This Course Provides a Combination of the Best of Classroom Instruction and Hands on Training

I. INTRODUCTION

1. This course is designed to provide the student with techniques and methods of handling mentally ill persons, and safe arrest and prisoner transportation methods. Self-defense methods applicable to modern society when properly exercised are humane and legal. These techniques are a learned skill and an indispensable asset to the law enforcement officer.

This course provides a combination of the best of classroom instruction and hands on training that has evolved into a most effective law enforcement tool.

1. This course is a required course for the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree program.

1. This course is occupationally related and serves in preparation for careers in law enforcement, criminal justice, and corrections.

1. Prerequisite(s): (None)

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, Use of Force, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss the legal and moral obligations of the use of force by law enforcement officers.

B. Discuss the mental attitudes necessary to recognize the need to apply the required amount of legal force.

C. Demonstrate self-confidence; confidence is a by-product of learned skills and is developed directly in proportion to developed skills.

III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

A: TEXT: None Required. The instructor may distribute reading assignments which must be read before each class meeting.

B. Resources:

1. Skolnick, Jerome H and James J. Fyfe, Above the Law: Police and the Excessive Use of Force, New York, NY, The Free Press, 1994.

2. Suarez, Gabriel, The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study of Personal

Small-Arms Tactics, Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 1998.

3. Kappeler, Victor E, Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, 3rd Ed, Prospect

Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 2001

4. Adams, Ronald J., Thomas M. Mcternan, Charles Remsberg, Street Survival:

Tactics for Armed Encounters, Northbrook, IL: Calibre Press, 1997.

5. Remsberg, Charles, The Tactical Edge: Surviving High-Risk Patrol,

Northbrook, IL: Calibre Press, 1997.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

A.Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive for this course will not be the grade of the instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.

B.You should attend class regularly and be prepared to participate in classroom discussions and to take unannounced quizzes relating to text assignments and lecture material presented from the beginning of the course. Please refer to ‘Class Attendance and Course Progress’ under the Academic Policies section in our current Central Texas College (CTC) Course Catalog.

C.You are encouraged to give your best effort throughout the course. From the beginning, you should plan for a steady, organized, and continuous effort, which in the long run will prove more effective for your final grade than a last minute crash-cram policy. Your course grade is not determined solely by exam grade. Such factors as class participation, initiative, attendance, and individual research papers or projects will be considered in grade computation.

D.From time to time, special library and/or outside assignments will be made to members of the class individually and/or in groups. You are expected to read all assignments and fulfill your responsibilities to any group assignment.

E.You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your textbook/reading materials to class. Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.

F.Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade, since both the material assigned and that discussed in class will be the basis for examination material.

G.Scholastic Honesty: All students are required and expected to maintain the highest standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during examinations. The following are considered examples of scholastic dishonesty:

Plagiarism: The taking of passages from the writing of others without giving proper credit to the sources.

Collusion: Using another’s work as one’s own, or working together with another person in the preparation of work, unless such joint preparation is specifically approved in advance by the instructor.

Cheating: Giving or receiving information on examinations.

Students guilty of scholastic dishonesty will be administratively dropped from the course with a grade of “F” and be subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension and expulsion.

H.Special Work: A term paper or other project, per requirements of the instructor, will be required. The subject must be appropriate for the course material. Check with the instructor when you have made a selection. The value is indicated in the semester grade computation and has considerable weight on your final average.

V.EXAMINATIONS

1. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:

1.Mid-term exam on Jan 29th with a review on Jan 24th.

2.Final exam on Feb 21th with a review on Feb 19th OR Feb 26th with review on Feb 19th.

3. Paper due on Feb 7th.

B.A student must be present for all examinations. Students who know in advance that they will be absent from an examination due to valid reasons must arrange to take an early examination. Unexpected absences due to illness or extenuating circumstances will require the student to see the instructor about individual make-up work.

C.Students without excused absences will be given a zero for the missed examination.

D.Examinations will consist of both objective (true/false, multiple choice, fill in-the-blank, and matching) and subjective (short answer and essay) questions. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in written form, thus some questions requiring the composition and writing of an essay answer will be required.

VI. SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS

EXAM POINTS POINTS GRADES

Quizzes 100 900-1000 A=4 pts/semhr

Mid-Term Exam 300 800- 899 B=3 pts/semhr

Final exam 300 700- 799 C=2 pts/semhr

Participation 200 600- 699 D=1 pt/semhr

Paper/Project 100 0- 599 F=0 pts/semhr

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TOTAL 1000

A term paper is expected from all students. The instructor may need to teach this

concept during the course.

