Fayetteville State University s4

Fayetteville State University

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Criminal Justice

CRJC 450-03 Seminar in Criminal Justice

Spring 2016

I. Locator Information:

Instructor: Dr. Miriam DeLone

Course # and Name: CRJC450 Seminar in Criminal Justice Office Location: L. Taylor Bldg, Rm 319

Semester Credit Hours: 3 Office hours: MTWR 9:30am to 11am

Day & Time Class Meets: Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00am to 9:15am Friday 1pm – 3 pm, others appointment

Total Contact Hours for Class: 40 hours

Email address: Office Phone: 910-672-2271

II. Course Description: This course is designed to provide criminal justice majors with a capstone experience emphasizing integration of knowledge acquired in previous courses on the institutions, policies, and practices of criminal justice. Students engage in the development and production of a senior level research paper grounded in relevant criminal justice literature.

To be successful in this course review the Blackboard training information at this website:: http://www.uncfsu.edu/onlineeducation/student-faq

III. Disabled Student Services: In accordance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ACA) of 1990, if you have a disability or think you have a disability to please contact the Center for Personal Development in the Spaulding Building, Room 155 (1st Floor); 910-672-1203.

IV. Title IX – Sexual Misconduct

Fayetteville State University (University) is committed to fostering a safe campus environment where sexual misconduct — including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking - is unacceptable and is not tolerated. The University encourages students who may have experienced sexual misconduct to speak with someone at the University so that the University can provide the support that is needed and respond appropriately. The Sexual Misconduct policy can be found at the following link: http://www.uncfsu.edu/Documents/Policy/students/SexualMisconduct.pdf

Consulting with a Health Care Professional - A student who wishes to confidentially speak about an incident of sexual misconduct should contact either of the following individuals who are required to maintain confidentiality:

Ms. Pamela C. Fisher Ms. Linda Melvin

Licensed Professional Counselor Director, Student Health Services

Spaulding Building, Room 165 Spaulding Building, Room 121

(910) 672-387 (910) 672-1454

Reporting an Incident of Sexual Misconduct - The University encourages students to report incidents of sexual misconduct. A student who wishes to report sexual misconduct or has questions about University policies and procedures regarding sexual misconduct should contact the following individual:

Title IX Coordinator

Barber Building, Room 242

(910) 672-1141

Unlike the Licensed Professional Counselor or the Director of Student Health Services, the Deputy Title IX Coordinator is legally obligated to investigate reports of sexual misconduct, and therefore cannot guarantee confidentiality, but a request for confidentiality will be considered and respected to the extent possible.

Students are also encouraged to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the University’s Police and Public Safety Department at (910) 672-1911.

V. Textbook:

Cole, George and Marc Gertz (2012). Criminal Justice System: Politics and Policies. 10th Edition. Wadsworth Publishing.

Reddington, Frances and Gene Bonham (2012) Flawed Criminal Justice Policies. Carolina Academic Press.

Watch for announcements about additional current events and government reports.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

*Additional readings may be assigned and placed on Blackboard.

VI. Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

-  Incorporate content from previous criminal justice courses

-  Analyze the relationship between criminal justice institutions/practices and the social, political, and economic contexts in which they operate

-  Describe alternative justice paradigms and evaluate possible implementation strategies

-  Discover the potential roles that they, as individual citizens and professionals, will seek to play in shaping the future of criminal justice

VII. Course Requirements and Evaluation Criteria

Grades will be based on assignments, attendance/discussion, a chapter presentation, and a research paper. Assignments will cover material from the textbook as well as class discussions and lectures. Therefore, it is critical that students attend class on a regular basis.

Method of Evaluation Grading:

Reading Journals (20x10) 200 pts Grade Percent Points

Reading Quizzes (20x10) 200 pts

Participation Points 35 pts

Participation Activities 40 pts A 90-100% 720+

Course CLA Activity 50 pts B 80-89% 640-719

University GSA/CLA+ 0 pts* C 70-79% 560-639

Final exam 75 pts D 60-69% 480-559

Paper part 1 50 pts. F 59% or less 479 or less

Paper part 2 50 pts.

Course Paper (3 parts) 100 pts.

800 pts

Any adjustments to this portion of the syllabus will be announced in class and provided in writing to students.

*You must take the University Graduating Senior Assessment (also called CLAplus assessment). No points will be offered for this, as it is a university requirement, but it is mandatory for this course. If you choose not to take this assessment, you will receive an F in the course. The University will be sending out specific dates for signing up for the activity.

Description of Graded Assignments Grades will be based on your participation in intense, activity-driven reading journals, quizzes and the final exam. NOTE: THERE ARE GRADED ASSIGNMENTS EVERY WEEK.

Reading Journal (10 points each for Journal; 100 points total) : Each week students will respond to questions posted about the readings for that week. Start reading on Sunday and take notes on what you read to assist you with the Reading Journal. This assessment is intended to prove you have read the assignment, understood the assignment and can discuss it in your own words. You may be asked to apply the new information or even critique the information. Sometimes students will be asked to state questions they have from the readings. The weekly questions will be posted on Monday at 12:01am with responses due before Friday at noon (12:00pm). At no time are quotes allowed in this assignment. At no time are quotes from other books/reading material or websites are accepted. Students are to give entirely original answers to the questions. You may not work on answers with other students. You must paraphrase the book – if I see four words in a row that come from the book – this is an indication of non-original work. Students may not use outside sources UNLESS specifically directed to do so. IF more than 10 reading journals are assigned, students may keep the top 10 scores. Answers are not to be written in first person – no “I feel” or “I believe” statements are to be used in this section. IF class attendance and/or participation are not adequate, these assignments may be changed to class time. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS.

