![MCj02220050000[1]](200204s08_files/image004.gif)
CJ 200:
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Section
204
Spring 2008
T R 9:30-10:45, Smith
Hall 418
Criminal Justice Department
Smith Hall 774
Phone:
304-696-3087
Fax:
304-696-3085
Email: bora@marshall.edu
Web Page: www.marshall.edu/criminal-justice/bora.htm
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 9:30-12:00
Tuesday 11:00-12:00
& 3:00-4:00; Thursday 11:00-12:00
REQUIRED TEXT
Fuller, John R. (2006). Criminal
Justice: Mainstream and Crosscurrents.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Publishing.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This survey course examines the various components
of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and
corrections. Students will be introduced to various criminal justice agencies
and career possibilities.
PREREQUISITES
None
COMPUTER
REQUIREMENTS
A
student must have a computer or access to one, as well as access to the
Internet to send and receive email messages. If you are using an email account
other than your
DESIRED
LEARNER OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
Our main goal is to understand how the criminal
justice system is actually many subsystems working toward a common goal. Each
of these subsystems (law enforcement, courts, and corrections) must work in
cooperation with each other in order to make sure justice is obtained and
society is safe. In order to achieve our main goal, we will:
- Address introductory issues that confront the
study of crime and criminal justice. These issues will cover major
concepts such as justice, process, procedures, and roles. In addition,
students will be introduced to criminological theories and their
importance to the study of crime.
- Examine the sub-system of law enforcement. We
will look at its history, organization, role, and function. We will also
examine police procedure and its relationship to the rule of law.
- Study the court system and its key players
(the prosecution, the defense, and the judiciary). We will look at the
dual court system of the American criminal justice system and trace the
steps of the accused through the trial process to the point of
implementing punishment.
- Briefly examine the last stage of the criminal
justice process- criminal punishment/sanctions and corrections.
EVALUATION OF
LEARNER OBJECTIVES
- There will be three regular examinations and a
final exam. All exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false,
matching, short answer, essay or any combination of the above. The final exam is partly comprehensive.
The dates for these exams are as follows:
Exam 1 - Tuesday, February 5
Exam 2 - Tuesday, March 11
Exam 3 - Thursday, April 17
Final Exam - Tuesday, May 6
(8:00-10:00)
- There will be pop quizzes and assignments
throughout the semester. Pop
quizzes will consist of true/false, multiple choice, and/or completion.
PAPER GUIDELINES
There are no major papers for this course. However,
brief assignments may be assigned, as needed, to strengthen the understanding
of concepts covered in class. Guidelines for these assignments will be handed out
in class accordingly.
ATTENDANCE
POLICY
Attendance will be recorded daily. Poor attendance will have an adverse
effect on your class participation because you can’t participate if you’re not here! For classes that meet three times per week 5
points will be taken off for each unexcused absence, and for classes that meet
twice per week 7.5 points will be taken off for each unexcused absence. These
points will be deducted from a total possible 100 points. Unexcused absences
are those that do not fall into the list of excused categories identified in
the university catalog: (1) university sponsored activities; (2) absences as a
result of personal illness or a death in the family; and (3) absences resulting
from major religious holidays. For a more detailed explanation of these
categories, please see the undergraduate catalog under the heading of “Class
Attendance.” All excused absences must be presented to the professor with
proper documentation. No excuses will be accepted after the class
period immediately following the class that was missed.
If you miss an exam with no legitimate documented excuse a zero will be
given for that test with no make-up test.
If you are ill or know in advance that you will miss an exam for a
legitimate excuse, you (or your representative) must notify me BEFORE
the scheduled exam time (if I am not notified before the exam, you will be
given a zero regardless of the excuse). For those students who do contact me and
have a legitimate excuse (as defined in the preceding paragraph), an
alternative time to take the exam will be determined. The format of the
make-up exams will be left to my discretion. In addition, students who are late
on exam day will not be permitted to take the exam if another student(s) has already
completed the exam and has left the classroom; the exam in this case has been
compromised. In other words, you will NOT be able to take the exam or
take a make-up exam.
There are no
make-ups for pop quizzes or in-class assignments with or without an excuse;
however, if a valid documented excuse is presented [and accepted by the
professor] the score will be waived, but it is the student’s responsibility to
notify the professor regarding a missed quiz (i.e., “I will not hunt you
down”). Also, as stated previously, no excuses will be accepted after the class
period immediately following the class that was missed.
GRADES
|
Criteria |
Weight |
Scale |
|
Exam
1 |
20 % |
90-100% = A |
|
Exam
2 |
20 % |
80-89% = B |
|
Exam
3 |
20 % |
70-79% = C |
|
Final
Exam |
20 % |
60-69% = D |
|
Quizzes
& Assignments |
10 % |
Below 60% =
F |
|
Attendance/Class
Participation |
10 % |
|
|
TOTAL
|
100% |
|
BORA’S “TEN
COMMANDMENTS”
1. As a general rule, I don’t allow my lectures to be tape-recorded. Exceptions
are made for students with disabilities, however prior permission must be
obtained from the professor.
