Houston Community College
CRIJ 1310-Fundamentals of Criminal Law
Spring 2015
Instructor contact information
Instructor:
Joe Wojcik
Office Phone:
832-493-7337
Office:
Office Hours:
By Appointment
N/A
E-mail:
Joseph.Wojcik@hccs.edu
Website:
Course Title:
Fundamentals of Criminal Law
Semester and
Year:
Spring 2015
Class Days &
Times:
TTH 9:30-11:00 am
Class Room:
219
Course
Prefix:
Course
Number:
Credit
Hours:
Lecture
Hours:
N/A
CRIJ
1310
3
48
Course Description
Study of criminal law, its philosophical and historical development, major definitions and concepts,
classifications and elements of crime, penalties using Texas statutes as illustrations, and criminal
responsibility.
Student Learning Outcomes
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Articulate the philosophical and historical development of criminal law.
Analyze the social and political impact of criminalization, decriminalization, and legalization.
Apply statutory definitions, elements of crime, defenses, and penalties.
Explain a United States Supreme Court opinion that interprets a right guaranteed by the United States
Constitution.
Identify and use primary and secondary sources for legal research.
Analyze ethical issues in criminal law.
Identify future trends in criminal law.
Required Material: Criminal Law, 8th edition; Klotter and Pollock; Lexis/Nexus Publishing
Instructor guidelines and policies
Attendance: Please be on time for class. Excessive unexcused absences may affect your final grade. If you plan to miss,
or are unable to attend class, please contact me via email or telephone (text, voicemail, etc.). Students will be given one (1)
point for every class attended. Points will not be given to students who are tardy for class. It is to your benefit that you
regularly attend class. Changes to the course syllabus and/or schedule may occur during the semester. You are responsive
for knowledge of these changes and the effects of the changes.
Assignments: No assignments 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.
Cell phones and other electronic devices in the classroom: Cell phones and other electronic devices,
including laptops, are prohibited in the classroom. If you receive an emergency telephone call, please leave the
room to complete it. Cell phones should be on “vibrate” or silent mode during class, and should not be used as
an “entertainment device”.
Department/Division Contact:
Rudy Hardy-Department Chair
Phone: 713-718-5724
Email: hildreth.hardy@hccs.edu
GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be
determined by the
following
Details
Points
Percent of
Final
Average
Three (3) Examinations
Multiple Choice/Short answer
300
75
Law creation presentation
w/summary
See “Assignments” below
100
25
400
100%
Total:
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
Final Average in Percent
A
360-400
B
320-359
C
280-319
D
240-2799
F
239 and less
Details of assignments Three (3) examinations will be given during the semester. They shall consist of multiple choice and short
answer questions.
 The student shall make a presentation in which they create a law. The student will follow the template
found in the Learning Web. Further details will be discussed in class.
Tentative Instructional Outline: Please be aware that this outline is subject to revision
Week Number
Activities
Objectives
and Assignment
and Details
1
01/20-22
Expectations/Syllabus
Chapter 1
Class Expectations and Review of Syllabus
Defining Crime
Chapter 2
Principles of Criminal Liability
Chapter 3
Capacity and Defenses
Chapter 4
Preparatory Activity Offenses
Chapter 5
Offense Against Persons-Excluding Sex Offenses
Exam #1
On 02/19
Chapter 6
Offenses Against Persons-Sex Related
Chapter 7
Offenses Against Property-Destruction and Intrusion Offenses
Chapter 8
Offenses Involving Theft
Spring Break
No Class
Chapter 9
Forgery and Other Fraud Offenses
Exam #2
On 03/26
Chapter 10
Offenses Involving Morality and Decency
Chapter 11
Offenses against Public Peace
Last day to withdraw, 03/31
2
01/27-29
3
02/03-05
4
02/10-12
5
02/17-19
6
02/24-26
7
03/03-05
8
03/10-12
9
03/17-19
10
03/24-26
11
03/31-04/02
12
04/07-04/09
13
04/08-04/10
Chapter 12
Offense Against Justice Administration
Chapter 13
Theft
Chapter 14
Robbery and Burglary
Chapter 15
Special Topic
White Collar Crime, Cyber Crime, and Commercial Crime
Lecture
14
04/14-16
15
04/21-23
16
04/28-30
17
05/05-07
05/12/15
Final Exam
Academic Integrity
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 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. When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or misrepresentation, disciplinary
action may include but is not limited to: requiring you to retake or resubmit an exam or assignment, assigning a
grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for the course. Additional sanctions
including being withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school may be imposed on a students who
violate the standards of academic integrity.
Student Behavior Expectations
Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately while on HCCS 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/or
online environment, as well as face subsequent criminal charges, as appropriate.
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement
Houston Community College is dedicated to providing the least restrictive environment for all students. We
promote equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by
the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational
activities.
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.
Equal Opportunity Statement
It is the policy of the Houston Community College System to provide equal employment, admission and
educational opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, veteran's status,
sexual orientation, or disability.
HCCS strive to provide an excellent learning environment free from harassment or intimidation directed at any
person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, veteran's status, sexual orientation, or disability. Any
form of harassment will not be tolerated.
Withdrawal Policy
Students who take a course for a 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 other assistance may be available. Also, the state of Texas has
passed a new law (as of Fall 2007) limiting students 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. If you wish to withdraw from this
course, please contact a counselor in Student Services I recommend that you discuss this with me before you
decide, but the decision will be yours. The last day that you can withdraw is 03/31/14. If you do not withdraw
yourself by this date, you will not receive a “W”. No credit will be awarded for a course earning a “W”. If you stop
attending class, you must withdraw at the registration office prior to “W” day. If you stop attending class and do
not officially withdraw, you will receive an “F” for the course.
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 near the end of the term, 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 department chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Go to
www.hccs.edu/egls3 for more information.