CJUS/POLI 211: Introduction to Criminal Justice
Course Syllabus
Fall 2010
Instructor:Amanda K. TuckOffice:West 223
Contact Information:(540) 597-3652/(540) 985-5943Office Hours:Monday 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Email:thers by appointment
Required Text:
Cole, George & Christopher Smith. Criminal Justice in America. 6th edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Polluck, Jocelyn M. Ethical Dilemmas & Decisions in Criminal Justice. 6th edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Course Objectives:
Criminal justice incorporates a broad range of knowledge from a variety of specialties, including law, history, and the social and behavioral sciences, each of which contributes to our fuller understanding of criminal behavior and of society’s attitudes toward deviance. Crime is an enduring problem that has required attention since time began. Today, we want and strive to understand the dimensions of this problem, how it is being defined and how American society has attempted to deal with it.
Learning Objectives:
The student who successfully completes this course should have a better understanding of the following:
- The development of the American Criminal Justice System (i.e. historical perspective)
- How it operates (i.e. its administration)
- Law Enforcement
- Current issues and topics in criminal justice
- Politics and criminal justice
- Career options in law enforcement
- Operations and decision making in criminal justice
- Development of skills for effective communication (both written and oral) of criminal justice issues
Grading:
The student will be graded based upon the following criteria:
Quizzes/Exam (50%)
3 quizzes @ 10%
Midterm examination @10%
Final examination @ 10%; final exam is December 13th @ 2:00 pm
Attendance/Class Participation (15%)
Homework (15%)
Presentation/Issues Paper (20%)
Any material covered in lecture, readings, guest speakers, videos, classroom discussion, etc. may be asked on quizzes. The quizzes/tests will consist mostly of traditional type testing tools (multiple choice, true/false, short answer) but will include several essay and/or discussion questions.
Students will write an 8-10 page written paper and present on an approved topic from Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice. An additional handout will be given regarding this requirement, including presentation dates, assignments and guidelines for the paper. Gregory M. Scott & S. M. Garrison. The Political Science Student Writer’s Manual. 6th edition., Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2008 MUST be used as a guide to proper citations and format.
Academic Integrity is expected and required. Enrollment constitutes acknowledgment by the student of his/her awareness of all definitions, rules and procedures relating to academic integrity. Students should read and be aware of the rules and principles of the College Academic Integrity Handbook.
Grading Scale-
A > 93.0
A- > 89.8
B+> 86.6
B> 83.0
B->79.8
C+> 76.6
C> 73.0
C-> 69.8
D+> 66.6
D> 63.0
D-> 59.8
F <59.8
Course Policies:
Attendance can positively or negatively affect your grade. Students who have missed 3 classes or fewer (regardless of reason) will receive 10 extra points on their lowest quiz grade. Students who have missed 4 classes will have 3 points deducted from their overall course grade (ex. Your course work earns you an 88 but you have missed 4 classes, your final grade will be an 85). Each additional absence will be an additional 3 point deduction. Your attendance is important because this is the only way you can make a contribution to the discussion and know about items that will be covered on the quizzes given. I understand that emergencies and illnesses arise. However, unless you are most unfortunate, you should not have more than 2 or 3 that occur at 12 noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students whose absences seem to be contributing to unsatisfactory performance will receive a formal warning concerning this problem; continued absences after such warning will cause the instructor, in accordance with College policies, to drop the student from the course with a failing grade (“DF”).
Students are expected to participate and provide input in classroom discussions. Class activities will also count toward participation. You are expected to read ahead in the textbook as assigned and be prepared to discuss the material during class. Students only receive participation credit if that which is added to the discussion is constructive. Any disrespectful comments toward others will result in a poor participation grade. All assigned reading materials must be read prior to the class in which that assignment will be covered. All material from the text may not be covered in class; however, the student will be responsible for that information on the quizzes.
Absence from a quiz or examination without prior permission by the instructor will result in a grade of “0”. Make up examinations will be administered only up until the date that the quiz/exam was originally scheduled.
Cell phones, blackberries or other electronic devices (laptops included) MUST be turned off prior to entering the classroom. Recording devices and computers may not be utilized without prior permission from the instructor.
The use of any electronic device during a quiz or exam is strictly prohibited. Any use of such devices during a quiz or exam will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Special Needs:
If you are on record with the College’s Special Services as having special academic or physical needs requiring accommodations, please discuss this with me as soon as possible. We need to discuss any accommodations before they can be implemented. Also, please note that arrangements for extended times on quizzes/exams and testing in a semi-private setting must be made at least one week before the exams.
If you are a member of an athletic team or other college club and know that you will be missing class in the coming semester, please let me know immediately. I am willing to accommodate your absences if I am informed at the beginning of the semester.