Frederick Community College

CJ 101 on-line – Criminal Justice

Summer 2009

Name: Karen Shinham	Office: B216
E-mail: kshinham@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301-829-2512
Office Hours: N/A	Campus Mail Box Number:

Course Information:

Credits: 3	Last Day to Drop: July 8, 2009
Prerequisites: EN 52	Co-requisites:
Meeting Day(s): N/A	Meeting Time(s): N/A

Course Description:

Presents a history of criminal justice, with emphasis on English antecedents important to the administration of justice in the United States. Introduces the United States Constitution and Supreme Court decisions affecting individual rights and law enforcement practices. Includes career orientation through an analysis of criminal justice agencies.

Core Learning Outcomes:

By the completion of the course students will:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the 3 major components of the Criminal Justice System;

2. Describe the methods of gathering data in crime and its limitations

3. Explain the contributions of English Common Law to the U.S. Judicial Process; and

4. Identify career opportunities in the Criminal Justice Field

Evaluation Methods:

Chapter Exams: There will be two exams in this condensed class. The first exam, which will be proctored, will be given during week 4 and may include multiple choice and short answer questions. The first exam will be taken at the testing center. The second exam will be taken on-line. This exam will consist of definition questions and essay questions. Students will need their student ID to take the exam at the testing center. There will be no make up unless a student misses an exam for an emergency, death etc. The student must contact the Instructor prior to the exam or shortly thereafter to discuss his/her situation and to present documentation. It is up to the Instructor’s discretion whether a make up will be allowed.

Discussion Board online:

The Discussion Board is the most important area for student-teacher interaction in the Blackboard classroom.  Each week there will be one (1) discussion regarding the “Muddiest Point” of the assigned readings. “Muddiest Point” is the part that you, individually, found complicated, confusing, or just unclear. Each student is required to post his/her “muddiest point” and then review other student’s posts and make an effort to answer or clarify their muddiest point. I will label the discussion “Week 1, 2, etc.” This will make it easier for you to track the discussions. Each student is required to post their own “muddiest point,” respond to at least two (2) fellow students about their “muddiest point,” and answer any follow up questions I may ask regarding your initial response.  Your responses should be in paragraph format and although the conferences are somewhat informal, spelling and grammar are still important.  “I agree” will not count as a post. Each week’s discussion is worth 25 points. Remember, discussion participation is 20% of your grade.  Your posts should indicate that you have completed the assigned reading and reviewed other student’s posts. I will not put a minimum word count on your post, however, anything less than one well developed paragraph will not be give credit.

Each week will begin on Monday (I will have it on line by Sunday for those who like to start early) and close on the following Monday.  That means you have seven (7) days to complete your discussion board work.  Nothing posted after that time will be credited. 

Criminal Justice Project: (200 Points)You may choose one (1) of the following for your project.

1. Interview Project:You will interview an individual in the Criminal Justice Field. The interview will consist of asking ten questions related to the person’s career in the Criminal Justice Field. You will then present the answers in a three page double spaced paper. The questions are posted under “Course Documents”.
2. Visit a criminal court session. Depending on when you attend, you could see a series of cases or one case. Write your reflections on what you observed and how the proceedings affect the administration of justice. Papers must be a minimum of three, typed and double-spaced pages. Your report should include the following:  an introductory section that explains the purpose of the paper, your reflections on what you observed and how the proceedings affect the administration of justice, a "compare and contrast" explanation of what you viewed.
3. POLICE RIDE-ALONG - This is an observational assignment that focuses on the use of discretion by police officers who patrol our communities. The objective of this assignment is to observe who is stopped and why? Who is arrested and why? How does the use of discretion affect the patrol officer's job? Papers must be a minimum of three, typed and double-spaced pages. Include a an introductory paragraph that includes the purpose of the paper and information concerning assignment of the officer, the department with which he/she is employed, and the date, time, and duration of the ride-along. Using a narrative format, you should provide the officer's views on the use of discretion and then follow this with your observations and conclusions.

Homework Assignments: There are three homework assignments. Each homework assignment must be one to two pages double spaced. You must submit the assignment on the due dates. There will be no exceptions.

Homework Assignment #1 (100 points)

COURT CASES

In discussing procedural due process, several cases are considered landmark and provide additional explanation of the bill of rights (for the purpose of this exercise, also included is the 14th amendment).

