CRIMINOLOGY 425
Criminal Justice Management
Fall, 2015
Thursdays, 4:30 - 7:10 p.m.
Thompson 1017
Professor Laurie O. Robinson
Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Criminology, Law and Society
George Mason University
Office:
214 East Building
Phone:
(703) 993-2162
Email:
lrobin17@gmu.edu
Office Hours:
Thursdays 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Or by appointment
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Course Description and Goals
In this seminar we will explore both conceptual and practical aspects of criminal justice
management and administration through a broad examination of challenges that face
managers at multiple levels in criminal justice organizations -- from front line supervisors to
higher levels of leadership.
As part of the course, students will complete a semester-long research project and summarize
findings in a PowerPoint presentation at the semester's final class.
This course can help students in:
 understanding both practical aspects and theoretical underpinnings of criminal justice
management and leadership -- and how organizations can be more effectively
administered;
 having insights into key concepts like leadership, motivating and managing people, and
organizational culture and effectiveness;
 conducting research, analyzing and synthesizing information, and making public
presentations on your findings; and
 developing practical knowledge about working in organizations that can help you in a
future (or current) career in criminal justice.
Class Sessions
Student participation will be an important part of every class. For that reason, I expect
students to attend each class and regularly engage in discussion about the reading.
Attendance and active class participation constitute 20% of your grade.
In September, I will hold individual sessions with you about the research topic you’ve selected
and the approach you'll take in pursuing it. We’ll also devote time in class to updates on your
research projects. In addition, guest speakers from government service – at federal, state and
local levels - will join us for several classes to share their own perspectives on criminal justice
management.
In the final class, you’ll be center stage, sharing the central findings from your research
projects through your PowerPoint presentations.
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Electronic Devices:
No computers are allowed in class except by special permission for those with disabilities.
Please take notes with pen and paper. The class will also be a “no texting” zone.
Course Requirements:
1. Students will work on a 1500 to 2000-word research paper throughout the semester due
on Dec. 10. For your paper, you will describe a criminal justice manager (e.g., a small town
police chief, a prison warden) and discuss a management problem that he/she is facing.
(You can be creative in making up an interesting set of facts.) Management problems could
include such topics as: Recruiting a diverse workforce for a rural prison; improving
employee morale in an agency facing budget cuts; encouraging probation officers to adopt
a new research-based initiative; addressing corruption in a state police agency; helping
revamp a court's personnel evaluation system to include new performance measures for
problem-solving courts. In writing the paper, you are serving as a knowledgeable
consultant, providing both research-based and practical guidance to the manager. You
should conduct a literature review to find what has been written on your topic, using at
least 3 academic sources and, if appropriate, government/ non-academic reports. Discuss
the research and its implications for the agency. Offer your own analysis and recommendations on how the issue could be handled. Pay close attention to polished writing, spelling/
punctuation/grammar. Use the APA citation style. List all sources in a bibliography.
NOTE: This research paper is intended – reflecting the course – to focus on a
management topic, not a pure policy question (as you might address in other classes).
Example: A policy paper might explore whether a police department should adopt “hot
spots” policing. A management paper would explore how a chief works with the union to
encourage adoption of “hot spots” policing and overcome resistance to implementation.
2. One short paper (500 words) is also required, in which you’ll describe the topic you’ve
chosen for your research paper (due Sept. 17), as well as a mid-semester progress report
on your research (due Oct. 29) and a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation summarizing your
research findings (to be presented Dec. 10).
3. Team presentation on assigned reading: In the first class, students will be divided into six
teams. Each team will be responsible for handling a brief (10 to 12 minute) presentation on
assigned extra reading (an assigned article in the syllabus in addition to a week’s textbook
chapter). Your team will be asked to (1) describe key ideas from the article and (2) raise at
least 2 questions or issues for discussion by your classmates concerning the material.
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4. Active class participation will constitute part of your grade, as noted. You are expected to
come to class prepared, having read the assigned material and being willing to discuss it.
You should also review any study questions on Blackboard. There are several ways you will
be held accountable for the reading, including exercises that require you to apply the
lessons of the reading in both class and small group discussions – and in exchanges and
questioning of guest speakers.
5. Five in-class quizzes are scheduled over the semester (shown on the Schedule of Classes in
this syllabus). Because your lowest quiz score will be dropped, no make-up quizzes will be
scheduled. The quizzes will be completed at the beginning of class and will cover material
from the previous class, as well as material assigned for that day’s class. Anyone coming to
class only to take the quiz and then leaving will not be able to receive credit.
6. Regular attendance in class is expected because of the importance of class participation –
and the courtesy we want to extend to our guest speakers. If you anticipate having to miss
class, it’s your responsibility to email me in advance (lrobin17@gmu.edu). Unexcused
absences will impact final grades.
