INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE II
CRJ 102
Course Syllabus
Revised by: T P Hubert
January 20, 2014
Cedar 308
Number of Credits: 3
Transfers to institutions within UCCSN as CRJ 102
Prerequisite: None
Students who complete a degree or certificate of achievement at WNC are able to demonstrate appropriate:
Communication:
1)college-level writing skills.
2)oral communications skills.
3)college-level reading skills.
Analysis:
1)demonstrate knowledge of appropriate critical thinking skills.
2)use appropriate principles of reasoning and decision-making.
Personal Development
1)engage in meaningful self-assessment
I) INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
T P Hubert
Office: n/a
Phone:775.849-9544
Email:
DIVISION CHAIR INFORMATION:
CTE Division Chair: Sherry Black
Office: Reynolds Bldg. / Room 113AR Laura-Lee Redwine, assistant
Phone: 445-4272
Fax: 445-3022
II)COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course will examine the adjudication and sentencing processes of offenders and then, examine the roles of adult correctional facilities and juvenile justice system. The class uses a multi-disciplinary focus to examine the American Criminal Justice system.
III)COURSE OBJECTIVES OR OUTCOMES
Criminal Justice II will help the students identify and understand the court system at both the federal and state levels. Successful students will understand pretrial activities and the roles of the various courtroom actors. Criminal Justice II will also focus on sentencing practices and guidelines and review the policies and procedures of parole and probation. The students will further gain knowledge about the functions of jails and prisons. Finally, the origin and development of the juvenile justice system will be examined. The attentive student should be able to understand the American Criminal Justice System and apply this knowledge and information to their own life relations and career opportunities that may arise.
IV)GRADING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The final grade will be determined by averaging the written responses and the exams; scores falling into 90-100% category will receive an A ("superior"); scores falling into the 80-89% a B ("above average"); scores falling into the 70-79% will receive a C ("average"); scores falling into the 60-69% with receive a D ("below average"); and scores below 60% will receive a F.
EXAMS and ASSIGNMENTS
A two exams (including final) are scheduled for the semester. The final is a COURSE REQUIREMENT. Exams will be derived from lectures, text, and video presentations. There will be three written assignments for the term and due as indicated on the syllabus. The written responses are worth 50 points.
MAKE UP POLICY
No make-up for any exam will be provided. (HINT: If you miss an exam, miss an exam for hospitalization or some viable reason rather than the lack of preparation.)
ATTENDANCE
Attend every session. The course moves on, whether or not you move on with it. Once you start missing a class here and another there, you may well find that you're too far behind to catch up. Determine to attend faithfully, whether you feel like it at the time or not. The instructor may drop the grade of any student when the student has had an excessive number of absences. In general, absences in excess of the number of credits (3) to be earned in the course may be considered excessive and graded accordingly.
V)REQUIRED MATERIALS
TEXT: CJ: Realities and Challenges,2cd edition, Masters, Way, Gertsenfeld, Muscat, Hooper, Dussich, Pincu and Skrapec, McGraw/Hill Publishers
VI)TOPICAL OUTLINE
Jurisdiction and the Correctional Umbrella
Adjudication –Adversarial Process
Appellate/Judicial review
Prosecutorial discretion
Plea bargaining
Pre-Sentence Investigations
Determinate and Indeterminate Sentences
Classification/Risk Factors
Probation/Parole Conditions/Revocation
Community Corrections-Frontend/Backend Alternatives
Special Offenders
Prisonization/Prison culture
Victim Advocacy/Compensation
Victimology
Delinquency-parens patriae
Juvenile Waiver/Adult Certification
VII)METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Lecture/discussion/video
Cancelled Class Hotline: 445-3030
ASSIGNMENTS: Three Written Responses are required.
(Week) 01-23-14 Introduction, syllabus, assignment #1
Video: Scottsboro: An American Tragedy, PBS
01-30-14 Chapter 8 Courtrooms
Video: New York Justice: The Prosecutors
02-06-14 TX Chapter 9 Adjudication
Video: The Defenders
02-13-14 TX Chapter 10, assignment#1 due
Video: Keepers: The Other Inmates
02-20-14 Guest Speaker: Dr. Steve Konstenius
Video: Prisoners of Freedom
02-27-14 Mid Term Exam
03-06-14 TX Chapter 11 Corrections
Video: The Dark Side of Parole
03-13-14 TX Chapter 12 Incarceration
Video: HBO Gladiator Days: The Troy Kell Story
03-20-14 Spring Break
03-27-14 TX Chapter 12, continued, assignment 2 due
Video: Writ Writer
04-03-14 Chapter 13 Community Based Alternatives
Video: Parole Board Nevada
04-10-14 TX Chapter 13, continued Special Offenders
04-17-14 TX Chapter 14 Victimology
04-24-14 TX Chapt15 Juvenile Justice
Video: Teen Wilderness Experience
05-01-14 TX Chapter 16 Current Issues and Challenges
05-08-14 Class review, Study guide, assignment 3 due
05-15-14 FINAL EXAM
Prepare for class. From your course syllabus you will know the topic, the readings, and any other preparation that may be required. Complete this before the class begins. In addition, you will find that a quick review of your notes on the preceding class will do much to make the "new" class meaningful to you.
Follow your course syllabus closely. It will tell you the subject for discussion/lecture on a given day.
Plan to spend two hours of outside preparation for every class session. Because student abilities vary from course to course you may need to put more or less time than this on your work.
Please turn off electronic devices before class begins, excluding laptops. Cell phone ring tones and texting will not be tolerated and only one warning given. Classroom dialogue must be directed through the instructor and prompt attendance is appreciated.
Special Note: Please be advised that this class is rated as “R”. It does contain adult language and adult situations. Violence is both depicted and graphic on occasions. Abusive language and brief nudity will be encountered. This class is not for the timid. If you have a problem with this type of class agenda, then, you should consider dropping this class.
* If you have a disability for which you will need to request accommodations, please contact the Disability Support Services office (Bristlecone building, room 103) as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STUDENT TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE SYLLABUS.
FINALLY,
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR STUDENT SERVICES RECORDS, i.e. Phone number, address, etc.
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