Introduction to Criminal Justice

Introduction to Criminal Justice (CV Honors) Course Syllabus Course Information Course Number CRIM 1301-003 Course Title Introduction to Criminal Justice Term Fall 2009 Days & Times Mondays @ 1:30pm - 4:15pm in SOM 2.217 Professor Contact Information Professor Dr. Robert Morris Phone (972) 883-6728 (email preferred) Email address morris@utdallas.edu Office Location Green Hall - GR 3.526 Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 2:30pm 3:30pm (by appt. or before/after class) Teaching Assistant/s: Mark Saber mcs078000@student.utdallas.edu Henriikka Weir henriikka.weir@student.utdallas.edu Office: GR 2.510 Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions Students must be internet capable and regularly check their UTD email account. USE YOUR UTD EMAIL ACCOUNT ONLY!!! Required Textbooks and Materials: Siegel, Larry J., 2008. Essentials of Criminal Justice, 6 th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. ISBN 978-0-495-55324-3 Course Description Overview of criminal justice system, including historical development, present status, and suggested reforms. Includes detailed descriptions of the duties and functions of actors in the criminal justice system, including: victim, offender, police, prosecuting and defense attorneys, courts and corrections. Will elaborate criminal justice processes from the formation of laws to the final stages of the treatment of criminals, including a section on juvenile offenders. Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes (1) Elaborate the three main components of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. (2) Provide students the opportunity to critically interact with the material and to discuss controversial issues with peers in an environment conducive to learning. (3) Provide students with background information that will dispel any misperceptions (perhaps based on longstanding myths) about America's criminal justice system. (4) Understand the conception of justice and how this notion is applied in the U.S. criminal justice system, as well as to identify potential reforms to address inadequacies and/or injustices. (5) Examine the purposes and changing dynamics of punishment. R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 1

HOW TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE: (1) Complete ALL assigned readings prior to class session. (2) Take careful notes in class to cover lecture material, and prepare notes over assigned readings. (3) Visit the blackboard site frequently! You can access the course syllabus, assignments, supplemental readings, grades, as well as additional materials that will aid in the preparation of assignments for this class and further facilitate your understanding of course materials. Grade Scale 98-100 = A+ 88-89 = B+ 78-79 = C+ 68-69 = D+ 59 and below = F 93-97 = A 83-87 = B 73-77 = C 63-67 = D 90-92 = A- 80-82 = B- 70-72 = C- 60-62 = D- Grading Policy Grades are composed of: Quizzes (12 total) 50% Research Paper/Presentation 30% Participation/Journal Log 20% Participation: All students are expected to have read the course material and actively participate in class discussions. Your contribution to such discussions counts for 20% of your final grade. Role will be taken each day and I will log your contributions to the discussion. Though you cannot lose points by missing class, absent students cannot participate, thus his/her grade will be affected. To be clear, active constructive contributions to discussions are meaningful and well thought out extensions to the dialog, not simply talking for the sake of talking. Please keep this in mind as we progress through the semester. Students who have perfect attendance and make a reasonable effort to constructively contribute to course discussions can expect to receive full credit for this portion of the grade. Students who are commonly absent and who do not regularly participate in class discussion can expect to receive NO CREDIT for participation. Journal Log: In an effort to facilitate discussion, all students will be required to keep a journal of their personal reaction to the readings/discussions. The journal log will be administered through the course WebCT/eLearning page. At least one journal entry is due for each class meeting and must be submitted prior to coming to class. You should plan on using your journal entries as a basis for generating course discussion. Journal entries will be graded on completion only and will apply to the participation component of the grade. If your journal entries are lacking, I will let you know and expect that you make changes. Journal entries should be a minimum of 250 words each and you should write in complete sentences. Since this is a journal, I m not worried about formatting, but your entries should be proofread so that what you ve written makes sense to the reader. If you have trouble deciding what to write about, simply jot down your thoughts on what struck you the most in the chapter and what questions you had after finished the reading. Again, use such questions in class discussion. Quizzes: A total of 12 quizzes will be administered throughout the semester. Each class meeting will commence with a quiz. You will be provided with scantron forms. I will keep them for you between quizzes. You will use these two forms for all quizzes. Quizzes CANNOT BE TAKEN LATE! Each quiz will consist of 15 objective items based on the reading material due for that day and count for 50% of the course grade. Be sure to have read the material prior to class!! R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 2