Choose one case and follow the guidelines below:

1. Begin with a cover sheet indicating your name, project title, course, and date submitted.
2. Provide a brief synopsis of the circumstances that led to the hearing of the case
3. Describe the court's decision
4. Discuss which amendment (of the bill of rights, to include the 14th) is being upheld
5. Discuss the affect  the case has on your view of the criminal justice system
6. If you use outside sources, you must document them. The bibliography or documentation of the outside sources does not count in the page total requirement.

Papers must be typed, double-spaced, and a minimum of two pages that covers the case brief.

Cases

1.   Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

2.   Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

3.   Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

4.   Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)

5.   Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

6.   Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

7.   Katz v. United States (1967)

8.   in re Gault (1967)

9.   Tennessee v. Garner (1985)

10.  Graham v. Connor (1989)

11.  Maryland v. Wilson (1997)

Homework Assignment #2 (100 points)

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS ENTERTAINMENT CRITIQUE

There are a number of programs that showcase the criminal justice system on cable TV. As opposed to Law and Order, CSI, and the like, these programs purport to be fact-based.

For this assignment, you may choose any two segments from the following television programs. Note: The following are examples:

American Justice

City Confidential

If a student finds another program that meets the criteria, simply email the instructor for permission to use that specific program.

Critique Requirements and Formatting

Papers must be a minimum of two (2), double-spaced, typed pages, and must include the following:

1. Cover page with your name, project title, course and date of submission.
2. Section 1: Introduction, purpose, brief synopsis of each episode or program selected.
3. Section 2: Which area(s) of the criminal justice system (police, courts, corrections) is highlighted? How is this segment(s) of the system portrayed? How is the "criminal" portrayed (if applicable)? Which theory would explain the criminal behavior (if applicable)? How is the "victim" portrayed (if applicable)? How is the victim treated by the system (if applicable)? Does the victim receive justice (if applicable)?
4. Conclusion: If you choose American Justice , there is usually a question asked toward the end of the episode. What is that question and how would you answer it? With American Justice and other shows that may be reviewed, what message do you feel the public receives about the criminal justice system as a result of watching these programs? What do you feel is the value of these shows in either making the public more aware of crime and justice in American or de-sensitizing them to the seriousness of crime in America ?

Homework Assignment #3(100 points)

Power Point Presentation

The issue of the death penalty has been debated for centuries. After reading Chapter 12, choose a side, for or against the death penalty, and prepare a short persuasive presentation that would convince someone with a neutral viewpoint on the issue to your way of thinking. The power point should be a minimum of 10 slides, but no more than 15 slides presenting your position on this controversial issue. Include the following:

• Any facts that support your position (you may use outside sources)
• Your reasons for taking the position
• Information that may sway a neutral party to your side of the position

Text(s) for Course:

Schmallegar, Frank “Criminal Justice Today”, 9^th edition

Evaluation Methods: Tests / Papers / Projects	Point Value	Final Grade Scale
2 examinations	150 points each	A = 900-1000 points
Criminal Justice Project	200 points	B= 800-899 points
Discussion Board (8) 25 pts each	200 pts (weekly-25 pts.)	C = 700-799 points
Online Homework (3) Assignments 100 pts each	300 points	D = 600-699 points F = 599 and below

Progress Report:

Students may review their progress at any time by entering the gradebook feature in Blackboard.

TOPICAL OUTLINE

Class	Date	Subject	Content
1	6/1	Introduction to course	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 1 & 2
2	6/8	The Crime Picture, Criminal Law and Policing	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 3 & 4 Turn in first homework assgn
3	6/15	Policing: History, Purpose and Organization	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 5&6
4	6/22	Legal Aspects Issues and Challenges	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 7 & 8 Take PROCTORED mid-term exam
5	6/29	The Courts Pretrial activities and Sentencing	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 9 & 10 Turn in second homework assgn
6	7/6	Probation, Parole and Community Corrections; Prisons and Jails	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 12 & 13
7	7/13	Drugs and Crime The Future of Criminal Justice	Reading/Assignments Read Chapters 16 &18 Turn in third homework assgn
8	7/20	Take on-line exam	Reading/Assignments Turn in Criminal Justice Project Take on-line exam by 7/25.