Criminal Justice Department Behavioral Science Division Survey of Criminal Justice CRIM 1003 Fall 2012 Professor: Todd C. Hiestand Course Credit: 3 Hours Email: tchiestand@mnu.edu Class Day/Time: MWF 1:00pm-1:50pm Office Location: Metz 207 Class Location: Metz 227 Office Hours: MW 2:00pm to 4:00pm and by appointment Office Phone: (913) 971-3611 REQUIRED TEXT Cole, G.F. & Smith, C.E. (2010). The American System of Criminal Justice (12th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadworth. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is designed to provide general knowledge about the causes of crime; an understanding of the underlying purpose of law enforcement; and the role of the police officer, courts, penal institutions, and the parole system. It also describes the history and evolution of the corrections process. PREREQUISITES None GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES This course is intended to partially satisfy student requirements for the General Education Core at MNU, specifically the outcome of Social Responsibility. The Social Responsibility outcome asks that students become informed, concerned, and involved citizens of the world. This outcome will be addressed through class lectures and activities, textbook readings, exams, criminal justice current events and the criminal justice service and leadership interview. Additionally, course lectures and assignments will help students focus on integrating Christ-like character and perspective with the field of criminal justice; gain knowledge, skills, and vision to engage with and serve the world, at home, and abroad; prepare to lead and mentor others in their professions and communities; encounter questions and dilemmas in the broader world; and engage in practical, hands-on, or action-oriented initiatives related to academic coursework. COURSE REQUIREMENTS Exams. There will be four (4) exams. Each exam will be worth 100 points. The tentative test schedule is as follows: September 28 Test 1 (Chapters 1-4) October 26 Test 2 (Chapters 5-8) November 19 Test 3 (Chapters 9-12) December 14 Test 4 (Chapters 13-16) Test 4 will take place between 10am and 11:50am during finals week. This test will only cover chapters 13-16. At least 35% of each exam will cover material related to the Social Responsibility General Education Outcome.
For a make-up test, the student must notify the professor prior to the scheduled exam, provide a proper reason for missing the exam, and make arrangements to take the test before the next class period. If the student does not notify the professor prior to the test, or fails to make proper arrangements for a make-up test, the professor has the option of downgrading the test score or refusing to allow the student to make up the exam. Extra credit is not an option. Criminal Justice Current Events. Students will select an article related to criminal justice from the general media. Students will read the article and print a copy to bring to class. A good place to find articles is www.thecrimereport.org, students may sign up to receive daily news reports from this website. Students will also type answers to each of the following questions: (1) How does the issue address questions and dilemmas in the broader world? (2) What possible solutions can be identified to those questions and dilemmas? (3) Does Christianity inform responses to the issue? Students will also bring a copy of their answers to class these should be about ½ page in length. Each article will be worth 10 points. During class students will enter into class discussion on the articles they selected. Students will then vote on the most thought-provoking issue. The student with the most thought provoking issue will receive an extra 5 points. If a student brings a paper copy of the article, a paper copy of their answers, and participates in the group and class discussion, they will receive all 10 points. There will be 10 Criminal Justice Current Events due throughout the course of the semester for a total of 100 points. The tentative due dates for the Criminal Justice Current Events are listed below in the Significant Dates and Course Content Schedule section. The due dates all fall on Fridays. Criminal Justice Service and Leadership Interview. Students will interview a person who is substantially involved in the criminal justice system. For example, students may interview a police chief, police officer, detective, prosecutor, defense attorney, probation officer, corrections officer, warden, or any other person with significant criminal justice experience. Students will then submit a write-up of their interview experience. Students will address the following items during the interview: (1) Why/how this person chose their profession and a brief discussion of their career path. (2) Leadership opportunities within the career and how this person engages in leadership. (3) Opportunities to serve the community and the world in this profession and how this person engages in service. (4) Current problems, questions, and dilemmas within the profession and this person s beliefs on how to address these issues. (5) Any suggestions for students that may wish to follow a similar career path and what opportunities for service may presently exist for students. Additional instructions for this assignment and a rubric describing how points will be earned will be handed out in class. The Criminal Justice Service and Leadership Interview and write-up will be worth a total of 150 points. This assignment is due December 5th by 1pm and must be electronically delivered through Moodle. Class Participation. Students are responsible for participating in class discussions. This involves engaging the professor and other students in the critical exploration of class concepts as well as the sharing of independent thought. In order to sustain a high level of class discussion it is vitally important that students be prepared to participate by completing readings
