INTRODUCTION TO LAW & JUSTICE
CRIJ 103 – 3 CREDIT HOURS
FALL 2007
Instructor: Chris Meyerhoeffer
Office: Aspen Building 128A
Office Phone: 732-6873
E-Mail Address:
Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. M, W, & F
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. T, & Thurs
Class Schedule: On-line via Blackboard (August 27th – December 21st)
General Course Description: Study of basic issues of law as a means social control including broader issues of social justice such as poverty, racism, sexism, and alienation. The course provides foundation for examining relevant and critical issues in American society.
Prerequisite: None
Required Textbook: Anthony Walsh & Craig Hemmens, From Law to Order: The Theory and Practice of Law and Justice (1st Edition, 2000) American Correctional Association.
CSI Mission Statement
The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides educational, social and cultural opportunities for a diverse population of South Central Idaho. In this rapidly changing world, CSI encourages our students to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives.
General Education Criteria: This course satisfies all eight criteria for general education. It is designed to:
1 Provide a broad-based survey of a discipline and show the interconnectedness of knowledge.
2 Develop a discerning individual.
3 Practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
4 Promote awareness of social and cultural diversity in order to appreciate the commonality of mankind.
5 Foster the balance between individual needs and the demands of society.
6 Reinforce reading, writing, speaking, and/or quantitative skills.
7 Encourage and inspire life-long learning.
8 Encourage creativity.
Social Science Department Goals: This course also addresses the following Social Science Dept. goals:
1. Help students understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science and Education subjects.
2. Help students acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.
3. Help students develop ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.
4. Teach students to use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.
5. Teach students to use different perspectives from the social sciences and education to make better- informed decisions
6. Help students acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.
7. Prepare to transfer to a university.
Criminal Justice Program Objectives:
1. To examine the social, philosophical, and historical perspectives of criminal behavior and the administration of justice.
2. To introduce students to major criminal procedure concepts and examine how corresponding Supreme Court precedent impacts criminal procedure and policy.
3. To introduce students to the historical development of policing in America and contemporary policing theories and strategies.
4. To introduce students to the historical development of corrections in America and contemporary correctional theories and strategies.
5. To introduce students to the law of criminal evidence and examine how criminal evidence law impacts a criminal a criminal.
6. To prepare students for transfer to a four-year criminal justice program and upper-division course work in criminal justice administration.
7. To prepare students for entry level positions in the criminal justice field.
ALIGNMENT OF COURSE ASSESSMENTS WITH GENERAL EDUCATION CRITERIA, SOCIAL SCIENCE GOALS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Multiple Choice and true/false questions on each exam and quiz / 1,4,5,8 / 1,2,3,4,6,7 / 1,2,4
Essay questions on each exam / 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 / 3,4,5,7 / 3
Writing Assignment / 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 / 3,4,5,7 / 3,4
Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes:
Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency for the following outcomes at a level of 70% or higher:
1. Define and explain leading philosopher’s theories of law and government and their views on the relationship between law and justice.
2. Describe the law making process at the legislative level and explain how judges can impact the law making process.
3. Identify and define the characteristics of the four legal families (common law, civil law, socialist law, Islamic law) which exist in the world today.
4. Articulate how law is used as a mechanism for social change and social control, both in the United States and other countries.
5. Explain when and why the law, and therefore justice, is not always applied in an equitable manner.
6. Define and communicate the relevant distinctions between criminal law, civil law and juvenile law.
7. Define and apply contemporary criminal procedure law to a variety of factual situations.
8. Practically apply the information learned in this class to a variety of societal situations.
Outcomes Assessment:
Assessment performs a number of functions within the teaching and learning process: It gives feedback to the student on their learning experience; it measures the performance of the student; and contributes to the evaluation of effectiveness of the subject content and delivery. Assessment of student learning can be conducted using a variety of available instruments and methods. A combination of assessment approaches can be the most effective way to measure student learning.
Assessment practices embedded in courses will generate information about what and how students are learning. A wide range of formal and informal interaction and performance assessment methods will be used in this course to determine whether students attained prescribed educational goals and objectives:
Multiple- Choice Exams / Chapter Quizzes / Discussion Questions on Blackboard / On-line Course Evaluations1 / ü / ü / ü
2 / ü / ü / ü
3 / ü / ü / ü
4 / ü / ü / ü
5 / ü / ü / ü
6 / ü / ü / ü
7 / ü / ü / ü
8 / ü / ü / ü
Policies and Procedures
Discussion and Participation Policy: Students are expected to participate in on-line discussions. I will monitor each student’s on-line participation weekly. If a student fails to participate in the first two on-line discussions or fails to take the first two chapter quizzes, I may drop the student from the class. Students with perfect on-line participation will receive 10 bonus points.
Honesty Policy: I follow the honesty policy in the CSI Student Handbook. If a student cheats on an exam or plagiarizes on a writing assignment, I will give the student a zero on that exam or writing assignment. If a student violates the honesty policy more than once, I may fail the student.
