University of North Carolina Wilmington
Department of Sociology and Criminology
Fall 2015
CRM 105 – CRN 11585 (3 hours)
MWF - 10:00pm – 10:50pm – Randall Library Auditorium
Instructor: Roderick W. Jones, Ph.D.
E-Mail: jonesrw@uncw.edu (All communications should be made through e-mail).
Office: Bear Hall 123
Office Hours: MWF 1:30 – 2:30 or by appointment
Catalog Course Description:
Study of criminal law and the criminal justice system in the U.S. Emphasis on structure and
function of police, courts, and corrections.
Course Goals and Objectives:
This course provides an introduction to the criminal justice system. The primary goal of this
course is to develop a general understanding of the criminal justice system’s response to crime in
society. It is important to note that the general theme of this course involves the delicate balance
between community interests and individual rights that criminal justice decision-making
requires. We will explore this theme by examining the criminal justice process in some detail,
focusing on how the system is structured to respond to crime. This requires an understanding of
the core elements of the criminal justice system: police, courts, and corrections. We will explore
the criminal justice system in five parts.
Required Text:
Schmalleger, F. (2014). Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the 21est century (13th
Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. *
*Note: If you can find cheaper/older versions of this book that is fine, but keep in mind that
chapter numbers sometimes change with editions. Thus, when completing weekly assignments
make sure that you’re studying the correct material.
Learning Outcomes:
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Students will gain factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, and trends)
Students will learn fundamental principles, generalizations, and theories
Students will analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view
Students will demonstrate critical and creative thinking as it applied to criminal justice
system behavior
Students will be introduced to criminal justice research and court decisions
Students will learn how the major components of the criminal justice system interact to
form a complete, yet imperfect, “system”.
Statement on Academic Integrity:
All students enrolled at UNCW are subject to the UNCW Student Academic Honor Code, which
is intended to help every member of the UNCW community appreciate the high value placed on
academic integrity and the means that will be employed to ensure its preservation. Students are
expected to perpetuate a campus culture in which each student does his or her own work while
relying on appropriate resources for assistance. In such a climate, students enjoy a special trust
that they are members of a unique community in which one’s thoughts and words are attributed
correctly and with proper ownership, and in which there is little need for systems to sanction
those who cheat. As such, all UNCW students shall commit to the principles and spirit of the
Honor Code by adhering to the following pledge: As a student at The University of North
Carolina Wilmington, you committed to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the
pursuit of knowledge. You pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor
Code.
All members of UNCW’s community are expected to follow the academic Honor Code. Please
read the UNCW Honor Code carefully (as covered in the UNCW Student Handbook and
available here: http://www.uncw.edu/odos/honorcode/ . Academic dishonesty in any form
will not be tolerated in this class.
Plagiarism:
Please be especially familiar with UNCW’s position on plagiarism as outlined in the UNCW
Student Handbook. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty in which you take someone
else’s ideas and represent them as your own. Here are some examples of plagiarism:
1. You write about someone else’s work in your paper and do not give them credit for it
by referencing them.
2. You give a presentation and use someone else’s ideas and do not state that the ideas
are the other person’s.
3. You get facts from your textbook or some other reference material and do not reference
that material.
Statement Regarding Violence and Harassment:
UNCW practices a zero tolerance policy for any kind of violent or harassing behavior. If you are
experiencing an emergency of this type contact the police at 911 or UNCW CARE at 962- 2273.
Resources for individuals concerned with a violent or harassing situation can be located at
http://www.uncw.edu/wsrc/crisis.html.
Statement on Services for Students with Disabilities:
Students with diagnosed disabilities should contact the Office of Disability Services (962-7555).
Please give me a copy of the letter you receive from Office of Disability Services detailing class
accommodations you may need. If you require accommodation for test-taking, please make
sure I have the referral letter no less than three days before the test.
University Learning Center:
Location: DePaolo Hall 1056 & 1003, first floor
Phone: (910) 962-7857
Website: www.uncw.edu/ulc
The University Learning Center’s (ULC) mission is to help students become successful,
independent learners. Tutoring at the ULC is NOT remediation: the ULC offers a different type
of learning opportunity for those students who want to increase the quality of their education.
ULC services are free to all UNCW students and include the following:
Learning Services (University Studies) http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/learning/index.html
Math Services http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/math/index.html
Supplemental Instruction http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/si/index.html
Writing Services http://www.uncw.edu/ulc/writing/index.html
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance:
This course does not have an attendance policy. However, you are expected to attend class and
participate by reading and asking questions (if you have them). Keep in mind that you are paying
for your education, and you should do your best to get as much out of your collegiate
experiences. Also, keep in mind that the job market is competitive. The TOP people you will
compete with for jobs go to class, read, and are fully engaged in obtaining a quality education.
How well will you do in this open competition for jobs? You should train yourself to be
responsible, which means being where you are supposed to be on time, prepared, and ready to
work.
