Maguire, M., & Okada, D. (2015). Critical issues in crime and justice: Thought, policy, and practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

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1 BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics Course Syllabus Course Description Studies the major aspects of the criminal justice system and provides an assessment of current issues such as globalization and advances in technology. Students analyze contemporary issues such as drug abuse, gang cultures, sex crimes, cybercrimes, community policing, juvenile crimes, prison and jail privatization, and community corrections challenges. Course Textbook Maguire, M., & Okada, D. (2015). Critical issues in crime and justice: Thought, policy, and practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Course Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Explain the integral concern of the criminal justice system for human beings and societies around the world. 2. Examine the technological advances in criminal justice. 3. Analyze emergent trends in juvenile justice. 4. Contrast past and current community policing strategies. 5. Examine the current issues facing the nation with respect to criminal gangs. 6. Examine the war on drugs, including treatment and research. 7. Evaluate the effectiveness of cybercrime prevention and detection methods. 8. Compare new approaches believed to alleviate sex crimes. 9. Evaluate the role of community corrections. 10. Summarize current law enforcement globalization efforts. Credits Upon completion of this course, the students will earn three (3) hours of college credit. Course Structure 1. Study Guide: Each unit contains a Study Guide that provides students with the learning outcomes, unit lesson, required reading assignments, and supplemental resources. 2. Learning Outcomes: Each unit contains Learning Outcomes that specify the measurable skills and knowledge students should gain upon completion of the unit. 3. Unit Lesson: Each unit contains a Unit Lesson, which discusses lesson material. 4. Reading Assignments: Each unit contains Reading Assignments from one or more chapters from the textbook and/or outside resources. 5. Suggested Reading: Suggested Readings are listed in the study guides for Units I-VII. Students are encouraged to read the resources listed if the opportunity arises, but they will not be tested on their knowledge of the Suggested Readings. 6. Discussion Boards: Discussion Boards are part of all CSU term courses. More information and specifications can be found in the Student Resources link listed in the Course Menu bar. 7. Unit Assessment: This course contains one Unit Assessment, which is to be completed at the end of Unit I. The Assessment is composed of written-response questions. 8. Unit Assignments: Students are required to submit for grading Unit Assignments in Units II-VIII. Specific BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 1

2 information and instructions regarding these assignments are provided below. Grading rubrics are included with each assignment. Specific information about accessing these rubrics is provided below. 9. Ask the Professor: This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content related questions. 10. Student Break Room: This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. CSU Online Library The CSU Online Library is available to support your courses and programs. The online library includes databases, journals, e-books, and research guides. These resources are always accessible and can be reached through the library webpage. To access the library, log into the mycsu Student Portal, and click on CSU Online Library. You can also access the CSU Online Library from the My Library button on the course menu for each course in Blackboard. The CSU Online Library offers several reference services. and telephone ( ) assistance is available Monday Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. The library s chat reference service, Ask a Librarian, is available 24/7; look for the chat box on the online library page. Librarians can help you develop your research plan or assist you in finding relevant, appropriate, and timely information. Reference requests can include customized keyword search strategies, links to articles, database help, and other services. LibGuides Click here for the LibGuide for this course. Think of a LibGuide (a Library Guide) as a mini-website to help you with your assignments. It has relevant information such as databases, ebooks, and websites specific to your courses. If you have any questions, please reach out to your friendly library staff. Unit Assignments Unit II Article Critique Read the assigned article below: In order to access the resource below, you must first log into the mycsu Student Portal and access the Criminal Justice database within the CSU Online Library. Martin, R. (2011). Police corruption: An analytical look into police ethics. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 80(5), After reading the article, briefly summarize the purpose for the writing, and address the following questions: What is the author s main point? Who is the author s intended audience? Do the author s arguments support the main point? What evidence supports the main point? How do the author's main points impact the concern of the criminal justice system for human beings and societies in general? What is your opinion of the article? Do you agree with the author s findings? What evidence, either from the textbook or additional sources, supports your opinion? Your response must be at least 750 words in length. All sources used, including the article, must be referenced. BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 2

