Virtual Campus
CJ-1010: Criminal Justice
Online Course Syllabus
Instructor
Instructor:
Michael S. Cupello, M.S.
Salt Lake Community College
Office Location:
SLCC Miller Campus, PSET Bldg. (by appointment only)
Mailing address: SaltLakeCommunity College, Miller Campus, 9750 South 300 West
Sandy, Utah 84070 (be sure to include the instructor name)
SLCC e-mail:Please use the email feature within Canvas.
eEducation Toll Free Number: 1-888-963-7522 (SLCC)
eEducation ServiceCenter: 1-801-957-4406
Technical Assistance: 1-877-725-5555
Technical Assistance: Distance Education Service Center
Course Description
This course covers the purpose, function, and history of the agencies in the American Criminal Justice System which consists of three major components; Law Enforcement (Police), Courts, and Corrections (3 Credits).This is a General Education (SS) course.
Course Objectives
Using the Internet as the instructional delivery source along with the assigned textbooks, students will participate in this class and complete the class work by:
- Reading assigned chapters of the textbook or information from Internet sites,
- Completing on-line worksheets and other assignments,
- Responding and giving opinions to other class members through electronic discussions,
- Searching the Internet, and
- Discussing key concepts with others through e-mail, discussion, or chat sessions.
Technical Requirements
In order to participate in all class activities, each student must have access to the following:
- Computer with either a Pentium processor or Macintosh capable of running OS 8 or newer.
- 64MB RAM, minimum
- 5 meg of hard drive space
- Internet access using either Netscape Navigator (version 6.0 does not work with this system) or Internet Explorer (a java supported browser is recommended)
- Active e-mail account
Technical Skill Requirements
- The ability to utilize the Canvas platform. See the following link for training and support:
- Ability to send, receive, and attach files to e-mail
- Ability to download files from the Internet to a hard drive
- Ability to participate in forum, news, or other asynchronous group discussion formats
- Ability to participate in a synchronous chat
- Ability to formulate a systematic search of the Internet
- Ability to validate information retrieved from the Internet
Textbooks
- Criminal Justice in Action, 7th Edition, 2013 by Larry K. Gaines and Roger L. Miller. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning. ISBN-13:9781111835576 or ISBN-10:1111835578. (Textbook’s Companion website is HERE: )
- Exploring the Police: A Book of Readings, 2nd Edition, 2008 by John Hill, Boston, MA: Pearson Publishing. ISBN-0555029530 (or ISBN-13: 978-0555029534).
Criminal Justice in Action is used for the course Exams, andExploring the Police: A Book of Readingsis used for the courseDiscussions.
The course textbooks can be ordered electronically from the Salt Lake Community College Bookstore or from other electronic resellers such as Ecampus.com, Amazon, Pearson Custom or Barnes and Noble. You may also purchase this book at any of the consortium partner bookstores.
Also...Pearson Education has availableExploring the Police...Call Toll-Free: 800-922-0579 (Fax: 800-445-6991). Pearson Education Order Department, 200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ07675.
Grading and Evaluation
*It should be noted that while the principle goal of this course is the acquisition of knowledge about the criminal justice system of the United States, students are expected to be able to convey this knowledge by means of clear and effective writing.
Grades will be calculated based upon the following criteria for assignments explained in depth within each unit.
- Comprehension of readings and written assignments via Exams60%
- Participation in forum discussions15%
- Term paper 25%
- Eportfolio assignment (see option below)
There are 17textbook chapters(Criminal Justice in Actionby Gaines & Miller), or units, in this course. Each unit will consist of assigned readings in the corresponding course textbook chapter,and a series of chapter Exams (with an average of 7 questions per exam). There are 15 courseDiscussions (selected by the student, out of 18 total discussions available)based on the “reader” textbook(Exploring the Police, 2nd Edition by John Hill).
Discussions are PASS/FAIL based upon participation in same. They are pass/fail because they essentially require the student’s opinion on the topic, and this course is designed to be conducive to the sharing of opinions and ideas…aimed at increasing our knowledge on the topics presented. When making discussion postings make sure they are spell checked, proof read, and well thought out. There is a requirement that postings be several hundred words if you want credit. Also, make a point of reading the responses to postings as you can respond to those as well. Just remember to be respectful of others. Additional expectations can be found at the end of the first discussion posting. Remember, discussion points are Pass/Fail; there are no points awarded if you do not complete all posting requirements; including the number of postings required.
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Important
This course incorporates “Hard Deadlines.” Hard deadlines are for the purposes of grading.The exams and discussions are broken into 3 sections. While students are allowed to work ahead, after the three closing dates students are not allowed to go back and complete work which has passed the due dates. The deadlines are listed below. You must stay up with the course. NO EXCEPTIONS. It is the student’s job to make sure they manage the course.Spring 2013 last approximately 17 weeks. There are 17 chapters in the Gaines & Miller textbook and 15 course discussions. So some weeks will require more than one chapter and one discussion to keep pace due to Spring Break.
