CCJ 3032 SYLLABUS
CRIME AND THE MEDIA
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Crime and the Media
CCJ 3032
Sat & Sun 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fall, 2012
3 Credit Hours
708715
9210
Instructor Information:
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Dr. Caryn Horwitz, Assistant Professor
School of Justice
Office: 9114
Office Hours: MW: 7:00 AM – 8:10 AM, 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Office Hours: Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4: 10 PM
Office Hours: Also Available by Appointment
Phone: 305-237-1731
Email: chorwitz@mdc.edu
Course Description:
This course offers an examination of the inter-relationship among the mass media, crime and
criminal justice. We will analyze the media and the social construction of crime and criminal
justice; media effects on attitudes toward crime and justice; media as a cause of crime; and media
as the preventer of crime. Prerequisite: SYG 2000
Textbook:
Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice, 2nd Edition
Author: Ray Surette
Publisher: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning
ISBN: 978-0-495-80914-2
Class Requirements
Assignments: You will be required to take one essay exam. Additionally, you will be required to
participate in one group presentation based on a research topic approved by your professor. You
will also be required to write two 1000 word papers based on media observations and film viewing
you will be making in the next few weeks. Details of these 3 assignments will be discussed in
class. You will be expected to participate in all class discussions. We will discuss presentations
and writing requirements in class.
Late Assignment Policy: No late presentations can be done nor will late papers be accepted.
Grading Scale and Policy: You can earn up to 500 points in this class.
Exam ========================================== 150 Points
Group Presentation ================================= 150 Points
1000 Word Paper ================================== 100 Points
1000 Word Paper ================================== 100 Points
Class Attendance and Participation is expected. Because we only meet for a total of 6 days
during this accelerated course, it is imperative that you make every effort to come to class. If you
are absent for 2 or more sessions, this may lower your grade.
A ====== 440 or Above Points
B ====== 390 – 439 Points
C ====== 340 – 389 Points
D ====== 290 – 339 Points
F ====== 289 or Below Points
Make-up Exam Policy: No make-up exams will be offered.
Class Policies and Methodology
Attendance: Attendance will be taken at each class meeting and is expected of each of you. See
above.
Electronic Device Use: Please refrain from using any electronic device during class. If you must
make an emergency call, please step out of the classroom. If I need to continue to ask you to put
away your cell phone, this may lower your grade.
Email Policy: Copies of papers and presentations need to be printed and turned into professor.
You may email the professor for specific questions that cannot be handled before and/or after
class.
Equipment and Supplies: No special supplies and/or equipment to buy except for the textbook
used for our class. See above.
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Professor’s Expectations: You will be expected to take a key role in your learning experience.
You will read the textbook, attend class, participate in discussions, do your in-class presentation,
write your papers, and take the essay exam. The exam will be based on class
discussions/lectures and your reading assignments. If you miss class, please get information
about covered material from one of your colleagues in the class. Please do not write to me and
ask me “Did I miss anything?” Assume you missed something!
Methods of Instruction: Lectures and Discussions based on textbook and class participation.
Unique Requirements of the Class: Your active participation in your learning experience by
sharing in class discussions and bringing current newsworthy issues into class.
Class Outline and Assignments: See below for reading assignments, dates for exams, and
dates for papers due.
College Policies:
ATTENDANCE REPORTING: Federal guidelines require that the faculty now report student
attendance. Students who have never attended class will be withdrawn prior to the withdrawal
date. If a student has attended class and wants to withdraw, they should do so before the
withdrawal deadline. If you have attended class but do not complete any assignments and then
stop attending, you will receive a grade of F. If you complete an assignment and stop attending,
you will receive a grade of F.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: You are expected to do your own work. Cheating WILL NOT be
tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, collaboration on exams or quizzes and plagiarized
papers. The first incidence will result in a grade of zero for the assignment. A second occurrence
will result in a failing grade for the class, removal from the class and possible additional sanctions
as determined by the Dean of Students.
CLASS OUTLINE
Week 1 – Week of October 27
Saturday Morning
General Discussion: What have you learned about crime from the media?
