Heartland Community College
Division for Health & Human Services
Course Syllabus for Students
Course Prefix and Number: CRJ 206-02
Course Title: Criminal Investigations
Prerequisite: CRJ 101, or consent of instructor.
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory Hours: 0
Days and times the course meets: Spring, 2008. Tuesday 6:00 to 8:50 pm in room 2702 ICB.
Introduction: This course is an introduction to the principles and procedures associated with
criminal investigations. The various field and laboratory techniques used in developing,
collecting and preserving evidence will be examined. Recent developments of new technology
employed by investigators will be explored. Legal requirements required in the processing of
evidence are discussed.
Catalog Description: Criminal Investigations analyzes the practice of crime scene search,
recording, collection and preservation of physical evidence. Topics include scientific aids, modus
operandi, interviews and interrogation, as well as sources of information. The course includes
techniques appropriate for specified crimes, and follow-up techniques.
Instructor Information:
Instructor name: Dr. Charles A. Brawner III, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Phone number to contact instructor: (309) 268-8757
Instructor e-mail address: chuck.brawner@heartland.edu
Location of instructor’s office: Room 2824 ICB
Hours and days of instructor’s office hours:
Monday: 10:30 to 11:00 –and-12:15 to 1:15 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 9:30 am –and- 12:15 to 1:30 pm
Wednesday: 12:15 to 1:30 pm
Thursday: 9:00 to 9:30 am
Please be encouraged to discuss other optional times by appointment.
Textbook: Becker, R.F. (2005). Criminal Investigations (2nd ed.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett
Publishers.
Relationship to Academic Development Programs and Transfer:
CRJ 206 fulfills 3 semester hours of elective credit for the A.A., A.S. or A.A.S. degrees. It
should transfer to most colleges and universities as an elective course. However, since CRJ 206
it is not part of the General Education Core Curriculum described in the Illinois Articulation
Initiative, students should check with an academic advisor for information about its
transferability to other institutions.
Course Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
Upon completion of this course, students will:
1. Become familiar with the basic procedures and techniques used by the criminal investigator.
2. Attain experience in analyzing sample evidence, through a hands-on training approach.
3. Acquire a better understanding of the analytical skills necessary to examine physical evidence.
4. Acquire knowledge of how specific crime scenes are processed.
5. Increase their knowledge of the many occupations that employ investigators; both public and
private.
Course/Lab Outlines:
I.
A. History of Criminal Investigations
B. Physical Evidence
C. The Crime Scene
D. Law of Search & Seizure
E. Suspect Identification
II.
A.
B.
C.
D.
MCI
Interrogation
Death Investigation
Sexual Assault
III.
A. Robbery
B. Theft
C. Burglary
D. Arson
E. Terrorism
F. White-Collar Crime
Course Policies:
Method of Evaluation (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Your course grade will be determined through the following assignments:
1) There will be three (3) regularly scheduled examinations, each worth 100 points, for a total
300 points.
2) Course notebook. During the semester you will be assigned various projects regarding
investigative cases, techniques, practices and technologies. At the end of the semester you will
submit the projects in a notebook for points. The point value for the notebook will be 50 points.
Grading Policy:
315 to 350 points = 90% - 100% A
280 to 314 points = 80% - 89% B
245 to 279 points = 70% - 79% C
210 to 244 points = 60% - 69% D
0 to 209 points = 59% or less F
Participation (or Attendance):
Please note you must be present for each activity, as class size, weather, locations, and number of
activities will not allow for make-up assignments on an individual basis. Students are expected to
attend all classes and participate meaningfully in the lab activities.
Exams: Should you miss or be unable to attend a scheduled exam, you will have the opportunity
to replace those missed points by taking the optional comprehensive exam at the end of the
semester. I will release the scores and answers for each exam at the next class session following
the exam. Once I release the scores and answers absolutely no opportunity for a make-up exam
on that material will be feasible. Please do not ask for a make-up exam, after the results of the
exam have been released to the class.
Extra Credit: There is absolutely no provision for additional credit.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all classes and participate meaningfully in the activities
each class day. Students are expected to be seated on a timely basis. The attendance policy for
this course will follow the same guidelines as found on page 192 of the 2006-2008 Heartland
Community College Catalog.
Incompletes:
The course policy for an incomplete will follow the same language found on page 177 of the
2006-2008 Catalog and Student Handbook.
Student Conduct:
I have a zero tolerance policy for classroom disruptions. I ask for your cooperation in making
this an optimal learning environment for everyone. Therefore, please adhere to these
expectations:
1) There is to be no talking between yourself and another student, unless I have opened a
topic for general discussion among the entire class.
2) Speak politely and courteously toward each other. Be considerate of other’s opinions.
3) Do not bring cell phones, pagers, recording devices, nor children into my classroom.
If present, I will ask that you remove them.
Any student misconduct will be handled consistently with the language found on page 175 of the
2006-2008 Catalog and Student Handbook.