Students may vary in their competency levels on these abilities. You can expect to

acquire these educational abilities only if you honor all course policies, attend classes

regularly, and complete all assignment work in good faith and on time.

VII. NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COURSE INSTRUCTOR

1. Tuition refunds are made only in the case of class cancellation or official and timely withdrawal from CTC or from a course. Please refer to the current course catalog for more details, at http://europe.ctcd.edu/library/catalog.php.

1. GoArmyEdstudents should contact their education counselor before withdrawing and are required to withdraw through the GoArmyEd portal.

Please note: a military withdrawal does not override CTC’s grading policy. For self-pay students, refunds are computed from the date the Application for Withdrawal or Refund is filed with the CTC Field Representative or designated StudentServices Officer. Special conditions apply to students who receive federal, state, and/or institutional financial aid.

Tuition and fees paid directly to the Institution by the Veterans Administration, Title IV (Financial Aid Programs, a sponsor, donor, or scholarship shall be refunded to the source rather than directly to the students.

1. Course Withdrawals, Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. The instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal based upon a student’s request. Rather, students must initiate the withdrawal with the designated Education Center Representative, through the CTC Field Representative or the Student Services Officer for that region.

Applications for Withdrawal will be accepted at any time before the completion of 75% of the course, after which time the student will be assigned an “FN”- “Failure for Non-attendance.”

1. Incomplete / Course in Progress Grade Policy: An “IP” or “Incomplete” grade may be assigned by an instructor if a student has made satisfactory progress in a course with the exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other project. The “IP” grade may also be assigned based on circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness, death in the immediate family, or military orders. Notice of absences, with supporting documentation, may be required by the instructor. The instructor makes the final decision concerning the granting of the incomplete grade. With an “Incomplete” grade, students are required to complete a set amount of work before the instructor will submit an official letter grade. This date can be determined by the instructor but must be within 45 days of the course end date. After completion of the work the instructor can then change the grade of “IP” to the appropriate letter grade. If this work is not completed by the specified date the instructor will change the grade to “F.”

1. Cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic devices will be turned off while the student is in the classroom or laboratory unless the student is using the device for class purposes. No texting or social networking is allowed during class.

1. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.

1. Civility: Individuals are expected to be cognizant of what a constructive educational experience is and respectful of those participating in a learning environment. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

1. MEDICAL/INJURY WAIVER a student in taking CJSA 1351 course, offered by Central Texas College will be required to sign a medical waiver.

The content of the medical waiver includes following:: I,______, a student in CJSA 1351 USE OF FORCE offered by Central Texas College at Camp Lemonier , Djibouti do release any claim of responsibility to the instructor and/or Central Texas College personnel for any injury incurred throughout this course. I understand that a section of this course teaches “approved and accepted (legal) use of force techniques and tactics” used by law enforcement professionals for personal protection to neutralize a threat. I understand that I will learn and utilize these techniques and tactics to demonstrate my knowledge of the course material. While safety will be used by the instructor and students, injuries can occur and I agree to proceed with this class, and I waive any right to sue or hold liable any instructor or school administrator. I do maintain the right and ability to withdraw my participation of any tactic or technique in which I do not feel comfortable performing for safety reasons. This omission of participation will not affect my overall grade, as long as I can demonstrate that I understand the course material. If an injury should occur, the instructor will provide immediate aid and will also call Emergency Medical Response Care.

VIII. COURSE OUTLINE

Note:

The instructor has the right to change the course schedule. Any changes will be announced in class. If the student misses a class period and changes are announced, it is the student’s responsibility to receive the missed information from a classmate or the instructor.

In addition to the following units, students will learn self-defense techniques, methods of handling mentally ill persons, and safe arrest and prisoner transportation methods.

A.Course Introduction, Law Enforcement in a Democratic Society

1. Dates: Jan 3, 8, 10

At the conclusion of the instruction, the student will be able to:

• Describe the concept of linkage blindness and its importance in the criminal justice system.
• Understand the police role in maintaining social control.
• Explain what is meant by the rule of law.
• Understand the role of law enforcement in the criminal justice system.