Research Paper: There are many issues dealing with the criminal justice system that were not elaborated in depth this semester due to time constraints. For the research paper, each student is to locate and elaborate an issue regarding criminal justice (preferably one that is recent). In the paper, students should provide a detailed description of the topic, as well as a discussion of how it fits into the context of research discussed throughout the semester. Because each student must research a different topic, issues must be approved in advance by the professor. Do not simply describe the subject of your paper. While you can include some description, the paper should also analyze, ask why, discuss consequences, make an argument supported by evidence and reasoning, and/or otherwise demonstrate critical analysis of the subject. Critical analysis of the topic does not merely repeat what the sources tell you ~ the strongest papers generally draw from the descriptions and analyses of various sources and then proceed to present their own coherent argument and conclusions on the subject ~ conclusions supported by evidence and reasoning. There will be three stages to this project: (1) topic submission and approval (you are to submit a list of 3-5 possible topics of interest ~ elaborate on your ideas as much as possible)-due by 10/05/2009; (2) submission of a detailed outline (includes a detailed outline of the paper and elements to be included in the presentation, as well as a minimum of 10 scholarly references cited in APA style)- Due by 11/16/2009; and (3) final research paper- Due by 12/07/2009; must be submitted to the turnitin.com link on the elearning course webpage. The research paper must be between 10 and 12 pages, exclusive of the title page, references, and any appendixes or diagrams you feel add to the presentation. The major points in your paper must be substantiated by references to articles in academic journals and/or professional books (not including introductory textbooks; and not including material assigned for this course). A minimum of 10 scholarly citations is expected (peer reviewed journal articles are the best choice). Late papers will not be accepted under any circumstances. The research paper should be double spaced, in Times New Roman 12 point font, with one inch margins on all sides, and submitted in a folder using the APA citation system. The paper grade accounts for 30% of your final grad and must be submitted to the turnitin.com link on the elearning page no later than Monday, December 7, 2009. Each student will formally present his or her findings on the day of the last class meeting. A powerpoint slideshow is recommended to help with the flow of your presentation, which should last no longer than 10 minutes! (12-15 slides at the most). Hint: do not read strait from your slides!!! Do not go crazy with slideshow animation!!! This is not an art contest The presentation portion of your project will account for 10% of your paper grade. I will provide you with additional details about the assignment during class meetings. The following list contains examples of journals that contain articles useful for many topics: American Bar Foundation Research Journal Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology American Sociological Review Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Crime and Delinquency Justice Quarterly Criminal Justice and Behavior Law and Contemporary Problems Criminal Justice Policy Review Law and Human Behavior Criminal Justice Review Law and Social Inquiry Criminal Law Bulletin Law and Policy Quarterly Criminology Law and Society Review Federal Probation Social Problems International Journal of Criminology and Penology Sociological Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Policing Journal of Crime and Justice Police Quarterly Journal of Criminal Justice The Prison Journal R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 3

Assignments & Academic Calendar Fall 2009 Date Topic Read Ch. 8/24/2009 Course Introduction/Crime & Criminal Justice 1 8/31/2009 The Nature Crime and Victimization 2 9/7/2009 NO CLASS - LABOR DAY 9/14/2009 Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure Guest Speaker: Asst. District Attorney of Collin County 3 9/21/2009 Criminal Justice in the New Millennia: Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Cybercrime 4 9/28/2009 Police in Society 5 & 6 10/5/2009 Issues in Policing: Professional, Social, and Legal (RESEARH TOPIC DUE!) 7 10/12/2009 Courts, Prosecution, and the Defense Guest Speaker: Dr. Desiree Kilcrease-Fleming; Dallas County Juvenile 8 Services 10/19/2009 Pretrial Procedures 9 10/26/2009 The Criminal Trial Guest Speaker: Collin County Fire Marshall 10 11/2/2009 No Class - Library Day and Paper Critique (optional) 11/9/2009 Punishment and Sentencing 11 11/16/2009 Community Sentences: Probation, Intermediate Sanctions, and Restorative Justice (RESEARH PAPER OUTLINE DUE!) 12 Guest Speaker: DFW Airport Police K9 Unit 11/23/2009 Corrections and Inmate Life 13 & 14 11/30/2009 Prison Tour (tour date may change) Guest Speakers- Mr. Travis Wortham, Texas Youth Commission Superintendant and Dr. Levi Williams 12/7/2009 Research Presentations (RESEARCH PAPER DUE TO TURNITIN on elearning!!!!) NOTE: This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the professor! Additional readings may be assigned. Course & Instructor Policies Class Attendance Class Attendance is expected each day and roll will be taken accordingly. Please do not arrive late. Excessive absences will result in a loss of participation points (see above). The majority of quiz items will come from the text, lectures, and discussions, so it is in your best interest not to miss class. Computer/Email Access Students are expected to have set up their university computer account and understand how to use email and WebCT. YOU MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE TA AND PROFESSOR SOLELY VIA YOUR OFFICIAL UTD EMAIL Account!!!! Otherwise, your message will end up in a junk email folder. Email messages will be sent to the class in case of class cancellation or changes to topics, assignments, and etc. The class website (elearning) will provide access to the syllabus, required readings, power point slides, assignments, and grades. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL ME OR THE TA ABOUT INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDED ON THE WEBSITE, if you do, you will most likely not receive a response. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure that your UTD mail account is not full and that you check it every day. Messages returned to me will not receive follow ups. R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 4

