Houston Community College
CRIJ 2314: Criminal Investigations
Fall 2013
Instructor Name and Contact Information:
Joe Wojcik
Joseph.Wojcik@HCCS.edu
Cell Phone: 832-493-7337 Office Hours: By appointment only
Semester, Time of Class, Room Number: Meeting Tuesday and Thursday-11:00 am to 12:30 pm, Room 219, Katy
Campus
Student Teacher Conference: By appointment only
Catalog Description:
Study of investigative theory, the collection and preservation of evidence, sources of information, concepts of interviewing
and interrogation, the use of forensic sciences, and trial preparation.
Course Learning Outcomes:

Define the goals and objectives of criminal investigation.

Demonstrate the ability to conduct proper crime scene investigations.

Illustrate the use of forensic science for various statutory offenses.

Organize the criminal case including field notes, reports, crime scene activities, and mandatory documentation
of statutory warnings.
Textbook (Required): Criminal Investigations: Criminal Investigation: An Illustrated Case Study Approach, 1st Ed,
Lasley and Guslos, Pearson
Optional text :
None
Learning Activities:
Instruction will consist of a series of lectures, reading assignments, some internet research, video, guest lecturers and of
course, classroom discussion.
GRADE DETERMINATION:
Points
(if applicable)
Percent of
Final
Average
Multiple choice and short answer
300
43
Three (3) Critical Thinking
Assignments
See “Assignment” section for directions
300
43
Mock Crime Scene
See “Assignment” section for directions
100
14
Your grade will be determined by
the following
Three (3) Examinations
Total:
Details
700
100
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
Final Average in Percent
A
630-700
B
560-629
C
490-559
D
420-489
F
Below 419
Student Achievement
Attendance: Please be on time for class. If you plan to miss, or are unable to attend class, please contact me via email
or telephone (text or voicemail. Failure to do so will result in the docuentationof an unexcused absence. Excessive
absences will affect your final grade. A fifth (5th) absence will decrease your overall grade by ten (10) points, six (6)
absences by twenty (20) points, and seven (7) absences by fifty (50) points. More than seven (7) absences will affect
your grade by one hundred (100) points.
Assignments: Only under extreme circumstances, as defined by the instructor will be accepted via email.
Assignments are due on the dates indicated on the date indicated on this syllabus. Late assignments will be accepted at
the discretion of the instructor. Late assignments will not receive full credit. Late assignments will receive no more than
eighty percent (80%) of its originally assigned value, and must be received no later than the next time class meets.
Assignments received later will receive no more than fifty percent (50%) of its original value.
Details of Assignments (Can also be found on The Learning Web):

Three (3) examinations will be given during the semester. They shall consist of multiple choice and short answer
questions.

Three (3) Critical Thinking Assignments. More details and guidelines will be posted on the Learning Web. Further
details of this assignment will be discussed in class.

Mock Crime Scene. This assignment will be discussed in class.
Make-up Exams: Rescheduling of examinations will be at the Instructor’s discretion. Students must contact the instructor
to reschedule any examinations not completed on the scheduled date.
Cell phones and other electronic devices: During class time, all cell phones and other electronic devices must be
turned off. Cell phone use during class is prohibited. If you are expecting to receive an emergency telephone call,
discuss with the instructor before class. If you receive such a call, please leave the room to complete it. Laptops will not
be allowed without prior discussion and permission of the instructor.
Student Discipline: Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately while on College property or in an online
environment. Students may receive disciplinary action up to and including suspension, if they violate System or College
rules, disrupt classes, or interfere with the opportunity of others to obtain an education. Students who pose a threat to the
safety of others will be subject to immediate withdrawal from the classroom, campus environment, and may result in an
administrative withdrawal without refund, as well as face subsequent criminal charges, as appropriate.
Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services
Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
For questions, contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your college. The Disability Counselor
for HCC-Northwest is Mahnaz Kolaini, 713-718-5422. To visit the ADA Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu, click Future
Students, scroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information.
Withdrawal: Students who take a course for the third time or more must now pay
significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. At HCC it is an additional $50
per credit hour. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your
instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills,
attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available. Also, the state
of Texas has passed a new law limiting new students (as of Fall 2007) to no more than six withdrawals throughout their
academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree.
Due to new HCC policies and state mandates, I will NOT withdraw students for low or no attendance. If you wish to
withdraw from this course, please contact a counselor in Student Services or me. I recommend that you discuss this with
me before you decide, but the decision is yours. The last day that you can withdraw is 11/03/2010, 4:30PM. If you do not
withdraw by this date, you will NOT receive a 'W'.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
If you are caught cheating in any way, on a quiz, a test, a paper, or a project, you will receive an 'F' for the course. I will
follow school policy; I do not negotiate "second chances," period. Please--if you are having trouble of any kind, discuss it
with me. The tiny advantage you would get from cheating is vastly outweighed by the risk you would be taking. I am willing
to help in any way I can, but I will NOT excuse cheating, no matter how much I like you or feel sorry for you.
The Houston Community College is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In
becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort. Failure to
uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on
exams, quizzes or assignments, collusion on an exam or project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites
when registering for a course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally communicating
or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an exam or complete a project or assignment, using
unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam
or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off as his/her own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without
giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism includes submitting a paper, report, or project that someone else
has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is inappropriately collaborating on assignments designed to be completed
independently. These definitions are not exhaustive.
SCANS Competencies
This course will promote reading comprehension, critical analysis and learning how to learn.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and
learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related
to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs for
continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System
online near the end of the term.
Tentative Instructional Outline:
Activities
and Assignment
1st Meeting/Syllabus/Class Expectations
1
8/27-29
2
Objectives
and Details
Chapter 1
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION: THEN AND NOW
Chapter 2
INVESTIGATORS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE LAW
Chapter 3
THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING CRIME
Chapter 4
IDENTIFYING, COLLECTING, AND PRESERVING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Chapter 5
INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWING AND INTERROGATION
9/3-5
3
9/10-12
4
9/17-19
5
Exam Review/Exam #1, Critical Thinking #1 due
9/24-26
6
Chapter 6
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WRITING
10/1-3
7
Chapter 7
DEVELOPING INVESTIGATIVE LEADS AND INTELLIGENCE
Chapter 8
INVESTIGATION AND THE FORENSIC SCIENCES
Chapter 9
HOMICIDE AND WOUNDING SCENES
10/8-10
8
10/15-17
9
10/22-24
10
10/29-31
Chapter 10/11
SEXUAL ASSAULT SCENES/ GANG CRIME SCENES
Chapter 12/13
ROBBERY SCENES/BURGLARY SCENES
11
11/05-07
Exam Review/Exam #2, Critical Thinking #2 due
12
Chapter 14
LARCENY-THEFT SCENES
Chapter 15
VEHICLE THEFT SCENES
Chapter 17
ARSON AND EXPLOSIVE SCENES
11/12-14
13
11/19-21
14
11/26
15
Chapter 16/20
DRUG CRIME SCENES/FROM THE CRIME SCENE TO THE COURTROOM
12/3-5
12/10
FINAL EXAM W EEK
Final Examination Week, 12/10, 11:00 am
All Assignments Due 12/10
Other Student Information: student clubs, tutoring (in person, in libraries, computer programs, and online), labs, web
resources, student services, service learning, scholarships and other opportunities, etc.
HCC Core Curriculum: Check with your chair to see whether this statement or a similar one is required.
“For information regarding HCC’s Core Curriculum, see p. 46 of the HCC Catalog. For information about HCC’s Social
Sciences Exemplary Educational Objectives, see p. 59-60 of the HCC Catalog.”