Summary

The concept of linkage blindness refers to the lack of communication between different agencies or even within agencies. The terrorist attacks on September 11 were largely a result of linkage blindness since various law enforcement agencies or divisions of agencies had information on the known terrorist cells, but they did not share the information with the correct recipients. Federal legislation known as the United States of America Patriot Act of 2001 was enacted following 9/11, and subsequently reinforced with the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act in 2005. The Patriot Act widened the investigative authority of law enforcement agencies across the country. The primary duty of the police is to maintain social control within the community. What distinguishes the police from other individuals is their ability to use coercive force if necessary to control a situation.

The rule of law refers to the ideal that equality and justice are inseparable, and that laws are applied equally to everyone. The rule of law is a standard that is used to guide decision making throughout the criminal justice system.

All of the agencies within the criminal justice system are interlocked and must work together to ensure justice. The three components of the criminal justice system are the police, courts, and corrections. The police are the first agents within the criminal justice process; and once a crime occurs, they are in charge of taking a report, investigating the crime, arresting a suspect, and booking the suspect. The methods by which they investigate crimes will have an impact on whether and how the case proceeds through the criminal justice system and often whether a conviction ensues in the case.

The crime control model emphasizes support for law enforcement over individual rights. Advocates of this approach emphasize extensive police powers, limited rights for suspects, and a quick and speedy process. The due process model emphasizes individual rights with restrictions on police power. They focus on civil liberties and quality of arrests over quantity.

Six levels of law enforcement are present in this country: federal, state, county, municipal, township, and tribal. The largest level is municipal, with over 40,000 municipal jurisdictions. As a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, several government agencies have been restructured. The biggest change is the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. This agency coordinates intelligence and law enforcement resources in the war on terrorism.

Class discussion:

1. What are the roles of the Police Officer and how does it work in a democratic society?

2. Should the police be bound by due process constraints when investigating crimes?

3. What role does the police’s ability to use force play in their interactions with the community?

4. How does the rule of law apply to everyone?

5. What is the Criminal Justice system and how does it work?

6. What is linkage blindness and how does it affect the role of the Police Officer?

Learning Activities:

a. Discuss course requirements and activities as contained in the syllabus

b. Classroom lecture/discussion

c. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor

B: POLICE DISCRETION AND BEHAVIOR

1. Dates: Jan 15, 17, 22, 24

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the instruction, the student will

• Understand what is meant by the term police discretion.
• Identify and examine the factors that influence police decision making and the exercise of discretion.
• Examine different theories of police behavior and address the question of whether there is such a thing as a “police personality.”
• Become familiar with Wilson’s three styles of policing and explore the relationship between police organization and the behavior of individual officers.
• Examine the causes of police stress and police suicide.

Summary

One of the key features that distinguishes the police and other criminal justice agencies from other public institutions and organizations is the extent to which serving police officers possess and exercise discretion. Although the organizational structure of most police departments follows a traditional bureaucratic model–with power concentrated at the top of a hierarchal pyramid and clear lines of accountability running up from the base–police organizations differ from many other public institutions in that low-ranking individuals are given considerable decision-making power, much of which is unsupervised. Although efforts can be made to reduce officer discretion, such as zero tolerance or mandatory arrest policies, the complexities of police work will ensure that discretion will always remain a central component of policing.

Many writers have attempted to define police discretion, but one of the most widely accepted definitions is that used by Kenneth Culp Davis: “A police officer or police agency may be said to exercise discretion whenever effective limits on his, or her, or its power leave the officer or agency free to make choices among possible courses of action or inaction.” Discretion is regarded as an essential aspect of policing because individual police officers are required to deal with a vast range of different problems and situations, many of which are not precisely regulated by the law.

Discretion, the freedom for an individual to make a decision based on his or her personal judgment, is a necessary aspect of policing. Though police officers must respond to situations within the parameter of the law, they should have the freedom to make a decision based on the circumstances of a particular case. Also, an officer would find it impossible to respond to every violation of the law; therefore, discretion is a necessary component of law enforcement.

Policing decision making can be influenced by many factors related to the officer’s own disposition or the nature of the unlawful act itself. Factors commonly cited in the literature as influencing police discretion include the seriousness of the offense, the attitude of the suspect, the characteristics of the victim, the relationship between the suspect and the victim, evidence of the offense, and the race and gender of the parties to the offense. Whether officers exhibit similar personality traits, and the extent to which these are caused by predisposing factors or by socialization into the police culture, is the subject of many diverse explanations: psychological, educational, sociological, and organizational. The influence of historical factors on officer perceptions of suspiciousness must also be considered in discussing the origins of police culture. Police are in many ways a reflection of the larger societal forces in which they are embedded.