Course Syllabus

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GRAYSON COLLEGE

Course Syllabus

  

Course Information

CRIJ 1301.001 Introduction to Criminal Justice (.001, .002, .0HS)

Location:  Main Campus

Schedule: M/W 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.

Professor Contact Information

Mr. Howard Day,

Email: dayh@grayson.edu.

Office location: Criminal Justice Bldg. (CJ) Office #100B

Available - M/W 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m., T/TH 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

None

Course Description

This course provides a historical and philosophical overview of the American criminal justice system, including the nature, extent, and impact of crime; criminal law; and justice agencies and processes.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, student should be able to: 

  1. Describe the history and philosophy of the American criminal justice system.
  2. Explain the nature and extent of crime in America.
  3. Analyze the impact and consequences of crime.
  4. Evaluate the development, concepts, and functions of law in the criminal justice system.
  5. Describe the structure of contemporary federal, state, and local justice agencies and processes.

Required Textbook

CJ4 4th Edition

Author:

Gaines

Edition:

4th

ISBN:

978-1-305-66119-6

 

Suggested Course Materials

None

Required Assignments & Academic Calendar

Each week there will be a reading assignment that will correspond with each week’s lecture. Read the chapter of the text each week to prepare for class. See the Course Calendar for more detail.

In case of inclement weather, emergency closings, or other unforeseen disruptions to scheduled classes, student must log onto their Canvas accounts for directions on where or how to continue their coursework.

Table 1 Course Schedule

Week

Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines

1

Introduction to Criminal Justice

2

Criminal Justice Today & The Crime Picture  - Read Chapters 1 & 2 

3

Inside Criminal Law - Read Chapter 3

4

LE Today & Problems and Solutions - Read Chapters 4 & 5 

5

Police and the Constitution - Read Chapter 6

6

Courts - Read Chapter 7

7

Pretrial Procedures and the Criminal Trial - Read Chapter 8

8

Midterm Exam (Chapters 1-8)

9

Punishment and Sentencing - Read Chapter 9

10

Probation, Parole, and Intermediate Sanctions - Read Chapter 10

11

Prisons and Jails - Read Chapter 11

12

Prison Experience - Read Chapters 12

13

 Juvenile Justice - Read Chapter 13

14

Today’s Challenges - Read Chapter 14

15

Final Exam (Chapters 9-15)

 

Methods of Evaluation

The student is required to read chapter assignments, listen and participate in class discussions. In addition, major exams covering text and lecture materials will be given. The student is expected to complete a term paper covering a topic in criminal justice. Several small assignments throughout the semester will be given to count as a participation grade.

Quizzes

There are online weekly quizzes during the semester.  Each quiz will consist of multiple-choice questions and will be administered through Canvas.  The first three (3) quizzes ONLY, students will have three (3) opportunities to re-take each quiz.  Afterwards, students will ONLY have one (1) attempt to pass each quiz.  The Chapter quizzes are worth 25% of your overall grade in the course.

Discussion Topics

There are online discussion topics during the semester.  Each topic will require students to research the subject and then “copy and paste” a relevant article into their post.  Hyperlinks to the article are not acceptable.  Students must first summarize the article and then share their personal thoughts on the topic.  Each post must be a minimum of 100 words.  Students must then post comments on two (2) classmates’ threads.  These comments must be a minimum of 50 words and more substantial than “I agree.”  While open debate is highly encouraged, all student comments must be respectful in nature. The Discussion Topics are worth 25% of your overall grade in the course.

Writing Assignment

There will be a writing assignment(s) for this course.  The writing assignment is to be turned in online through Canvas.  All information concerning the writing assignment will be extensively covered during this course.  The writing assignment is worth 25% of your overall grade in the course

Exams

There will be TWO (2) major exams (Mid-Term / Final) during the semester.  In general, these test will consist of FIFTY (5) multiple-choice questions.  Each of these questions is worth 2 points each.  Exams are worth 25% of your overall grade in the course.

Grading

Categories

Percentage

Chapter Quizzes

25%

Discussion Topics

25%

Writing Assignments

25%

Mid-Term and Final

25%

Methods of Instruction

Classroom lectures, reading assignments, and independent research

Course & Instructor Policies

Class Attendance

Academic success is closely associated with regular classroom attendance and course participation.  All successful students, whether on campus or online, are expected to be highly self-motivated.  All students are required to participate in courses regularly and are obliged to participate in class activities and complete and submit assignments following their professors’ instructions.  Students taking courses during compressed semester time frames such as mini-mester, summer sessions, and mid-semester should plan to spend significantly more time per week on the course.  Responsibility for work missed because of illness or school business is placed upon the student.  More than two (2) absences are considered to be excessive. In addition, students’ eligibility to receive financial aid or live in a College dormitory can be affected by withdrawal from courses. When withdrawal occurs, any tuition refund would be made in accordance with state regulations.

Student Conduct & Discipline

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.  Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrates a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable.  

Student Responsibility

You have already made the decision to go to college; now the follow-up decisions on whether to commit to doing the work could very well determine whether you end up working at a good paying job in a field you enjoy or working at minimum wage for the rest of your life. Education involves a partnership that requires both students and instructors to do their parts. By entering into this partnership, you have a responsibility to show up for class, do the assignments and reading, be engaged and pay attention in class, follow directions, and put your best effort into it. You will get out of your experience here exactly what you put into it – nothing more and nothing less.

TITLE IX

GC policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, spousal affiliation and protected veterans status.

Furthermore, Title IX prohibits sex discrimination to include sexual misconduct: sexual violence (sexual assault, rape), sexual harassment and retaliation.

For more information on Title IX, please contact:

Grayson College is not responsible for illness/injury that occurs during the normal course of classroom/lab/clinical experiences.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Grayson College campus-wide student policies may be found on our Current Student Page on our website: http://grayson.edu/current-students/index.html

Course Summary:

Date Details Due