CJUS 101 – Understanding the Criminal Justice System
Course Syllabus
Ron Bradbury, Instructor / e-mail: rbradbur@ghc.ctc.edu
Office Hours: 7:30 – 8:30 AM / 1:00 to 2:00 PM
Room 2122 / Phone: 538-4143
Course Outcomes_____________________________________________________________________________________
“Understanding the Criminal Justice System” will provide each student with an overview and understanding of the processes
and interactions that occur between the police, courts, and correctional services, and the impact they have on our lives. The
Justice process will be followed from commission of a crime until final release or execution of the accused. Each and every
component of the criminal justice system will be explored: the police – their power, its use and abuse; the courts – do they
really look for guilt or innocence; corrections – providing for the safety of inmates and safety of the public; and finally, the
community – what is the public’s reaction to justice in America today?
Recommended Preparation____________________________________________________________________________
ENGL 095 or placement in ENGL 101.
Learning Outcomes__________________________________________________________________________________
The learning objectives for this course are to develop skills in critical thinking and improve student performance in
understanding the criminal justice system.
Course Resources_____________________________________________________________________________________
Textbook:: “Elements of Criminal Justice” by James Inciardi
handouts / guest speaker / field trip
Disabilities__________________________________________________________________________________________
Students who have documented disabilities that require accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act should contact the Disability Support Services coordinator as well as the instructor of the course in order to ensure that
together we create an optimal environment for educational achievement.
Course Outline_______________________________________________________________________________________
Mon, 9/21
Introduction and review of course requirements
Tue,
9/22
The Rediscovery of Criminal Justice in America
Wed, 9/23
Chapter 1: Crime and the Nature of Law
Thu,
9/24
The Classification of Crime
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
9/28
9/29
9/30
10/1
Chapter 2: The Legal and Behavioral Aspects of Crime
Crimes against Person
Crimes against Property
Victimless Crimes – test review
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
10/5
10/6
10/7
10/8
Test No. 1
Chapter 3: Criminal Statistics and the Measurement of Crime
Crime in Washington State
Crime in Grays Harbor County
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
10/12
10/13
10/14
10/15
Chapter 4: Criminal Justice and Procedures – An Overview
Criminal Justice as a System
Enforcing the law
Keeping the Peace – test review
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
10/19
10/20
10/21
10/22
Test No. 2
Chapter 5: Police and Policing
Organization of Policing
Chapter 6: Police and the Constitution
Page 2
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
10/26
10/27
10/28
10/29
The Continuum of Force
Chapter 7: Police Misconduct
“War on the Streets”
Police Theft and Brutality - test review
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
11/2
11/3
11/4
11/5
Test No. 3
Chapter 8: The American Courts and the Right to Counsel
Judges, Prosecutors, and Others at the Bar of Justice
Chapter 9: The Court Process: From First Appearance through Tria1
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
11/9
11/10
11/11
11/12
Chapter 10: Sentencing, Appellate Review, and the Penalty of Death
Appellate Process
Veteran’s Day Holiday
Methods of Execution – test review
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
11/16
11/17
11/18
11/19
Test No. 4
Chapter 11: The American Prison Experience
Locked Away
Chapter 12: Behind the Walls – A Look Inside the American Penitentiary
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
11/23
11/24
11/25
11/26
Chapter 13: The Conditions of Incarceration and the Constitutional Rights of Prisoners
Rehabilitation
Chapter 14: Community-Based Corrections
Thanksgiving Holiday
Mon,
Tue,
Wed,
Thu,
11/30
12/1
12/2
12/3
Chapter 14: Community-Based Corrections
Half-Way Houses
Chapter 15: The Juvenile Justice System
Crimes by Juveniles – test review
Mon,
12/7
Test No. 5
Course Requirements__________________________________________________________________________________
Testing
-
5 exams will be given consisting of 60 multiple choice questions worth 2 points
each / students will select any 50 questions to answer. The lowest test score of
the first 4 will be discarded
400 points
Attendance
-
students will receive 2 pts per class session for attendance.
100 points
*
a student who leaves class without prior approval will lose their points for the day
** a student will lose 5 points if: cell phone goes off / seen text messaging / sleeping in class (head on desk)
*** a student with cell phone out during a test will receive an “F” for a test grade
**** all make-up exams will be five short-essay questions
Grading_____________________________________________________________________________________________
A+
485 – 500
B+
434 – 450
C+
381 – 400
D+
316 - 340
A
468 – 484
B
416 – 433
C
361 – 380
D
291 – 315
A451 – 467
B401 – 415
C341 – 360