Exams 1 - 5 as well as the opportunity to reply to discussions 1 - 5 are due by Feb.14th at 5:00 PM.
Exams 6-11 as well as the opportunity to reply to discussions 6-11 are due by Mar. 28th, at 5:00 PM.
Exams 12-17 as well as the opportunity to reply to discussions 12-18 are due by May 2nd, at 5:00 PM.
Term papers are due April 18th by 5:00 PM.
Exam questions areworth 1 point each for a total of 100 possible exam points. The grand total possible for all exam contained in this course is 100 [and Discussions figure-in (above)]…
Exam grading, based on a 100-point scale(and then Discussions factor in):
Course Exam Points %Grade
(> 90 points)90-100 A
80-89 80-89 B
70-79 70-79 C
60-69 60-69 D
0 to 69 <60 E
Mid-Term & Final Examsthere are NO Mid-term or Final Exams in this course!
Please note that SLCC uses + and – grades in addition to the above grading scale, which can only benefit the student for good course work such as class discussions, etc.
It should be noted that while the principle goal of this course is the acquisition of knowledge about the criminal justice system of the United States, students are expected to be able to convey this knowledge by means of clear and effective writing in the course discussions.
Course Overview
This course is divided into three sections of approximately 5 weeks in length, so far as “due dates.” The course subject matter isbroken down by the textbook authors into five parts each representing a study of a particular area of the criminal justice system. Learning tasks within each unit direct the learning and contain assignments. All learning tasks must be completed and assignments submitted in order to receive full credit for the course.
Special Needs
Students with disabilities may request special accommodations by contacting the Salt Lake Community College Disability Resource Center located at the Redwood Road Campus, CollegeCenter, Room 230. You may call the center at (voice) 801-957-4659 or (TDD) 801-957-4646.
SLCC is an equal opportunity institution providing educational opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.
ePortfolio
Electronic Portfolios at SLCC -General Education ePortfolio:
Each student in General Education courses at SLCC will maintain a General Education ePortfolio. Instructors in every Gen Ed course (Which this course is) will ask you to put at least one assignment from the course into your ePortfolio, and accompany it with reflective writing. It is a requirement in this class for you to add to your ePortfolio, and this syllabus details the assignment and reflection you are to include. Your ePortfolio will allow you to include your educational goals, describe your extracurricular activities, and post your resume. When you finish your time at SLCC, your ePortfolio will then be a multi-media showcase of your educational experience.
For detailed information visit
After you have picked an ePortfolio platform, go to the corresponding help site to watch the tutorials and look at the examples so you can get started on your own:
If you would like to start your ePortfolio in a computer lab with a person there to help you, sign up online for one of the free workshops at the Taylorsville-Redwood, South, and Jordan libraries:
There is also atutorial that shows students how to put their ePortfolio into MyPage, and also shows faculty how to access ePortfolios from their class rolls.
It is on the SLCC FTLC website HERE:
Writing Assignment / Paper
Writing Assignment / Term Paper:The Criminal Justice department (in Spring 2011) mandated a Writing Assignment/Paper for every course within the department. Here in CJ-1010, your ePortfolio WILL count as your writing assignment so long as it is an actual Writing Assignment/Paper …and not simply a weblink to your ePortfolio. This assignment will count as 25% of your grade NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Paper requirements:
1. This assignment is a 4-5 pageresearch paper.
2. APA format with proper in text citation and bibliography. If you don’t know how to do this go to: is an academic institution and plagiarism is a serious offense. Please cite your sources.
*No abstract, cover page, or running headers necessary.
3. Use 12 point size font, Times New Roman and double space your text.
If you would like the paper to count as both your eportfolio assignment and your term paper, I will need the following:
- Your 4-5 page must be a Microsoft Word document. The file must have a .doc or .docx extension or it will not be accepted. Email to me via the Canvas (Not my .slcc.edu address)
- This same paper can be uploaded into your eportfolio and fill the requirement for the GenEd course.
- The link to your eportfolio assignment must be sent to me in the text of an email.
- Email this assignment using the Canvas email feature inside “Assignments.” DO NOT email this assignment to my SLCC email account.
Important
This is a research paper and therefore requires “research”. I want to hear your opinions and viewpoints, but these must be supported by research and cited appropriately. The paper should be in narrative format, not a list of bullet points or a journal abstract.A research paper is neither a collection of other’s words, nor a diatribe of your opinions. Do not use your textbooks as a source of reference nor websites such as Wikipedia.If you find a citation in any textbook you would like to use, track down the actual source. I caution against using the internet and will only accept electronic sources from Peer Reviewed Journals. You cannot use newspaper or periodicals such as Time Magazine.Points are awarded / deducted for grammar, spelling, formatting and citations (3 minimum and 5 maximum). Please see the grading rubric for more details on how all CJ1010 papers will be graded at SLCC.
The topic for this terms research paper will be emailed to you a few weeks into the semester.