Deadlines: See course calendar
Required Writing and Reading:
Required reading includes the class textbook and additional readings assigned in class, as well as
keeping a notebook of classroom activities.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a fundamental principle of collegial life at Heartland Community College
and is essential to the credibility of the College’s educational programs. Moreover, because
grading may be competitive, students who misrepresent their academic work violate the right of
their fellow students. The College, therefore, views any act of academic dishonest as a serious
offense requiring disciplinary measures, including course failure, suspension, and even expulsion
from the College. In addition, an act of academic dishonesty may have unforeseen effects far
beyond any officially imposed penalties.
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to cheating, aiding or
suborning cheating or other acts of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, misrepresentation of data,
falsification of academic records or documents and unauthorized access to computerized
academic or administrative records or systems. Definitions of these violations may be found in
the college catalog.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presenting of others’ ideas as if they were your own. When you write a paper,
create a project, do a presentation or create anything original, it is assumed that all the work,
except for that which is attributed to another author or creator, is your own. Plagiarism is
considered a serious academic offense and may take the following forms:
1
Copying word-for-word from another source and not giving that source credit.
2
Paraphrasing the work of another and not giving that source credit.
3
Adopting a particularly apt phrase as your own.
4
Using an image or a copy of an image without crediting its source.
5
Paraphrasing someone else’s line of thinking in the development of a topic as if it
were your own.
6
Receiving excessive help from a friend or elsewhere, or using another project as
if it were your own.
Note that word-for-word copying is not the only form of plagiarism.
The penalties for plagiarism may be severe, ranging from failure on the particular piece
of work, failure in the course or expulsion from school in extreme cases.
[Adapted from the Modern Language Association’s MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers. New York: MLA, 1995: 26]
Academic Support Center Services:
HCC Portal
Just a reminder that to access WebCT, IRIS, and your Heartland Student Email, you will
need to log into myHeartland, at https://my.heartland.edu.
Library
The Library, located in the Student Commons Buildings at the Raab Road campus,
provides Heartland students with a full range of resources including books, online journal
databases, videos, newspapers, periodicals, reserves, and interlibrary loan. Librarians are
available to assist in locating information. For more information, please call the Library
(309) 268-8200 or (309) 268-8292
Tutoring Services
Heartland Community College offers tutoring in various forms at no cost to Heartland
students at the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal and at the Pontiac and Lincoln
Centers. Tutors are available at convenient times throughout the week. Study groups are
also available by request. For more information about services available at each location,
please call the Tutoring and Testing Center in Normal (309) at 268-8231, the Pontiac
Center at (815) 842-6777, or the Lincoln Center at (217) 735-1731.
Testing Services
The Tutoring and Testing Center provides a secure testing environment for students who
are enrolled in online, hybrid, and other distance learning courses; have a documented
disability; or need to take a make-up exam. Testing accommodations for students having
documented disabilities must be arranged by the student through the Office of Disability
Services, and Testing Services will only administer make-up exams at the request of the
instructor. Contact Testing Services at (309) 268-8231 for more information.
Open Computing Lab
The Open Computing Lab provides free computing for HCC students at convenient times
throughout the week. The computer lab is staffed by trained Lab Assistants and offers
the use of approximately 70 computers, a scanner, a laser printer, and an electric
typewriter.
Notice of Canceled Class Sessions:
Cancelled class sessions, for all HCC classes, will be listed under Cancelled Class Meetings in
the A-Z Index and under Academic Information in the Current Students page on the HCC Web
site. Go to http://www.heartland.edu/classCancellations/ to learn what classes have been
cancelled for that day and the upcoming week. Be sure to check the last column, which might
contain a message from the instructor.
Syllabi disclaimer:
This syllabus is a tentative schedule of readings and exam dates. The instructor reserves the right
to change dates to accommodate any and all lab activities, as well as additional topics, guest
speakers, weather or unforeseen scheduling conflicts.
Course Calendar:
Date
Assignment
Tuesday Jan. 15th
Course introduction. Syllabus and Text review.
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Investigations
Tuesday Jan. 22nd
Chapter 1: Introduction to Criminal Investigations
Tuesday Jan. 29th
Chapter 3: The Crime Scene
Tuesday Feb. 5th
Chapter 4: The Law of Search & Seizure
Tuesday Feb. 12th
Chapter 6: Suspect Identification
Review for Exam #1 on Wednesday
Tuesday Feb. 19th
Take Exam #1
Tuesday Feb. 26th
Chapter 7: Managing Criminal Investigations
Tuesday March 4th
Chapter 8: Interrogation
Tuesday March 18th
Chapter 10: Death Investigation
Tuesday March 26th
Chapter 13: Sexual Assault
Tuesday April 1st
Take Exam #2
Tuesday April 8th
Chapter 12: Robbery
Chapter 14: Theft & Burglary
Tuesday April 15th
Chapter 16: Arson
Tuesday April 22nd
Chapter 17: Terrorism
Tuesday April 29th
Chapter 19: White-collar Crime
Tuesday May 6th
Submit course work notebooks tonight.
Take Exam # 3
Tuesday May 13th
Return exam #3