The following questions are useful when reading and taking notes on Cole and Gertz chapters:

1. Explain the objective or purpose of the article/study. This includes discussing any theories used in the article/study.

2. Explain the sample and location (site/jurisdiction) of the study – what information or evidence was used to

support the article/study. This includes discussing how things were measured in the article/study and any variables examined in the article/study.

3. Discuss the main findings and conclusions.

4. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the study/arguments.

5. Discuss how it relates to other assigned readings.

Reading Quizzes (10 points each; 100 points total): Each week a reading quiz will be taken in class and will cover the assigned readings. This will be a timed quiz and students can use can have access to reading notes, but no book. The Quiz will be posted on Thursday at 12:01am and close on Sunday at 11:59pm. A minimum of 10 reading quizzes will be given. IF more than 10 quizzes are given, students may keep the top 10 scores. Questions will include multiple choice, True/false, fill in the blank, and short essay formats. Students missing class will inform the instructor prior to class of their absence. See contact information on the syllabus – email or phone call. Makeups will be allowed only for documented emergencies (such as medical). Prearranged absences will require making up classwork before the absence. IF class attendance and/or participation are not adequate, these assignments may be changed to class time. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS.

Participation Points (35 points): Students are required to attend classes. Attendance will be taken daily. Failure to attend class will result in loss of participation points. Students must attend the entire class period and do the assigned work to receive full credit for the day. Students missing class will inform the instructor prior to class of their absence. See contact information on the syllabus – email or phone call. Makeups will be allowed only for documented emergencies (such as medical). Missing class more than three times will result in lowering the grade by one letter grade.

Participation Activities (2 for 20 points; 40 points total): These are unannounced activities that will require group work in class. Be prepared for these unannounced activities by bringing reading notes and books to class.

Course CLA Activity (50 points): Students will complete a Course CLA activity on Blackboard the week before or after Spring Break.

University Graduating Senior Assessment (also called CLA+): You must take the University Graduating Senior Assessment (also called CLAplus assessment). No points will be offered for this, as it is a university requirement, but it is mandatory for this course. If you choose not to take this assessment, you will receive an F in the course. The University will be sending out specific dates for signing up for the activity. Watch your email!

The Course Paper (three sections; 200 points total): The paper will be written section by section throughout the course. Details on the assignment requirements and grading rubrics will be provided at a later date. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THREE DAYS WITH GRADE REDUCTIONS EACH DAY.

Final Exam (75 points): this is a cumulative essay exam to establish what the student learned over the time of the course. This will be a timed exam, whether in class or online. Students will be able to use notes from the readings, but not be able to read the books or articles during exam time. Students must write original answers and not use outside sources. Note the themes that emerge throughout the course – they will reappear here…

Extra Credit: will be offered in conjunction with various assignments noted above and available to all class members.

Blackboard:

In addition to in class announcements, this course utilizes Blackboard and student email for all course related announcements. Check Blackboard Announcements and your email regularly – I suggest daily for adjustments to the schedule. Inability to gain access to the internet will generally not be an acceptable reason for late work. All technology related issues with Blackboard must be reported to me via or my office phone (time and date provided) 910.672.2271. Messages will be answered within a reasonable time, but not necessarily immediately if the message is outside of the regular work week. Expect at least 24 hours response time in most work week situations; longer for a weekend response.

Student Behavior Expectations:

The instructor will respect all students and will make every effort to maintain an in person and “virtual” classroom climate that promotes learning for all students. Students must accept their responsibility for maintaining a positive classroom environment by abiding by the following rules:

1.  Students are expected to arrive on time, remain in class until dismissed by the instructor, and refrain from preparing to leave class until it is dismissed.

2.  Student/teacher relationships, as well as relationships among peers, must be respectful at all times.

3.  Students are not permitted to wear headphones or other paraphernalia that may be distracting to the classroom environment.

4.  Students must refrain from any activity that will disrupt the class; this includes turning off cell phones and pagers.

5.  Students are not permitted to use profanity in the classroom.

6.  Students will not pass notes to carry on private conversations while class is being conducted.

Consequences for Failing to Meet Behavioral Expectations:

The first time a student violates one of these rules, the instructor will warn him or her privately (posts may be taken down). The second time a student violates the guidelines, the instructor may deduct as many as twenty points from the student’s next exam grade. If a student violates the guidelines three times, the instructor will report the student to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action according to the FSU Code of Student Conduct.

Academic Dishonesty:

Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary actions as described in the student handbook. The Student Code of Conduct can be found in Course Documents on Blackboard. For the first offense, the student will typically receive a 0 for the exam, assignment, or paper. For the second offense, the student will typically receive a failing grade for the course. Egregious cases, such as purchased papers, will receive an F for the course – no warning. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following: cheating, plagiarism, complicity to academic dishonesty (helping or attempting to help another student cheat) and misrepresentation to avoid academic work (e.g. fabricating excuses of an illness, injury, accident, family death, etc. to avoid the timely submission of academic work).

Interim Grades:

Interim grades serve as warnings to students that they are at risk of failing or performing poorly due to nonattendance. The interim grading period begins on the first day after the close or registration and continues until one week prior to the deadline for withdrawing from classes. Faculty members assign interim grades of X (No-Show) and EA (Excessive Absences) as soon as warranted by the student’s attendance.