7. Good writing skills are important for this class. If you need to improve your writing, I
strongly encourage you to seek help from the University Writing Center early in the
semester since poor writing, grammar or punctuation will affect your grade. Go to:
http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/
Course Evaluation/Grading:
30% - Final research paper (1500 to 2000 words) (You will be evaluated on your following
the guidance on pg. 3 in this syllabus; how you handle the research; your analysis
of the management issues; the paper’s structure; and quality of the writing.)
20% - Quizzes
20% - Active class participation and attendance
20% - Short paper, progress report, team presentation
10% - PowerPoint presentation
Grading scale:
94-100%
A
90-93%
A87-89%
B+
84-86%
B
80-83%
B-
77-79%
74-76%
70-73%
60-69%
Below 60
C+
C
CD
F
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Exam Policy:
There is no exam in this course.
Required Reading:
Students in this seminar will be reading the two books listed below, as well as articles
referenced in the syllabus and other material posted on Blackboard or for which Web links are
provided in the syllabus. Here are the required texts:
 Stojkovic, Stan, David Kalinich and John Klofas. (2015). Criminal Justice Organizations:
Administration and Management, 6th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. This is our
primary text for the semester.
 Strunk, Jr., William and E.B. White. (2000). The Elements of Style, 4th Edition. Boston,
MA: Allyn & Bacon. This is a compact guide to good writing, originally published in
1919. Written communication skills are a key ingredient in your professional success, as
well as success in this course.
Students with Disabilities:
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodation, please see me
and contact the Disability Resource Center at 703-993-2474. All academic accommodations
must be arranged through that office.
Academic Integrity:
As you know, GMU has an Honor Code that requires all students to pledge not to cheat,
plagiarize, steal or lie in matters related to academic work. Your work needs to be solely your
product. You can’t rely on projects, papers, or other work previously prepared by another
student, and no paper or work of any type submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
of another course may be used a second time to satisfy a requirement here. No assistance is
to be obtained from commercial organizations which sell or lease research help or written
papers. With respect to all written work, proper footnotes and attribution are required. All
violations of the Honor Code will be reported to the Honor Committee. Further information
can be found at http://oai.gmu.edu/the-mason-honor-code-2/
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Enrollment:
Students are responsible for verifying their enrollment in the class. Schedule adjustments
should be made by deadlines published in the Schedule of Classes. Last day to add classes is
Tues., Sept. 8; last day to drop classes is Fri., Oct. 2. After the last day to drop a class, withdrawing from a class requires the dean’s approval; it is only allowed for nonacademic reasons.
Communications:
Students must activate their Mason email accounts, use them to communicate with me and
the CLS Department, and check them regularly for GMU information, including messages
about this class. Email is the best way to reach me; I check email multiple times a day.
Class Schedule:
NOTE: Throughout the semester, students should be prepared to discuss and answer study
questions posted on Blackboard.
Thurs., Sept. 3
Introduction and Overview
Purposes, goals, themes of the course
Review of the syllabus and specific expectations of students
Overview of criminal justice organizations, management and
leadership; closed and open systems; complex environments
Assignment for Class #1 (READING FOR FIRST CLASS):
Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 1.
Thurs., Sept. 10
Structure of Criminal Justice Organizations (QUIZ 1)
Organizational structures, policies and procedures
Formal and informal structures; budgeting
Launching your research project
Assignments for Class #2:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 2.
(b) Bohm, Robert. (2006). "McJustice": On the
McDonaldization of Criminal Justice. Justice Quarterly
23:1, 127-146. Access through http://library.gmu.edu/
Thurs., Sept. 17
The Criminal Justice System in its Environment
External influences on the CJ system
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Managing organizational responses; use of the media
Implications for agency managers
Assignments for Class #3:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 3.
(b) Two-page paper (500-word) due: Describe the topic you
have chosen for your research paper; how you plan to
approach and develop it; and the resources you anticipate
drawing on (i.e., your tentative research plan).
Guest speaker:
Arthur M. Wallenstein, Director (ret’d)
Montgomery County, MD Department of Correction &
Rehabilitation
(at 5:30)
Thurs., Sept. 24
Problems of Communication
(QUIZ 2)
Communication - formal and informal - within organizations
Barriers to good communication; implications for CJ managers
What motivates employees? What steps can CJ managers take
to create an encouraging work environment?
Assignment for Class #4:
Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 4.
The second half of this class will be devoted to individual
meetings by the professor with students
about your research topics.
Thurs., Oct. 1
Change and Innovation
Planning and implementing change in CJ organizations
Resistance to change -- and how to overcome it
Culture of organizations that foster innovation – and those
that don't
Assignments for Class #5:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 14.
