Course Syllabus
CJ 1301 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
Fall 2013
Course Days and Times: Tues/Thurs 5:30pm– 7:00pm
Houston Community College Northwest – Alief Campus
2811 Hayes Road
Houston, Texas 77082
Ph#. 713-718-6870
Instructor: Stedmen Jahmar Young, MCJ
Cell Phone#: 713-320-6201 Office#: 713-302-4754 Office Hours: Appointment Only
Email: Stedmen.Young@yahoo.com
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Masters of Arts (Criminal Justice) Boston University
Bachelor of Science (Administration of Justice) Texas Southern University
Textbook: (NOTE) the textbook listed below is REQUIRED and will be used
throughout the course: Schmalleger, F. (2011/12). Criminal Justice: A Brief
Introduction (8th or 9th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Course Description: The course will provide an introduction to the many elements and
aspects of the Criminal Justice system with a focus on measuring and explaining crime,
criminal law, policing organizations, policing strategies, and the courts quest for: justice,
prisons, jails, and the life on an inmate. There will be brief glance into the Juvenile
Justice System and Cyber crimes.
Students will also learn:
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Theories of crime causation; the role of law enforcement, courts, corrections, and
the community in the Criminal Justice System.
How to recite facts, statutes, and Court decisions.
(By reviewing research and evidence) How to make evidence based decisions in
the context of prevention, detection, intervention, treatment, and sanctioning of
perpetrators.
To examine Local and National ethical issues in the Criminal Justice System
Methodology: The course will be taught primarily through lecture and discussions,
supplemented with assignment and quizzes/test. Case studies, small group activities,
audio-visual media, in class exercises and handout materials will enhancement the course
lectures and discussions. Student participation will be utilized to teach the course
materials through question answered exercises, independent/group writing and research
activities and classroom presentations.
Attendance: Attendance in class is MANDATORY. Students who are absent more
than (4) class meetings may be dropped from the Course/Class. The Houston
Community College System attendance policy will be enforced and grade incentive will
be rewarded to those who attend class regularly. Many activities will require Students
active participation and involvement and these points cannot be awarded if Students are
not present in class. Students who are absent for these activities will not have the
opportunity to make up these points. Tests, quizzes, writing assignments, and such may
be up according to HCC policy guidelines. It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to
determine what work was missed, to obtain lecture notes from other students in the class,
and to schedule a time before or after class for makeup tests/quizzes. Students start off
with 30 point grade average in the class and for each missed class 5 points will be
deducted. Therefore to maintain 30 points each student must attend class as well as
satisfactory complete each course assignment and follow the class participation guide
given below.
Grading Policy: Grades will be based on the percentage of points you earn from Tests,
Quizzes, Essays, Worksheets, Class assignments, Creative assignments, Attendance, and
Major individual/group projects. Every assignment is worth a set amount of points. After
all scores are totaled, I will use the following scaling system:
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450 - 500 = A
400 - 449 = B
350 - 399 = C
300 - 349 = D
Below 299 = F
Student Grade will be based on following assignments:
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Class Participation (30 points): In-class assignments, Homework, Attendance*
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2 – 4 page Essay (70 points): On Ethics in the Criminal Justice System*
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5 Page Term Paper and Power Point (100 points / 50 points): Paper and Power
Point on a current Criminal Justice problem facing the United States (Illegal drugs,
gangs, rape, Domestic violence, racial profiling, Laws, Court rulings, etc.)*
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Ride along with Law enforcement officer or 1 Court Attendance (50 Points)*
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Midterm Exam – Final Exam (100 points each)*
*Failure to complete any of these assignments in a timely manner will result in a
failing grade.
Classroom Behavior: The study of Criminal Justice involves many controversial issues
and theories. Critical Thinking and analytical reasoning are necessary to gain a
systematic understanding of this subject and to make class discussions interesting.
Thoughts and opinions will be varied and diverse. To encourage and foster open forum
discussions, all students are expected to respect their fellow classmates and the Instructor,
and expect the same respect in return from fellow classmates and Instructor. Due to the
controversial nature of certain topics discussed in the duration of this course, opinions
and comments made by other students may differ from your own analyses or point of
view (this is normal). Discussing and debating issues is essential to the understanding of
crime and delinquency. However, there are acceptable ways to express your thoughts and
opinions. The guiding principle is to attack the issue, not the student. Derogatory
comments to or about other students or Instructor will NOT BE TOLERATED. If such
comments are uttered in the classroom, you will be subjected to reprimand and/or
removed from the classroom.
Academic Honesty Violation: The Penalty for an Academic Honesty Violation on a
significant course requirement such as a term paper/project/quiz/ or Examination shall be
a “0” for the work. The penalty for a second violation will result in an “F” for the course.
Plagiarism in any form or degree is strictly forbidden. Any work submitted that is
plagiarized in whole or in part will be rejected by the Instructor in its entirety. The
student will at the point will be barred from performing any type of extra credit or makeup work to bring up his or her cumulative grade for the course.
Students with Disabilities: Houston Community College will make reasonable
accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should notify
Disabled Student Services and secondly their Instructor of any special needs. Instructors
should be made aware of any student’s special needs within the first week of class or
upon becoming aware that a disability may exist, whichever comes first.
It is the policy of Houston Community College System that there will be no
discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color sex, martial status,
religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability in any educational
programs, activities, or employment.
Class Participation: Assignments may be individual or group. The student will have
several graded in-class assignments, which cannot be made up in the event you were
absent. Assignments are due on the due date in order to be worth full credit. Late
assignments will be valued as follows:
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1 day late – 75%
2 day late – 50%
More than 2 days late – Will result in “0”
Each student will be evaluated on both the quality and the quantity of their classroom
participation. What constitutes class participation is described in detail listed below:
 Attends class
 In class on time/No early departure
 Prepared
 Partakes in classroom discussions by contributing thoughtful and responsive input
 Takes assignments seriously
 Turns in quality work
 Turns in work in a timely manner
 Follows directions in all work
 Respects classmates and Instructor in discussion based topics
 Accepts critique in a mature and constructive manner
 Is attentive and does not disturb the classroom/Instructor during class
(i.e. Technology)
 Is Articulate, Both orally and verbally
 Contributes to Group efforts by focusing on task(s) and contributing to the
Assignment in which is given.