, begin the trial. Follow typical criminal trial procedures as outlined in the
following document. Students will be able to call witnesses and present the
evidence they gathered during the trivia. As the teacher and judge, your job is to
ensure the students adhere to real trial procedures.
11.) Upon completion of the trial, the 4 Jury members will deliberate and vote on
guilty or not guilty.
12.) If the Jury votes GUILTY then the PROSECUTION wins. If the Jury Votes NOT
GUILTY then the defense wins.

Have Fun Playing and learning about the criminal trial process in your classroom!

Learning Expectations from the Ontario Curriculum

This game adheres to the following learning expectation from the Ontario World Studies
Curriculum for grade eleven Law:
E2.2 describe the processes and the roles of key participants involved in a criminal trial
(e.g., roles of the Crown prosecutor and defence lawyer, processes related to the
accused obtaining council, jury selection, gathering and disclosure of evidence, delivery
of verdict, sentencing procedures and options) and explain how the various elements
are related to one another

EDIS 3610

Amie Currie

November 20, 2016

General Learning
The game allows students to reenact a trial like situation where the students are able to
practice the roles of the major participants in a criminal trial. As well as supporting
specific curriculum expectations, this game supports the development of teamwork,
allows students to practice persuasive communication (orally and in writing), and allows
students to build knowledge on criminal law facts in Canada.

Following Game Play

Following game play, students and teacher should debrief the trial that took place. The
teacher should ask students questions such as: Why did the Jury vote the way they
did?, How do you feel you performed as either prosecution or defense?, What could
your team have done differently to better your outcome and trial performance? and
What did you think your team did well during the trial?
Teacher and students should analyze the significance of the trial process. Did everyone
play their roles effectively? Can the students now describe all of the major parties
involved in a criminal trial?

ADDITIONAL GAME RESOURCES

Besides the card deck, this game also includes a criminal trial procedure sheet. The
sheet is included in case the teacher running the game is unfamiliar with the process.
A media tool that could be developed for and included in this game is an instructional
video on the criminal trial process. This would ensure that the law students understand
the roles of all parties prior to beginning their trial game.

EDIS 3610

Amie Currie

November 20, 2016

Criminal Trial Procedures:

See the Following Websites for Reference:
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/criminal-trial-procedures-overview-29509.html
http://criminal.findlaw.ca/article/what-is-the-criminal-trial-process-like/

Follow these steps to conduct the trial part of the game:

1.) Opening statements. The prosecution and then the defense make opening
statements to the judge and jury. These statements provide an outline of the
case that each side expects to prove.
2.) Prosecution case-in-chief. The prosecution presents its main case through
direct examination of prosecution witnesses and evidence.
3.) Cross-examination. The defense may cross-examine the prosecution
witnesses. This means they may ask the prosecutions witnesses questions as
well to try and poke holes in their story.
4.) Prosecution rests. The prosecution finishes presenting its case.

5.) Defense case-in-chief. The defense presents its main case through direct
examination of evidence and defense witnesses.
6.) Cross-examination. The prosecutor cross-examines the defense witnesses.
7.) Defense rests. The defense finishes presenting its case.
8.) Prosecution rebuttal. The prosecutor offers evidence to refute the defense
case.
9.) Prosecution closing argument. The prosecution makes its closing argument,
summarizing the evidence as the prosecution sees it and explaining why the jury
should render a guilty verdict.

EDIS 3610

Amie Currie

November 20, 2016

10.) Defense closing argument. The defense's counterpart to the prosecutor's

closing argument. The lawyer explains why the jury should render a "not guilty"
verdictor at least a guilty verdict on only a lesser charge.
11.) Prosecution rebuttal. The prosecution has the last word, if it chooses to take it,
and again argues that the jury has credible evidence that supports a finding of
guilty.
12.) Jury deliberations. The jury deliberates and tries to reach a verdict. Juries must
typically be unanimous.