Crime and Justice in the United States

Crime and Justice in the United States CJUS 2100 Spring, 2017

Instructor: Michael Krenek, MS

Graduate Student Assistant: Ms. Sofia Sandoval

Office: Criminal Justice Department, Chilton Hall 273F

Phone: 940/369-7682

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

Class Hours: 2:00-2:50 PM, MWF

Classroom: Cury 104

Office Hours: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM, MW, and by appointment

Required Text

Gaines, L. and Miller, R. (2017). CJ4 (4th ed.). Wadsworth, Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA (ISBN: 978-1-305-66119-6)

Course Notes and Important Information

There are a few important things you need to take note of and keep in mind during the course.

Routine inquiries concerning the course, assignments, etc. should initially be directed to the Graduate Student Assistant for the course, Ms. Sofia Sandoval, at the email for her indicated above. Any issues Ms. Sandoval feels I need to be made aware of will be forwarded to me and addressed promptly. Communication with students is important and students are encouraged to contact/meet with the instructor for the course as they feel it necessary.

Please be sure that your official UNT email is forwarded to your preferred email address to ensure you receive all course updates and other information relevant to the course. When communicating with Ms. Saldivar or me, please use the email addresses indicated above and be sure to include some indication of which course your email pertains to. Do not use the messaging system or email feature of Blackboard. Exams, quizzes, and discussion board assignments in the course will be administered on-line through Blackboard. It is your responsibility to make sure you have access to a computer that works and is compatible with the UNT on-line system/Blackboard Learn. Please do not wait until the last minute to complete course assignments. Unforeseen problems can occur and may not be sufficient reason to allow a make-up. Be aware that Blackboard shuts down for scheduled maintenance every Saturday from 11:00 PM until 2:00 AM. Any work you are doing when this occurs will be lost, so plan accordingly. Finally, do not attempt to take exams/quizzes using a mobile device (smart phones/tablets). If that is all you have there are computers on campus available for you to use.

Course Description

Examines the societal responses to people and organizations that violate criminal codes; discusses the history, development, organization and philosophy of the justice process; and, analyzes the complex inter-relationships between the major components of the criminal justice system (police, courts and corrections). Same as SOCI 2100. Core Category: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Course Objectives

After completing the course students will be able to:

 Identify the major agencies, procedures, personnel and decision-making points in the criminal justice system.

 Define fundamental terms and concepts in the law and social science.

 Understand and discuss the use of discretion in the justice system.

 Discuss significant problems and issues found in the justice system.

 Describe significant impacts of the law on the police, courts and corrections.

 Identify the basic theories of crime causation.

 Define the various sources and types of law.

 Differentiate between the roles of federal, state and local law enforcement.

 Describe the structure of state and federal court systems.

 Explain the various purposes of punishment and the options available.

 Identify and explain contemporary issues confronting the criminal justice system.

Students will successfully demonstrate the attainment of these objectives through exams, weekly quizzes and participation in both on-line and class discussions.

Course Overview The course will consist of lecture and discussion of the assigned readings. Material from the text will be supplemented by news articles, scholarly readings and videos relevant to the course. Some of these items may be posted to Blackboard for outside of class review. Students are responsible for regularly checking Blackboard. Subject to their availability, guest speakers will be invited to address the class on issues relevant to the course.

Course Requirements

Exams-200 points

Two exams, consisting of 100 points each, will be given on the dates indicated in the course outline. The final exam will not be cumulative. Each exam will consist of fifty objective questions. I am not an advocate of trick questions or testing for trivial detail. Every effort will be made to ensure exam questions are fair and that the correct answer to each is clear to an adequately prepared student. We will have a review prior to each exam. Each exam will be given on-line through Blackboard.

Weekly Quizzes – 120 points

To encourage students to stay current in their reading of the text, weekly quizzes will be given over material to be covered that week. The expectation is that prior to covering a topic in the text in class, students will have read the chapter to be covered and taken a short quiz over the material. Each quiz will consist of 10 objective questions and will be given on-line through Blackboard.

Blackboard Discussions – 80 points

Each student is required to participate in four Blackboard discussions throughout the semester. That participation will involve each student posting a response to the initial discussion question, and then posting a response to those of at least two other students. These discussions are not intended to replace the discussion of issues during class. Instead, they are intended to give students the opportunity to consider issues and provide a response in more depth than the typical classroom setting allows. Each initial student posting should be about two paragraphs long. The response postings should be sufficiently long as to furnish a meaningful response to the initial posting. Each discussion assignment will be worth a maximum of twenty points: ten for the initial post and ten for the responses to other students. All postings should consist of an “informed discussion”, and not merely a statement of opinion. They will be evaluated using the following criteria: depth of explanation/critical thought, incorporation of material from the course and other sources to support the posting, and quality of writing (spelling, grammar and punctuation).

No specific dates for these assignments have been included in the course outline as the discussion questions are typically developed from current events or an issue that comes up in class. Students will be given ample notice of these assignments as well as a reasonable amount of time to complete them.

Students are to work independently on assignments. Any collaboration on assignments, unless specifically authorized, will be treated as an instance of academic dishonesty.

Grading Scale A= 360 - 400 points

B= 320 - 359 points

C= 280 - 319 points

D= 240 - 279 points

F= Less than 240 points

Make-up Policy

Make-up of exams, quizzes and other course requirements will be allowed under the following circumstances: prior consent and arrangement with the instructor, in the case of documented emergency, exceptional circumstances found by the instructor to be beyond the student’s control, or as provided for by University policy.

