CRIJ 1301: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSE SYLLABUS

Transcription

1 CRIJ Revised Summer 2010 CRIJ 1301: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSE SYLLABUS CRIJ Introduction to Criminal Justice. (3-3-0) A study of the history and philosophy of criminal justice. This course includes ethical considerations; the definition, nature, and impact of crime, an overview of criminal justice system; law enforcement; court system; prosecution and defense; trial process; and corrections. Prerequisite: Must be eligible to enroll in READ 0308 or be concurrently enrolled in READ F, Sp ( ). INSTRUCTOR: OFFICE NUMBER: OFFICE TELEPHONE: HOME TELEPHONE: ADDRESS: COURSE RATIONALE: TEXT: Mike D. Bishop, M.B.A. N/A (Work) (cell) mbishop@kilgore.edu Mbishop213@aol.com The study of criminal investigation techniques and the legal requirements of such action provides students with a basic understanding of the complexities of investigating crime. George F. Cole and Christopher E. Smith (2007) The American System of Criminal Justice. Eleventh Edition. Thomson/Wadsworth. California. Other materials as assigned. GRADING POLICY: Examination Policy: Examinations are administered covering course material during the semester. A comprehensive final exam will administered at the end of the semester in accordance with the college final examination schedule. Students may begin taking final exams the Monday of final exam week and NOT before that day. Students making travel plans should keep this fact in mind when making reservations. All students are required to take the final examination as a prerequisite to successful completion of the course. GRADING: An accurate point system will be utilized to determine the final grade the student will receive for the course. The final grade will be determined by averaging major test grades (including the final exam) along with any extra required assignments. Grades will be awarded according to the following scale: = A = B = C

2 CRIJ = D 59 and BELOW = F CLASSROOM POLICIES: 1. Attendance Policy: Punctual and regular attendance is required of all students in criminal justice classes. THERE ARE NO EXCUSED ABSENCES! Students are responsible for all class work even when absent; obtain class notes from other students or make other arrangements to get the material. 2. Assignment Policy: All required work must be turned in on time. Assigned work is due on the class period assigned unless the instructor clears the circumstances with the student. Regardless of the circumstances, late work may be assessed a penalty. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO READ EACH ASSIGNMENT BEFORE CLASS. UNANNOUNCED MAJOR TESTS OR QUIZZES MAY BE ADMINISTERED TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE READING AS REQUIRED. 3. Method of Instruction: This is a procedures course which relies heavily on the textbook; lecture is the primary method of instruction. 4. Make-up Exams: No make-up examinations will be given!! Exam dates are posted far enough in advance to ensure students are aware of when exams are scheduled. The lowest examination grade from the four chapter exams will be dropped prior to the calculation of the final grade. 5. Writing Assignment: There will be three short writing assignments that will focus on information studied and discussed during this course. More information will be provided in class at a later date. The three writing assignments will be graded and calculated as one major test grade. 6. Student withdrawal from class: If a student decides to voluntarily withdraw from the class, she or he must personally contact the registrar s office to officially drop the course. 7. Academic Integrity: The Kilgore College Criminal Justice Department seeks to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity. Any student who presents as her or his own any work that she or he has not performed has committed a very serious offense and renders the offender subject to serious sanctions. Those sanctions include, but are not limited to the following: automatic failure of the assignment, test, and/or course. For further information refer to the Kilgore College Student Handbook section on Academic Integrity.

3 CRIJ Statement of Non-Discrimination: Kilgore College Criminal Justice Department seeks to provide equal educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, or veteran status. 9. Americans with Disabilities Act Statement: Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet course requirements, should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations. Students should also contact the special populations counselor for specific documentation of the required accommodation. 10. Basic use of computers: Computers are an integral part of the criminal justice system. Students will research material via the Internet, as well as employ electronic mail to communicate with the instructor concerning class assignments. 11. No food or drink is allowed in the classroom! 12. Cellular telephones are not to be used during class!! Students answering cellphones during class will be asked to leave class and marked absent for the period! Students should keep abreast of current events concerning issues taught in this course. Newspapers, television news, and internet sources should be utilized in keeping current in the topics of this course. EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES 1. Students must be able to employ the appropriate methods, technologies, and data that social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition as they relate to the study of issues in criminal justice. 2. Students will demonstrate the ability to examine institutions and processes across a range of structures and cultures within the study of criminal justice. 3. Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyze the effects of social, economic, psychological, and cultural forces on criminal justice policies. 4. Students will be able to explain contemporary solutions to social, economic, psychological, and cultural problems related to criminal justice policies. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Chapter One: Criminal Justice in America 1. Students will define and distinguish between formal and informal criminal justice. 2. Students will describe and define the criminal justice system and how its component parts of police, courts, and corrections interact. 3. Students will discuss the history of criminal justice in terms of the competing values of law and discretion. 4. Students will discuss how the issues of race, ethnicity, and sex affect the criminal justice system.

4 CRIJ Chapter Two: Victimization and Criminal Behavior 1. Students will define and distinguish the different types of crimes. 2. Students will have an understanding and be able to describe the various attempts at measuring crime. 3. Students will discuss the current trends in crime. 4. Students will be able to distinguish between and describe the relationship between criminals and victims. Chapter Three: The Criminal Justice System 1. The student will describe the structure of local law enforcement. 2. The student will describe the structure of state law enforcement. 3. The student will discuss the interdependence of the different parts of the criminal justice system. 4. The student will describe the working relationships between law enforcement, the courts, and corrections within the criminal justice system. Chapter Four: Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law 1. Students will define and explain the function of the law. 2. Students will explain the constitutional limits placed on criminal law. 3. Students will explain and distinguish the principles of criminal liability. 4. Students will be able to identify common defenses to criminal liability. 5. Students will be able to relate theories of social science to the principles of criminal law and procedure. Chapter Five: Police 1. Students will be able to discuss the roles of historical development of police and policing. 2. Students will compare and discuss public and private policing. 3. Students will be able to identify and describe the recognized roles of the police. 4. Students will discuss police discretion and the essential role it plays in policing. 5. Students will discuss common traits in police personality. Chapter Six: Police Officers and Law Enforcement Operations 1. Students will discuss the strategy of patrol and the different types of patrol. 2. Students will discuss what research has revealed about the effectiveness of preventive patrol. 3. Students will discuss the various types of investigations conducted by the police. 4. Students will distinguish between proactive and reactive patrol. 5. Students will discuss the concepts of problem-solving policing and community oriented policing. Chapter Seven: Policing Contemporary Issues and Challenges 1. Students will explain probable cause. 2. Students will differentiate between probable cause and reasonable suspicion. 3. Students will discuss the implications and changing views of the Miranda Warnings.

5 CRIJ Students will discuss the limitations on police use of force. 5. Students will discuss the use of searches and under what circumstances a warrant is required. Chapter Eight: Police and Constitutional Law 1. Students will discuss the courtroom structure as it relates to lower courts, felony courts, appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. 2. Students will define and discuss the criminal courts mission. 3. Students will define and discuss the courtroom workgroups. 4. Students will discuss the role of the prosecutor. 5. Students will define and discuss the mission of the defense counsel.