Faculty Biography
See first discussion posting
Textbook Chapters: Criminal Justice in Action
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN ACTION, 6th Edition
Table of Contents
Part 1: The Criminal Justice System
1. Criminal Justice Today
2. Causes of Crime
3. Defining and Measuring Crime
4. Inside Criminal Law
Part 2: The Police and Law Enforcement
5. Law Enforcement Today
6. Challenges to Effective Policing
7. Police & the Constitution: The Rules of Law Enforcement
Part 3: Criminal Courts
8. Courts and the Quest for Justice
9. Pretrial Procedures: The Adversary System in Action
10. The Criminal Trial
11. Punishment and Sentencing
Part 4: Corrections
12. Probation and Community Corrections
13. Prisons and Jails
14. Behind Bars: The Life of an Inmate
Part 5: Special Issues
15. The Juvenile Justice System
16. Homeland Security
17. Cyber Crime, and the Future
Textbook Chapters: Exploring the Police
EXPLORING THE POLICE: A Book of Readings, 2nd Edition
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part One: Who are the Police?
Chapter 1: A Professor's Street Lessons, by George L. Kirkham
Chapter 2: Blue Truth, by Cherokee Paul McDonald
Chapter 3: Why Cops Hate You, by Chuck Milland
Chapter 4: Cop, Killer: A Real-Life DirtyHarry (Norm Nelson, LAPD) Pulled theTrigger 32 Times, by
Jason Harper
Chapter 5: Cop Diary, by Marcus Laffey
Chapter 6: My Life in the NYPD: Jimmy the Wags, by James Wagner
Chapter 7: Blue Blood by Edward Conlon
Chapter 8: Turnpike Trooper: Racial Profiling & the New Jersey State Police, by John Hogan
Chapter 9: E-Man: Life in the NYPD Emergency Services Unit, by Al Sheppard (with Jerry Schmetterer)
Chapter 10: Circle of Six: The True Story of New York's Most Notorious Cop-Killer and The Cop Who
Risked Everything to Catch Him, by Randy Jurgensen (with Robert Cea)
Chapter 11: Learning Police Ethics, byLawrenceSherman
Chapter 12: The Police Officer's "WorkingPersonality", by Jerome Skolnick
Part Two: What are the Police Doing?
Chapter 13: The Police and The Public, by Albert J. Reiss
Chapter 14: The Kansas City Preventive Patrol Experiment: A Summary Report, byGeorge L. Kelling,
Tony Pate, Duane Dieckman, And Charles E. Brown
Chapter 15: The LAPD is Treated to aBusiness Analysis and It Comes Up Short, by Jeff Bailey
Chapter 16: The Crime Fighter: PuttingAmerica's Bad Guys out of Business, by Jack Maple with Chris
Mitchell
Part Three: What Should the Police Be Doing?
Chapter 17: Broken Windows: The Police andNeighborhood Safety, by James Q. Wilson and
George L. Kelling
Chapter 18: The Turnaround: How America'sTop Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic, by William Bratton
with Peter Knobler
Chapter 19: Directed Patrol Exponential: thePhiladelphia Police & Compstat, by John Hill
Chapter 20: What We've Learned About Policing, By William J. Bratton & William Andrews
Chapter 21: Philadelphia Police go Online to Fight Crime, by ESRI.
Chapter 22: How to Run a Police Department, By George L. Kelling
Chapter 23: Smart Cop: John Timoney's Formulafor Success: Modern Science and Common Sense,
by Howard Goodman
Chapter 24: Crime Control by the Numbers:Compstat Yields New Lessons for the Police and the
Replication of a Good Idea, by David C. Anderson
Dropping or Withdrawing From a Class
Dropping or Withdrawing From a Class:
If you are unable to continue your class, you must follow the proper procedure to drop or withdraw from the class. Failure to do so may result in a failing grade and will affect your SLCC GPA. Failing or withdrawing from a class may affect your eligibility for financial aid in the future.* Read below to understand the difference between dropping and withdrawing. The procedures and deadlines are also explained below.
Drop:
The deadline for dropping a class is three weeks after the college semester starts. If you need to drop a class you do so with a Drop/Withdrawal form.Print out the form, talk to theinstructor and return the form to our office. The address and fax number are on the form. Check MyPage to make sure that you are properly dropped from the class. Classes that have been dropped do not show on a SLCC transcript and do not affect SLCC GPA.
Withdrawal:
The deadline for withdrawing from a class is published each semester. Withdrawing from a class does not erase the class from your SLCC transcript. The class will appear with a 'W' on the SLCC transcript, this does not affect the SLCC GPA. Students can withdraw with instructor’s approval anytime after the drop deadline and before the published withdrawal deadline. If you need to withdraw from a class you do so with a Drop/Withdrawal form.Print out the form, talk to the teacher and return the form to our office. The address and fax number is on the form. Check MyPage to make sure that you are properly withdrawn from the class.
~~~~~ Course Syllabus Revised Dec. 31st, 2012 ~~~~~