Attendance Policy

Regarding attendance, all students will comply with the requirements set forth in Section 15.2.5 of the UNT Policy Manual.

I assume that if you have enrolled in the course you will attend class. If a student chooses not to attend they cannot participate, and the learning experience for everyone will be diminished. Guest speakers and other material will supplement lecture and class discussions. Students will be responsible for this material as well. Attendance at all class meetings is therefore assumed for purposes of exam construction.

After the course census date, attendance will be taken at unannounced intervals during the duration of this course. Any student who is absent on 25% or more of those occasions will receive a one letter grade reduction in their final course grade.

If there are any circumstances preventing you from attending class, however unique, please advise me as soon as possible. I am more than willing to work with students experiencing legitimate attendance problems to ensure they remain current with their coursework.

Student Absences on Religious Holy Days Policy

Section 51.911 (b) of the Texas Education Code requires that an institution of higher education excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. A student whose absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable amount of time after the absence.

Academic Dishonesty The faculty of the Department of Criminal Justice expects students to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity. Acts of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and can result in failure of the course and dismissal from the University.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, collusion-the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit, the abuse of resource materials and misrepresentation of credentials or accomplishments as a member of the college. All students are encouraged to read the UNT Code of Student Conduct located in the UNT Policy Manual.

Students with Special Needs or Requests/ADA Statement

The Department of Criminal Justice does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Attempts will be made to accommodate anyone with a documented disability. Please let me know in advance of exams or other class requirements so I have enough time to send exams or other materials to ODA. You will need to provide me with the appropriate exam request forms from ODA prior to the exam in order to take the exam at ODA.

Student Behavior in the Classroom

Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students’ opportunity to learn is unacceptable. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student’s conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The University’s expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including University and electronic classrooms, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.unt.edu/csrr.

The unauthorized use of cell phones during class, whether texting or otherwise, is distracting to both me as an instructor and the other members of the class. If I see one in use and we are not engaged in an activity where the use of such a device is necessary, I will assume it is being used to fact check something we are discussing and I will most certainly involve the user in the discussion. If you are contacted regarding an emergency during class, quietly excuse yourself and attend to the call then. Please be respectful of others and refrain from cell phone use during class.

Ensuring Student Success

College can be a challenging and hectic time for many students as they struggle to adapt to a new environment or attempt to balance multiple competing interests. As your instructor, I am very aware that life exists outside the confines of this course and you will find me to be very reasonable in assisting you with any issues that may arise-provided that I am made aware that one exists. I am available during office hours, via email and at other times to assist in any way I can to help you do your best in this course.

Similarly, the University is prepared to assist in making your college experience both enjoyable and enlightening. Succeed at UNT is a University initiative offering helpful information and resources to help students do their best in a broader sense. I encourage you to go to succeed.unt.edu to learn more. Students will be provided with timely feedback on exams, quizzes and other assignments throughout the course and I am available during office hours, by appointment or any time via email to discuss course material, your progress, or other issues you feel I should know about which are relevant to you doing your best in the course.

Please check this course outline carefully for due dates. Also, be sure to regularly check Blackboard for any announcements concerning changes or additions to the schedule/course material.

Course Outline*

Date Topic Reading Assignment

Week of 1/16 Course Introduction/Syllabus Review None

Criminal Justice Today Chapter One

Week of 1/23 Criminal Justice Today Chapter One

The Crime Picture Chapter Two

Weekly Quiz Due on 1/23 Week of 1/30 Inside Criminal Law Chapter Three

Weekly Quiz Due on 1/30

Week of 2/6 Law Enforcement Today Chapter Four

Week of 2/13 Problems and Solutions in Modern Policing Chapter Five

Week of 2/20 The Rules of Law Enforcement Chapter Six

Week of 2/27 The Rules of Law Enforcement, cont. Chapter Six

Review: Chapters 1-6

Exam 1

Week of 3/6 Courts and the Quest for Justice Chapter Seven

Weekly Quiz Due on 3/6 Career Day on 3/6 – No Class

Week of 3/13 Spring Break

No Class

Week of 3/20 P retrial Procedures and the Criminal Trial Chapter Eight

Week of 3/27 Punishment and Sentencing Chapter Nine

Week of 4/3 Probation, Parole and Intermediate Sanctions Chapter Ten

Week of 4/10 Prisons and Jails Chapter Eleven

Week of 4/17 The Prison Experience and Prisoner Reentry Chapter Twelve

Week of 4/24 The Juvenile Justice System Chapter Thirteen

Challenges in Criminal Justice Chapter Fourteen

Week of 5/1 Challenges in Criminal Justice Chapter Fourteen

Review: Chapters 8-14

Reading Day on 5/5-No Class

Week 0f 5/8 Exam 2

(Finals Week) (Due by 5/10)

*The course outline has been established to afford students with a reasonable expectation of when pertinent activities in the course will occur (i.e. assignments and exams). It should, however, be viewed as somewhat flexible to allow for changes due to weather, illness, speaker availability and other events. Students will be given adequate notice of any schedule changes during the course. Any schedule changes impacting an exam date or assignment deadline will be resolved in favor of the students.

The Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available to you at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class was taught. The Criminal Justice Department and I are very interested in feedback from students as we work to continually improve your learning. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts with us when the survey becomes available.