Saturday Afternoon
Some Interesting Videos and Group Work
Sunday Morning
Predators, Pictures, and Policy
Read Text, Chapter 1
Sunday Afternoon
Social Constructionism
Read Text, Chapter 2
Movie Time: Viewers Choice
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Week 2 – Week of November 3
Saturday Morning --- Paper 1 Due
Crime and Criminality
Read Text, Chapter 3
Saturday Afternoon
Crime Fighters
Read Text, Chapter 4
Sunday Morning
The Courts
Read Text, Chapter 5
Sunday Afternoon
Corrections
Read Text, Chapter 6
TV Time: Viewers Choice
Week 3 – Week of November 10 (Exact Dates to be Finalized in Class)
Saturday Morning --- Paper 2 Due
Crime Control
Read Text, Chapter 7
Group Presentations
Saturday Afternoon
Media and Criminal Justice Policy
Read Text, Chapter 8
Group Presentations
Sunday Morning
Media and Crime and Justice in the 21st Century
Read Text, Chapter 9
Final Thoughts
Sunday Afternoon
Essay Exam
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Course Competencies:
Competency 1: The student will be introduced to the concepts of the social construction of crime
and justice via media by:
a. comparing Stanford Lyman and Thomas Luckman’s concept on media’s role in the social
construction of reality
b. comparing Stanford Lyman and Marvin Scott’s concepts on sociology of the absurd
c. describing Stanford Lyman’s perspective
d. reviewing Marvin Scott’s sociological views
Competency 2: The student will review crime and justice content in the news and entertainment
media by:
a. examining how perpetrators are portrayed in the movies that involve crime
b. analyzing how victims and witnesses are characterized in the movies that involve crime
c. discussing how public attitudes toward crime are shaped
d. assessing society’s attitudes towards crime
Competency 3: The student will review possible effects news media may have on the processing
of criminal cases by:
a. discussing the high profile cases
b. analyzing the media’s reporting of high profile cases
c.
researchingthepublic’sattitudetowardhighprofilecasesandcriminals
Competency 4: The student will analyze the media's influence on the level of violence and crime in
society by:
a. defining media causal mechanism b. discussing copy cat syndrome
c. reviewing the media’s influence on high profile cases and its role in preventing or encouraging
repeat incidents
Competency 5: The student will analyze the media's influence on public attitudes and perceptions
of crime and criminality by:
a. defining crime and criminality
b. distinguishing between fact and opinion
c. identifying
stereotypes and myths
d. understanding the development of imagery
Competency 6: The student will relate media to criminological theory by:
a. defining criminological theory
b. examining genetic explanations resulting in the labeling of
criminals c. analyzing examples within the film industry
d. investigating family victimization by the
media
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Competency 7: The student will analyze psychological theory by:
a. reviewing psychological theories
b. analyzing examples within the film industry
c. describing
the use of popular media as a basis for the defense
Competency 8: The student will evaluate the role of the media in relation to social- environmental
theories by:
a. analyzing movies and documentaries c. exploring poverty’s role in crime
d. defining
“underclass”
Competency 9: The student will examine how the criminal justice system is depicted by the media
by:
a. analyzing pre-selected documentaries and docudramas involving crime
b. analyzing the popularity of the “crime” television shows
c. comparing dramas to documentaries
d. debating the interrelationship between the First amendment and the media in the courtroom
Student Learning Outcomes:
The School of Justice, Academic Programs will focus on the following Student Centered Learning
Outcomes as a measure of student and program success:
1.
DATA
a. Examine the various types of data in criminal justice research and how the media
uses the data. Learn how to analyze data pertaining to specific criminal justice
issues and compare how the media discusses the data.
2.
CULTURE
a. Create strategies to research various types of media and how criminal justice issues
are discussed in relationship to specific groups over and/or under represented in the
criminal justice system.
3.
ETHICS
a. Create strategies to deal with various ethical issues in analyzing crime and its
relationship with media
4.
COMMUNICATION
a. Learning how to best communicate the results of our research.
5.
LOGICAL REASONING
a. Use logical reasoning in deciding specific important issues to investigate and
analyzing our findings.
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