3 Unit III Article Review For this assignment, read the assigned article below: Arciaga, M., & Gonzalez, V. (2012, June). Street outreach and the OJJDP comprehensive gang model. National Gang Center Bulletin, 7. Retrieved from Comprehensive-Gang-Model.pdf Write an article review that addresses the following issues: Briefly introduce and summarize the article. Identify the authors main points. Who is the intended audience? What types of gang suppression, intervention, or prevention strategies were addressed in the article? Do you feel strategies within the Comprehensive Gang Model discussed in the article are effective tools for addressing gang problems? Support your position with facts. Your response must be at least 750 words in length. All sources used, including the article, must be referenced. Unit IV Article Critique For this assignment, read the assigned article below: Welsh, B. C., Lipsey, M. W., Rivara, F. P., Hawkins, J. D., Aos, S., Peel, M. E., & Petechul, D. (2014, August). Changing lives: Prevention and intervention to reduce serious offending. Retrieved from After reading the article, discuss the following points: Who is the intended audience? What is the main point of the report? Explain the integral concern of the criminal justice system for human beings and societies. What risk factor trends contribute to juvenile delinquency and crime? What emergent trends in juvenile justice can be inferred? What community-based programs, educational programs, and social programs focus on juvenile delinquency? Your response must be at least 750 words in length. All sources used, including the article, must be referenced. Unit V Essay In addition to reading the textbook chapter, read the report provided below: Center for Sex Offender Management. (2008). Key roles of law enforcement in sex offender management. Retrieved from In your essay, discuss the complexity of sex offender management, and explain how factors, such as defining and categorizing sex crimes and sex offenders, play into these initiatives. Discuss the new role that technology has in alleviating sex crimes and sex offender management. What strategies, or combination thereof, do you feel offer practical solutions that can alleviate sex crimes? Your paper must be at least 750 words in length. Use at least one additional outside source to support your position. Your essay must include an introduction that provides the background for the topic, clearly presents the essay's thesis, and summarizes the main points. BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 3

4 Be sure to review the grading rubric. All sources used, including the article, must be referenced. Paraphrased and/or quoted materials must have accompanying in-text citations and references in APA format. Unit VI Essay After reading the Unit VI Lesson and Chapter 24 in the textbook, address the questions below: Evaluate the role of community corrections, rehabilitation, reintegration, and reentry. What does research say about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of these roles? How can we take such research and translate it into daily practice with the development of programs and strategies to address rehabilitation, recidivism, reintegration, and costs as they relate to community corrections? With the plethora of research and information available, we cannot put every program into practice, so how do we select what strategies to employ? With regard to appropriate programs and strategies, how do we determine what the proper target population would be? You are encouraged to access the video podcast in the Suggested Reading section, which is titled What Works: Evidence-Based Practices in Community Corrections, as it offers additional insight on community corrections that may be beneficial to answering the aforementioned questions. Your essay must be at least 1000 words in length. Your essay must begin with an introduction that provides background for the topic, clearly presents the essay's thesis, and summarizes the main points. All sources used must be referenced. Unit VII Essay In addition to reading the Unit VII Lesson and Chapter 14 in the textbook, visit the following webpage: Write an essay that addresses the following components: Summarize the global role of INTERPOL as it relates to cybercrimes. Discuss the types of cybercrimes that INTERPOL investigates. Discuss the methods that INTERPOL uses to combat cyber threats, specifically advanced persistent threats. Conclude with a discussion of your opinion on how effective these cybercrimes prevention and detection methods have been. What else could be done? Your essay must be at least 750 words in length. Your essay must begin with an introduction that provides background for the topic, clearly presents the essay's thesis, and summarizes the main points. All sources used must be referenced. Unit VIII Essay Drug education and resistance are critical elements needed to guide our nation s adolescents away from drugs at an early age. For this assignment, you will research the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, otherwise known as D.A.R.E., as well as drug treatment and research. Your essay must include the following components: Examine the relationship between the D.A.R.E. program and the War on Drugs. Identify the role D.A.R.E. plays in educating adolescents as compared to other drug use and abuse resistance programs The effectiveness of D.A.R.E. is questionable. Do you think the program has an impact on drug use, crime rates, and juvenile delinquency? Support your position with facts. BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 4