Make-up Exams & Late work Make-up quizzes will only be given for the following reasons a) Severe Illness (proof required a legitimate physicians letter will be required and verified); and b) Religious holy days with sufficient prior notice in accordance with UTD policy; c) death of a family member (proof required). SIMPLY NOT FEELING GOOD IS NOT A VALID EXCUSE! Make-up exams will be in essay format and generally much more difficult than normal tests, so it is in your best interest to be in attendance on test days. Late assignments will not be accepted unless there is an emergency as listed above. If you have a legitimate reason in accordance with UTD policy for missing a class, it is your responsibility to turn in any assignments early. Extra Credit Case by case. Students interested in extra credit opportunities must contact the professor no later than one month before the last class meeting. General Questions about the Course All general questions about the course should be emailed to the TA or asked during office hours or breaks. Classroom Citizenship As noted above, in-class participation is a component of your grade and everyone is encouraged to engage the professor and fellow students during class as to contribute to the discussion. Please ask questions! You are each here to learn and the best way to do that is by engaging in discussion about the topic and sharing ideas. In my experience, classes that actively discuss and debate the issues are much more fruitful and more enjoyable for the students and for the professor. Chances are that someone else has the same question/s as you, so please ask; it can only help your grade! (Asking thoughtful questions related to the topic does constitute class participation). However, I insist on respectfulness in the classroom for all participants. Disrespect to any classroom participant will not be tolerated. Any classroom participant behaving in such a manner will be asked to leave the classroom and may be subject to grade reduction or referral to the appropriate university officials. In class distractions will also not be tolerated. This means that there will be NO USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES! This includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, ipods, PDAs, pocket PCs, and etc. Please turn all electronic devices to their off (or silent) positions during class hours. If you have an emergency phone call, please quietly leave the classroom prior beginning the conversation. DO NOT TEXT IN CLASS!!! The use of a laptop is allowed for the general audience for CLASS PURPOSES ONLY. Surfing the internet and/or chatting is not allowed. Students caught violating this policy will lose the privilege of laptop use in class and will lose participation points. Sleeping in class will also not be tolerated as this is both disrespectful to both the professor and fellow students. Students will lose credit points for sleeping in class. Sound recording devices are NOT authorized for use in this class. Technical Support If you experience any problems with your UTD account you may send an email to: assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at 972-883-2911. Field Trip Policies Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address http://www.utdallas.edu/businessaffairs/travel_risk_activities.htm. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean. Below is a description of any travel and/or risk-related activity associated with this course. Student Conduct & Discipline The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year. R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 5

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Series 50000, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391). (CONT.) A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct. Academic Integrity Copyright Notice Email Use The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one s own work or material that is not one s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE WORK FROM WEBSITES OR ANY OTHER SOURCE!!! The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials, including music and software. Copying, displaying, reproducing, or distributing copyrighted works may infringe the copyright owner s rights and such infringement is subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as criminal penalties provided by federal law. Usage of such material is only appropriate when that usage constitutes fair use under the Copyright Act. As a UT Dallas student, you are required to follow the institution s copyright policy (Policy Memorandum 84-I.3-46). For more information about the fair use exemption, see http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts. Withdrawal from Class The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled. Student Grievance Procedures Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the university s Handbook of Operating Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 6

supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called the respondent ). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations. Incomplete Grade Policy As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F. Disability Services The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their nondisabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is: The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22,PO Box 830688Richardson, Texas 75083-0688, (972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY) Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance. It is the student s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours. Religious Holy Days The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee. These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor. R. Morris Introduction to Criminal Justice (Honors) - Course Syllabus Page 7