and assignments on schedule. Improper use of electronic devices during class, such as texting and checking email, will result in loss of points. GRADING SYSTEM 400 Points for Exams (4x100) 100 Points for Criminal Justice Current Events (10x10) 150 Points for Criminal Justice Service and Leadership Interview 650 Total Points Possible ATTENDANCE POLICY A+ 630 650 Points A 604 629 Points A- 585 603 Points B+ 565 584 Points B 539 564 Points B- 520 538 Points C+ 500 519 Points C 474 499 Points C- 455 473 Points D+ 435 454 Points D 409 434 Points D- 390 408 Points F 389 Points or Less For every unexcused absence, beginning with the fourth, the student s final grade will be reduced by 15 points. For purposes of this attendance policy only, students who are more than 15 minutes late for a given class period, or leave a class period more than 10 minutes early, will be counted as absent for that class period. Excused absences consist of serious illness or unavoidable circumstances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the professor as soon as possible concerning any foreseeable absences and to turn in assignments at the regularly set deadlines. Whether an absence is deemed excused or unexcused rests solely upon the discretion of the professor. Students with perfect attendance will receive a 15 point increase in their final grade. For example, a student with 550 points (B) at the end of the semester with perfect attendance will have his or her grade raised by 15 points. As a result, the student s grade will be raised from a B to a B+. For purposes of the perfect attendance bonus only, all absences are considered unexcused. LATE ASSIGNMENTS All assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class or that assignment will be deemed as late. Each late assignment will be reduced by 10 points per day the assignment is late. For example, if an assignment is due on Monday and the student turns in the assignment after the class period begins but before 5pm, that student s grade on the assignment will be reduced by 10 points. If the student turns the assignment in after 5pm or on the following Tuesday, the grade will be reduced by 20 points. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY All work is expected to be the student s own. No credit will be given for assignments or exams that have been plagiarized. Cheating and other dishonest behavior will result in an F for the assignment and will be reported to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Cheating and other dishonest behavior may result in failure for the course and/or dismissal from the University.
CITIZENSHIP Students are expected to display appropriate levels of respect and courtesy. This includes turning off cell phones. If a cell phone rings during class, the student will lose points. Students are not allowed to surf the internet while in class. If a student uses a computer for purposes other than note-taking, the student will lose points. The professor reserves the right to ask students violating this policy to leave class. If this occurs, the student will be deemed as absent. Additionally, the professor reserves the right to substantially reduce the final grade of students violating this policy. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS Students needing special accommodation must notify the professor within the first two (2) weeks of class. SIGNIFICANT DATES AND COURSE CONTENT SCHEDULE These dates are TENTATIVE and may be changed as needs dictate. 8/29 Course Intro 8/31 Criminal Justice Current Event 1 Due 9/5-9/10 Chapter 1 Crime and Justice in America 9/7 Criminal Justice Current Event 2 Due 9/12-9/14 Chapter 2 Victimization and Criminal Behavior 9/14 Criminal Justice Current Event 3 Due 9/17-9/21 Chapter 3 The Criminal Justice System 9/19 No Class 9/21 Criminal Justice Current Event 4 Due 9/24-9/26 Chapter 4 Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law 9/28 Test 1 (Chapters 1-4) 10/1-10/5 Chapter 5 Police 10/5 Criminal Justice Current Event 5 Due 10/8-10/10 Chapter 6 Police Officers and Law Enforcement Operations 10/15-10/17 Chapter 7 Twenty-First Century Challenges in Policing 10/19-10/24 Chapter 8 Police and Constitutional Law 10/19 Criminal Justice Current Event 6 Due 10/26 Test 2 (Chapters 5-8) 10/29-10/31 Chapter 9 Courts and Pretrial Processes 11/2-11/7 Chapter 10 Prosecution and Defense 11/2 Criminal Justice Current Event 7 Due 11/9-11/12 Chapter 11 Determination of Guilt: Plea Bargaining and Trials 11/9 Criminal Justice Current Event 8 Due 11/14-11/16 Chapter 12 Punishment and Sentencing 11/16 Criminal Justice Current Event 9 Due 11/19 Test 3 (Chapters 9-12) 11/26-11/30 Chapter 13 Corrections 12/3 Chapter 14 Community Corrections: Probation and Intermediate Sanctions 12/5 Criminal Justice Service and Leadership Interview Due 12/7-12/10 Chapter 15 Incarceration and Prison Society 12/7 Criminal Justice Current Event 10 Due 12/14 10am-11:50am - Final Exam (Chapters 13-16)
Alignment of Mission, Objectives, and Outcomes MidAmerica Nazarene University Term:Fall 2012 Class: Survey of Criminal Justice Dept #:CRIM 1003 CRN: 20108 Professor:Todd Hiestand Means of Criminal Justice Current Events and Criminal Justice Service and Leadership Interview University Mission Statement: The University provides a wide variety of intellectual, social, and religious activities that serve a developmental function in students. Related Division Mission: General Education at MidAmerica aims to develop certain knowledge, values, and competencies in students in the following areas: Spiritual Development, Self Understanding, Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Social Responsibility, Scientific Literacy, and Aesthetic Literacy. Course Objectives: Social Responsibility: Students will become informed, concerned, and involved citizens of the world. Intended Educational (Student) Outcome: Social Responsibility: Students will become informed, concerned, and involved citizens of the world. Means of Assessment: Criminal Justice Current Events and Criminal Justice Service and Leadership Interview