Late Policy: I expect students to take quizzes on the day or week when scheduled. I will notify students in advance of giving a quiz. No make up quizzes will be given if a student fails to take a quiz during the week it is assigned. If a student cannot take a quiz on the day it is assigned, please notify me in advance. Make up quizzes may be given at my discretion, but I may give the student a different quiz. Writing assignments and quizzes are due as indicated on-line unless other arrangements have been made.
Required Assignments: Students should read the assigned reading material, usually one or two chapters in the textbook, prior to taking a chapter quiz. If you have difficulty understanding the material or need clarification, please contact with any questions. You can reach me via Blackboard or on my regular email address. I may refer students to an independent website if I find materials that will assist student learning. This helps facilitate student learning, and makes meaningful discussion about the discussion material possible. In addition, quizzes will be based upon the assigned reading material for a particular week. One discussion question from each chapter will be placed on-line prior to the beginning of the week in which we discuss that chapter.
GRADING PRACTICES
Unit Exams will be given following the completion of each Learning Unit. I will give a total of four Unit Exams worth 100 points each for a total of 400 points. Each Unit Exam will consist of 50 objective questions worth 2 points each. Each student should complete the Unit Exam during the week that it is assigned.
Chapter Quizzes will be given following each week’s reading assignment (11 total quizzes). Each quiz will be worth 25 points for a total of 275 points. Each quiz will have 10 objective questions worth 2.5 points each. You may take a weekly quiz anytime during the week it is assigned. Each quiz will be open-book and should be completed without the help of other persons. The quizzes are designed to assess the course objectives. I would read the chapter and then go on-line take the quiz. Trying to take quiz prior to reading will be confusing and time consuming. I will post the chapter quizzes on the Saturday or Sunday prior to the week the quiz is due. Each chapter quiz should be completed by Sunday evening of the week the quiz is assigned. If you cannot complete the quiz on time, please communicate with me.
On-Line Discussion is worth 25 points each week for a total of 250 points. I will assign one discussion question for each week’s reading assignment. Each student will be expected to post comments on line regarding the discussion question. Each student response should be detailed and show a complete understanding of the topic question. In addition, each student will be required to comment on one other student’s posting during the week. I expect comments on other student’s postings to be tasteful and respectful. On-line discussion is required during the week in which the discussion question is assigned and discussed. You may use whatever resources you deem necessary to answer discussion questions. This may include outside research sources or personal experiences related to the subject matter. There are many television programs on Court TV, Discovery Channel and A & E that contain useful information about the law and pursuit of justice. I encourage using outside sources if you cannot answer the question a detailed and thorough manner. Late responses to the discussion questions will not be accepted so please notify me in advance if you cannot respond during the week the question is assigned. Keep me notified of any problems that you may be having. I realize that on-line learning can be difficult and frustrating at times If you keep me notified of problems, we can address them if need be. Communication is the key to a good experience. I will post the discussion questions on Blackboard on the Saturday or Sunday prior to the week the question is due. Each discussion question should be completed by Sunday evening of the week the question is assigned. If you cannot complete the question on time, please communicate with me.
The following Grading Scale will be used:
A = 832.5 to 925 Points (90-100%)
B = 740 to 832 Points (80-89%)
C = 647.5 to 739 Points (70-79%)
D = 555 to 647 Points (60-69%)
F = Less than 555 Points (0-59%)
CLASS SCHEDULE
Week / Topic / ChaptersAugust 27 / What is the Law & Justice and the Law / 1
September 3 / Justice & the Law / 2
September 10 / Making Law / 3
September 17 / Unit 1 Exam / 1,2, & 3
September 24 / The Federal and State Courts / 4
October 1 / Criminal Law / 5
October 8 / Criminal Procedure / 6
October 15 / Unit 2 Exam / 4,5, & 6
October 22 / Civil Law and Juvenile Justice / 7
October 27 / The Law and Social Control / 8
November 5 / The Law and Social Change / 9
November 12 / Unit 3 Exam / 7,8, & 9
November 19 / No Assignments - Thanksgiving
November 26 / Comparative Law / 10
December 3 / Women and the Law / 11
December 10 / Unit 4 Exam / 10 & 11
On-line Course Evaluation Statement:
Students are strongly encouraged to complete evaluations at the end of the course. Evaluations are very important to assist teaching staff to continually improve the course. Evaluations are available on-line at: http://evaluation.csi.edu. Evaluations open up two weeks prior to the end of the course. The last day to complete an evaluation is the last day of the course. During the time evaluations are open, students can complete the course evaluations at their convenience from any computer with Internet access, including in the open lab in the Library and in the SUB. When students log in they should see the evaluations for the courses in which they are enrolled. Evaluations are anonymous. Filling out the evaluation should take only a few minutes. Your honest feedback is greatly appreciated.
Student Disability:
Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. Student Disability Services is located on the second floor of the Taylor Building on the Twin Falls Campus. Contact at 208.732.6260 (voice) or 208.734.9929 (TTY), or email .