Preparation:
The student is expected to be prepared before coming to class and be willing to demonstrate that
preparation. Preparation refers to completing all reading before coming to class with enough
comprehension to engage in an intelligent discussion. Please try to bring your textbook to class
everyday as I will regularly refer to examples within the text and it will be much easier for you to
follow along with the examples.
Every effort will be made by the professor to maintain a class atmosphere conducive to learning
and the free exchange of ideas. Since learning is an interactive process of communication
between faculty and students, each student is expected to participate in this process.
Reading:
“A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read” – Mark Twain
ASSIGNMENTS:
Weekly Assignments:
There are 16 weekly assignments (one for each chapter we will cover) that you will complete on
Blackboard. Each assignment has 20 multiple choice/true false questions. Each assignment is
worth 20 points. Please check the assignment deadlines in the course syllabus. You may only
attempt the assignment once, but there is no time limit. Assignments will close after the
deadlines and you will not be able to complete the assignment. ABSOLUTELY NO LATE
ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!! YOU MUST BE RESPONSIBLE!!!
Examinations:
There will be two exams that are each worth 100 points. The mid term exam will cover chapters
1 through 8 and the final exam will cover chapters 9 – 14. Since you are assigned readings from
the book all topics covered in any of the chapters is fair game for the exams. This means if I skip
over a topic in lecture, or if it does not appear in the lecture notes but is in the textbook, then it is
still your responsibility to know that material. The exams will be given on Blackboard. You
will have 1 hour to complete the exam once you start. After 1 hour, the exam will close and
will be automatically submitted. Thus, you must pace yourself to ensure that you attempt all of
the questions. Since the exams are given on Blackboard they will be open note and taken at your
leisure (We will not meet for class on exam days). The exams will be available on blackboard at
9:00am and will close at 11:59pm on the day of the exam.
Academic Calendar:
Please review the academic calendar for important dates throughout the semester. Available at:
http://catalogue.uncw.edu/content.php?catoid=17&navoid=1088#Fall__2015
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Dates
Week 1:
August 17: No Class
August 19: Introduction
August 21: What is Criminal Justice? (Chapter 1)
Week 2:
August 24: What is Criminal Justice? (Chapter 1)
August 26: The Crime Picture (Chapter 2)
August 28: The Crime Picture (Chapter 2)
Week 3:
August 31: The Search for Causes (Chapter 3)
September 2: The Search for Causes (Chapter 3)
September 4: The Search for Causes (Chapter 3)
Week 4:
September 7: Labor Day – No Class
September 9: Criminal Law (Chapter 4)
September 11: Criminal Law (Chapter 4)
Week 5:
September 14: Police: History and Structure (Chapter 5)
September 16: Police: History and Structure (Chapter 5)
September 18: Police: History and Structure (Chapter 5)
Week 6:
September 21: Police: Purpose and Structure (Chapter 6)
September 23: Police: Purpose and Structure (Chapter 6)
September 25: Police: Purpose and Structure (Chapter 6)
Week 7:
September 28: Police: Legal Aspects (Chapter 7)
September 20: Police: Legal Aspects (Chapter 7)
October 2: Police: Issues and Challenges (Chapter 8)
Week 8:
October 5: Police: Issues and Challenges (Chapter 8)
October 7: Mid-Term Exam Review
October 9: Mid-Term Exam (Due @ 11:59pm)
Week 9:
October 12: No Class – Fall Break
October 14: The Courts: Structure and Participants (Chapter 9)
October 16: The Courts: Structure and Participants (Chapter 9)
Week 10:
October 19: Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial (Chapter 10)
Assignments/Events
Read Chapter 1
Handout: Syllabus
Read Chapter 2
Ch. 1 & 2 Assignments Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 3
Ch. 3 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 4
Ch. 4 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 5
Ch. 5 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 6
Ch. 6 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 7 & 8
Ch. 7 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 8
Ch. 8 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 9
Ch. 9 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 10 & 11
October 21: Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial (Chapter 10)
October 23: Sentencing (Chapter 11)
Week 11:
October 26: Sentencing (Chapter 11)
October 28: Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections (Ch. 12)
October 30: Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections (Ch. 12)
Week 12:
November 2: Prisons and Jails (Chapter 13)
November 4: Prisons and Jails (Chapter 13)
November 6: Prison Life (Chapter 14)
Week 13:
November 9: Juvenile Justice (Chapter 15)
November 11: Juvenile Justice (Chapter 15)
November 13: Juvenile Justice (Chapter 15)
Week 14:
November 16: Catch up Day/Special Topic Day
November 18: No Class – ASC Conference
November 20: No Class – ASC Conference
Week 15:
November 23: Catch up/Special Topic Day
November 25: No Class – Thanksgiving Holiday
November 27: No Class – Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 16:
November 30: Drugs and Crime
December 2: Drugs and Crime
December 7: Final Exam (Due @ 11:59pm)
Ch. 10 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 11 & 12
Ch. 11 & 12 Assignments Due @ 11:59pm
Ch. 13 & 14 Assignments Due @ 11:59pm
Ch. 15 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm
Read Chapter 16
Ch. 16 Assignment Due @ 11:59pm