(b) Gawande, Atul. Slow Ideas. The New Yorker. 7/29/13.
Located at:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/29/slow-ideas?currentPage=all
( c) Team #1 presentation on the Gawande article
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Guest speaker:
Michael Berkow, Director, Coast Guard Investigative Service
U.S. Coast Guard, DHS
Former Chief of Police, Savannah, GA
(at 5:30 p.m.)
Thurs., Oct. 8
Research in Criminal Justice Organizations
(QUIZ 3)
Ways in which research and data are used by CJ
agencies and in CJ policy – and the barriers to their use
The movement toward "translational criminology” -- and
challenges to instilling science at the “front lines” of CJ
Assignments for Class #6:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 15.
(b) Lum, Cynthia and Christopher Koper. (2013). EvidenceBased Policing in Smaller Agencies: Challenges, Prospects
and Opportunities. The Police Chief. 80(4): 42-47. Go to:
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&article_id=2907&issue_id=42013
( c) Team #2 presentation on Lum & Koper article.
Thurs., Oct. 15
Personnel Evaluation and Supervision
Employee supervision and evaluating performance within
the context of criminal justice agency goals
Job satisfaction – and burnout
Assignments for Class #7:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 8.
(b) Fridell, Lori, et al. (2011). The Longitudinal Study of
First Line Supervisors. National Police Research Platform.
National Institute of Justice. Located at:
http://www.nationalpoliceresearch.org/the-longitudinal-study-of-firs/
( c) Team #3 presentation on Fridell et al. article.
Guest speaker:
Janna Mattson, MLS Social Science Liaison Librarian
Mercer Library, Prince William Campus, GMU (at 4:30)
(She will discuss resources/help the GMU Library can offer
for your research projects.)
Thurs., Oct. 22
Leadership in Criminal Justice Organizations
(Quiz 4)
The importance of leaders in criminal justice agencies
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Theories of leadership; complexities and challenges
Leadership development
Assignments for Class #8:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 7.
(b) Jurkanin, Thomas. (2012). The Police Chief as Coach:
Analogies between Sports and Effective Police Leadership.
The Police Chief. 79 (11): 24-26. Located at:
http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=2796&issue_id=112012
(c ) Team #4 presentation on Jurkanin article.)
Guest speaker:
James “Jay” Gregorius, Special Agent in Charge
Office of Training, Drug Enforcement Administration (at 5:30 p.m.)
Hand-out: Progress report form for students to complete
regarding status of research project for next week's class.
Thurs., Oct. 29
Organizational Conflict, Decision-Making
Understanding conflict inside – and between – organizations
Managing conflict in criminal justice organizations
Use of discretion and prediction in criminal justice
Assignments for Class #9:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich, Klofas, Ch. 11 and pp. 362–377 only of Ch. 12
(the section on “Discretion” through the end of the chapter).
(b) Interim Progress Report due on Research Work.
Students will turn in written progress reports on their
research projects (using form handed out in 10/22 class) and
give brief oral reports on status of their projects.
Thurs., Nov. 5
Culture of Organizations and Socialization
(Quiz 5)
Formal and informal socialization processes in criminal
justice; strategies for socialization; ethical considerations
Organizational culture
Assignments for Class #10:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 9.
(b) Conover, Ted. (2000). Newjack - Guarding Sing Sing.
Chapter 6. (Posted on Blackboard.)
(c ) Team #5 presentation on Conover chapter.
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Guest speaker:
Nancy M. Ware, Director
Court Services & Offender Supervision Agency for the
District of Columbia (CSOSA)
(at 5:30 p.m.)
Thurs., Nov. 12
Managing Innovations in Justice
Special Guest
James H. Burch, II, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Police Foundation
Assignment for Class #11
To be determined
Thurs., Nov. 19
NO CLASS due to American Society of Criminology
meeting in Washington
Thurs., Nov. 26
Thanksgiving
Thurs., Dec. 3
Measuring Organizational Effectiveness
How do we know an agency is doing its job well?
Different ways of measuring outcome variables
The growing use of data-driven approaches to improve
agency effectiveness and accountability
- CompStat and similar initiatives
Assignments for Class #12:
(a) Stojkovic, Kalinich and Klofas, Ch. 13.
(b) Hatry, Harry and Davies, Elizabeth. (2011). A Guide to
Data-Driven Performance Reviews. IBM Center for the
Business of Government. Located at:
http://www.urban.org/publications/1001559.html
(c ) Team #6 presentation on Hatry & Davies publication.
Thurs., Dec. 10
Final Presentations
Assignment: 10-minute PowerPoint presentations on research
projects
Final papers due.
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