Introduction to Criminal Justice
Schmalleger, F. (2021). Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the 21st century (16th ed.). Pearson
ISBN: 9780135770535
This course will use Revel™, an interactive learning environment for the required textbook.
Course
Description
This course examines a general overview of the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on decision points and administrative practices in police and other criminal justice agencies, as well as basic criminal procedures. Topics include: Causes of crime, criminal law, policing history and structure, police management and legal aspects, adjudication including the courts and sentencing, corrections drugs and crime, multinational criminal justice and the future of criminal justice.
Course
Objectives
● Describe the role of the individual citizen in developing and monitoring effective police practices.
● Describe the key components, functions, and jurisdictions of both the state and federal level American Court systems.
● Identify the relationship between criminal justice and social justice and the role of the criminal justice system and its stakeholders in promoting social justice.
● Identify various criminal justice policy changes and legal rulings as they affect the criminal justice system.
● Discuss the history and evolution of law enforcement as it relates to enforcement, management, misconduct, and use of force.
● Summarize the components of the United States correctional systems, functions, and practices.
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: None
Course
Schedule
|
Course Week |
Weekly Content |
|
Week 1 Our Response to Crime in America |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 1 & 2 ▪ What Is Criminal Justice? ▪ The Crime Picture ● View Chapters 1 & 2 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Video in Revel o Chapter 1 “Privacy” Pros and Cons o Chapter 2 “Collection of Crime Data” ● Discussion o Introductions o “Privacy” ● Written Assignment o “The Collection of Crime Data” |
|
Week 2 What Causes Crime and How Does Criminal Law Respond to it? |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 3 & 4 ▪ The Search for Causes ▪ Criminal Law ● View Chapters 3 & 4 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Videos in Revel o Chapter 3 “Point/Counterpoint” o Chapter 4 “Point/Counterpoint” ● Discussion o “Freedom of Speech” ● Quiz 1 in Blackboard o Chapters 1-4 |
|
Policing History, Organization, and Purpose |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 5 & 6 ▪ Policing: History and Structure ▪ Policing: Purpose and Organization ● View Chapters 5 & 6 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Videos in Blackboard o “Don’t Abolish the Police: Privatize Them” (https://youtu.be/Cy2Xla_urNI) ● Discussion o “Privatizing the Police” ● Written Assignment o “Detasking the Police”
|
|
Week 4 Issues and Challenges in Policing |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 7 & 8 ▪ Policing: Legal Aspects ▪ Policing: Issues and Challenges ● View Chapters 7 & 8 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Videos in Revel o Chapter 7 Point/Counterpoint Video “The Exclusionary Rule” Pro/Con o Chapter 7 Point/Counterpoint Video “Should we let the Supreme Court create law?” ● Discussion o “Should we let the Supreme Court create law?” ● Midterm Exam in Blackboard |
|
Sentencing and Corrections |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 11 & 12 ▪ Sentencing ▪ Probation, Parole, and Reentry ● View Chapters 11 & 12 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Videos in Revel o Chapter 11
“Point/Counterpoint”
o Chapter 12
“Point/Counterpoint”
● Discussion o “The Rights of Victims and their Survivors” ● Quiz 2 in Blackboard o Chapters 9-12 |
|
Prisons, Jails, and Juvenile Justice |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 13-15 ▪ Prisons and Jails ▪ Prison Life ▪ Juvenile Justice ● View Chapters 13 & 15 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Videos o “Prison Life 14 Bullets” (https://youtu.be/egW-2BDnceU) o Chapter 15 “Point/Counterpoint” ● Discussion o “Juvenile Life Without Parole” ● Written Assignment o “Interview with a Juvenile Justice professional” |
|
Special Issues |
● Interactive Reading in Revel o Chapters 16-18 ▪ Drugs and Crime ▪ Terrorism, Multinational Criminal Justice, and Global Issues ▪ High-Technology Crimes ● View Chapters 16 & 18 PowerPoint Lecture(s) in Blackboard ● Watch Video in Revel o Chapter 16 “Point/Counterpoint” ● Read “The Way Forward: Working Together to Tackle Cybercrime” (https://www.fbi.gov/news/speeches/the-way-forward-working-together-to-tackle-cybercrime) ● Discussion o ““How About a National DNA Database?” ● Final Exam in Blackboard |
Grading Policy
|
Grading Category |
Grade Weight |
|
Discussions |
40% |
|
Assignments & Quizzes |
40% |
|
Midterm Exam |
10% |
|
Final Exam |
10% |
Estimated Time
Required
The following table outlines the academic effort required by students to be successful in this course. While the times in the table are approximate, it is presented to help students with their time management. Please note, depending on the student’s background knowledge and experience of the course subject and an individual student’s academic abilities, these times will vary. Times are listed in hours.
|
Week 1 |
Reading/Watching |
3.2 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
9.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
15.2 |
|
|
Week 2 |
Reading/Watching |
2.9 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
9.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
14.9 |
|
|
Week 3 |
Reading/Watching |
2.6 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
9.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
14.6 |
|
|
Week 4 |
Reading/Watching |
2.9 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
11.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
16.9 |
|
|
Week 5 |
Reading/Watching |
3.1 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
12.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
18.1 |
|
|
Week 6 |
Reading/Watching |
3.4 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
12.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
18.4 |
|
|
Week 7 |
Reading/Watching |
3.0 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
9.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
15.0 |
|
|
Week 8 |
Reading/Watching |
0.6 |
|
Discussing |
3.0 |
|
|
Homework |
20.0 |
|
|
Hands On |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
23.6 |
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