2. All cell phones must be turned off and put away (out of view) at the
commencement of class, with the exception of emergency service personnel. Cell
phones are disruptive not only to me, but your fellow students, so please be
courteous. You will receive only one warning if your cell phone goes off in
class, or if I catch you playing with it during class.
3. You may NOT eat during class. This means food of any kind (chips,
sandwiches, candy, etc.). However, drinks are permitted (non-alcoholic of
course). Also, you should not be working on anything not related to this class
once class commences (this includes reading, copying other’s notes, knitting,
playing games on your cell phone, etc.).
4. Do NOT leave the classroom once class has started, unless it is an
absolute emergency or you have notified me before class that you will be
leaving. You should use the restroom, get a drink of water, make a phone call,
etc. before class starts.
5. Don’t cheat or plagiarize!
Academic dishonesty is something I take very seriously and will not
tolerate. Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing will automatically receive a
failing grade for the course and will be referred to the dean for appropriate
disciplinary action. Plagiarism from the internet has become a very serious
problem and professors now have access to various software programs to identify
this behavior, so at this point in your academic career, don’t risk it!
6. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, the dumbest question is the one not
asked! If you ask a question I can’t
answer, I’ll find out the answer and get back to you. Please remember that as a teacher, I am
merely your guide through the field, I am not the field itself!
7. During discussions please respect different viewpoints; there is always
more than one side. Treat others’ views
as you would want your own to be treated, with an open mind. Personal attacks
on others will not be tolerated!
8. I like to run my classes as an open forum where we can all learn from
each other, so I encourage intelligent discussions, questions, and comments,
but at the same time we have to remember that we are at a university setting
and must act accordingly.
9. I encourage all my students to make use of my office hours, they are
there for you. If you can’t make it at the scheduled times, let me know and we
can arrange to meet at another time.
However, this invitation is only for those students who come to class on
a regular basis and put forth a genuine effort to learn. Also, please keep in mind that I have a life
too and while my office hours are mandatory, my other time is not, so my
flexibility can only extend so far.
10. Enjoy! Have fun! Learn! Some
students feel that each of these endeavors are independent of each other, they
are not. You can enjoy and have fun
while learning. I hope to make it as
comfortable as I can for you, but it will take some work on your part as well.
TENTATIVE
COURSE SCHEDULE
|
Week 1 |
Jan 15 & 17 |
|
Introduction; Crime & Criminal Justice
Process (Read Chapter 1) |
|
|
Jan 14-18: Late
Registration and Add/Drop (Schedule Adjustment) |
|
|
Week 2 |
Jan 22 & 24 |
|
Measurement Issues and Explanations; Perspectives
on Crime Control (Read Chapter 2 & 3) |
|
|
Jan 22-Mar 21: “W” Withdrawal Period (for individual
classes) |
|
|
Week 3 |
Jan 29 & 31 |
|
The Legal Aspects of Crime (Read Chapter 4) |
|
|
Week 4 |
Feb 5 & 7 |
|
Exam 1 (Feb 5);
Law Enforcement Evolution & Organization (Read Chapter 5) |
|
|
Week 5 |
Feb 12 & 14 |
|
The Police & Policing |
|
|
Week 6 |
Feb 19 & 21 |
|
The Police & the Constitution (Read Chapter 6) |
|
|
Week 7 |
Feb 26 & 28 |
|
Critical Issues in Policing (Read Chapter 7) |
|
|
Week 8 |
Mar 4 & 6 |
|
Watch “Serpico”
|
|
|
Week 9 |
Mar 11 & 13 |
|
Exam 2 (Mar 11); No Class March 13- ACJS Conference |
|
|
Week 10 |
Mar 18 & 20 |
|
The Right to Counsel & the American Courts:
The Pretrial Process (Read Chapter 8 & 9) |
|
|
Mar 21: Last Day to Drop a Full Semester Individual Course |
|
|
Week 11 |
Mar 25 & 27 |
|
Spring Break- Classes Dismissed |
|
|
Mar 24-May 2: Complete Withdrawals Only |
|
|
Week 12 |
Apr 1 & 3 |
|
The Pretrial Process continued; The Criminal
Trial (Read Chapter 10) |
|
|
Week 13 |
Apr 8 & 10 |
|
Watch “And
Justice for All” |
|
|
Week 14 |
Apr 15 & 17 |
|
Sentencing & Punishment; Exam 3 (Apr 17) |
|
|
Week 15 |
Apr 22 & 24 |
|
The Evolution of American Prisons; The Prison
Experience (Read Chapter 11 & 12) |
|
|
Week 16 |
Apr 29 & May 1 |
|
The Prison Experience continued; Community
Corrections; Juvenile Justice (Read Chapter 13 & 14) |
|
|
May 2: Last Class Day and Last Day to Completely Withdraw
for Fall Semester |
|
|
Week 17 |
May 6 |
|
Final Exam (Tuesday, May 6, 8:00-10:00am) |
|