5 How has the D.A.R.E. program evolved since its inception to address new challenges and trends in drug use and abuse? What programs are available for youth experiencing drug or alcohol problems? What does the research say about these programs? Your essay must be at least 750 words and include at least two outside sources, not including the course textbook. Your essay must begin with an introduction that provides background for the topic, clearly presents the essay's thesis, and summarizes the main points. Any paraphrased and/or quoted materials must have accompanying in-text citations and references in APA format. APA Guidelines The application of the APA writing style shall be practical, functional, and appropriate to each academic level, with the primary purpose being the documentation (citation) of sources. CSU requires that students use APA style for certain papers and projects. Students should always carefully read and follow assignment directions and review the associated grading rubric when available. Students can find CSU s Citation Guide by clicking here. This document includes examples and sample papers and provides information on how to contact the CSU Success Center. Grading Rubrics This course utilizes analytic grading rubrics as tools for your professor in assigning grades for all learning activities. Each rubric serves as a guide that communicates the expectations of the learning activity and describes the criteria for each level of achievement. In addition, a rubric is a reference tool that lists evaluation criteria and can help you organize your efforts to meet the requirements of that learning activity. It is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with these rubrics because these are the primary tools your professor uses for assessing learning activities. Rubric categories include: (1) Discussion Board, (2) Assessment (Written Response), and (3) Assignment. However, it is possible that not all of the listed rubric types will be used in a single course (e.g., some courses may not have Assessments). The Discussion Board rubric can be found within Unit I s Discussion Board submission instructions. The Assessment (Written Response) rubric can be found embedded in a link within the directions for each Unit Assessment. However, these rubrics will only be used when written-response questions appear within the Assessment. Each Assignment type (e.g., article critique, case study, research paper) will have its own rubric. The Assignment rubrics are built into Blackboard, allowing students to review them prior to beginning the Assignment and again once the Assignment has been scored. This rubric can be accessed via the Assignment link located within the unit where it is to be submitted. Students may also access the rubric through the course menu by selecting Tools and then My Grades. Again, it is vitally important for you to become familiar with these rubrics because their application to your Discussion Boards, Assessments, and Assignments is the method by which your instructor assigns all grades. Communication Forums These are non-graded discussion forums that allow you to communicate with your professor and other students. Participation in these discussion forums is encouraged, but not required. You can access these forums with the buttons in the Course Menu. Instructions for subscribing/unsubscribing to these forums are provided below. Click here for instructions on how to subscribe/unsubscribe and post to the Communication Forums. Ask the Professor This communication forum provides you with an opportunity to ask your professor general or course content questions. Questions may focus on Blackboard locations of online course components, textbook or course content elaboration, additional guidance on assessment requirements, or general advice from other students. BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 5

6 Questions that are specific in nature, such as inquiries regarding assessment/assignment grades or personal accommodation requests, are NOT to be posted on this forum. If you have questions, comments, or concerns of a nonpublic nature, please feel free to your professor. Responses to your post will be addressed or ed by the professor within 48 hours. Before posting, please ensure that you have read all relevant course documentation, including the syllabus, assessment/assignment instructions, faculty feedback, and other important information. Student Break Room This communication forum allows for casual conversation with your classmates. Communication on this forum should always maintain a standard of appropriateness and respect for your fellow classmates. This forum should NOT be used to share assessment answers. Grading Discussion Boards 2%) = 16% Unit I Assessment = 10% Article Critiques 10%) = 20% Essays 11%) = 44% Unit III Article Review = 10% Total = 100% Course Schedule/Checklist (PLEASE PRINT) The following pages contain a printable Course Schedule to assist you through this course. By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 6

7 BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics Course Schedule By following this schedule, you will be assured that you will complete the course within the time allotted. Please keep this schedule for reference as you progress through your course. Unit I Contemporary Criminal Justice Theory and Practice Unit Study Guide Chapter 1: Introduction: The Linearity of Contemporary Criminal Justice Thought: Perspective, Context, and Direction Chapter 18: Contemporary Police and Society, pp Additional Reading Assignment(s): See Study Guide Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Saturday, 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Assessment by Unit II Ethics in Criminal Justice Unit Study Guide Chapter 2: The Importance of Ethics in Criminal Justice Additional Reading Assignment(s): See Study Guide Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Article Critique by BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 7

8 BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics Course Schedule Unit III Gangs and the Criminal Justice System Unit Study Guide Chapter 11: Gangs, Serious Gang Problems, and Criminal Justice: What to Do? Additional Reading Assignment(s): See Study Guide Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Article Review by Unit IV Contemporary Criminal Justice Theory and Practice Unit Study Guide Chapter 22: The Juvenile Justice System Additional Reading Assignment(s): See Study Guide Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Article Critique by Unit V Sex Crimes Unit Study Guide Chapter 12: Sex Crimes Additional Reading Assignment(s): See Study Guide Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Essay by BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 8

9 BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics Course Schedule Unit VI Community Corrections Unit Study Guide Chapter 24: Community Corrections, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Reentry Additional Reading Assignment(s): See Study Guide Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Essay by Unit VII Cyber Criminology Unit Study Guide Chapter 14: Developments in Cyber Criminology Suggested Reading: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Essay by Unit VIII Drugs Unit Study Guide Reading Assignment: See Study Guide Discussion Board Response: Submit your response to the Discussion Board question by Discussion Board Comment: Comment on another student s Discussion Board response by Essay by BCJ 4601, Criminal Justice Current Topics 9