Advanced Principles of Criminal Justice Course Syllabus is Subject to Change
CCJ 3024 | Spring 2015
Wednesdays 3:00pm-6:00pm | Lit 0221
Instructor
Tameka Samuels-Jones
Office: Turlington 3346
Email:tsamuels.jones@ufl.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:30 -2:30 pm &
Thursdays 9:30–10:30 am or by appointment.
Course description
This course provides a general introduction to the criminal justice system, including the historical development of the criminal justice system in the United States, fundamentals of the system and legal foundations as well as the contemporary system of processing cases. We will examine different theoretical models for describing criminal behavior and ethical considerations for criminal justice professionals. The course will cover the structure and function of police organizations, the daily responsibilities of police officers, some of the methods and challenges to police officers as well as constitutional considerations for policing. As we move into the function of the courts, we will discuss the structure and function of the courts, identify members of the courtroom workgroup and their responsibilities, and end the section with sentences and punishments available to the court and corrections. This course is required for criminology majors and counts as three credits for the social and behavioral sciences general education requirement.
Course objectives: By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
1. Describe the historical development of the American criminal justice system.
2. Discuss stages of the criminal justice process from arrest to sentencing to correctional options.
3. Explain the role of the police, including challenges, ethical considerations, limitations, and purpose.
4. Identify the major players in the courtroom and their roles, limitations, and authority.
5. Describe corrections and correctional facilities.
6. Identify special issues and populations within the criminal justice system, including juvenile offenders and female offenders.
Course required text
Text: Peak, K. (2014). Introduction to Criminal Justice: Practice and Process. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE
Publications, Inc.
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Attendance and participation expectations
Class attendance is strongly recommended and you are expected to be on time. You will be asked to sign an attendance sheet. There will not be any make up assignments for students who fail to attend class and therefore miss opportunities to get credit for classwork. I do not hand out notes outside of class.
Assignments & Grading
There will be 3 exams in this course (see schedule for test dates). They will be worth 25 points each. There will be no early exams. No make-up exams will be given. I will not accommodate students who are late to an exam beyond 15 minutes after the exam has begun.
Exams may include multiple choice and true/false questions. They will include material from your text, any additional assigned readings and the lecture. There will be 50 questions on each exam, worth .5 points each.
There will be 10 class activities such as quizzes and short in-class writing assignments. They are worth 2.5 points each. You are encouraged to read that week’s chapter before attending class.
You cannot make up an activity if you miss it.
Extra credit (2.5 points maximum)
There will be 1 (one) opportunity for extra credit in this class. If you donate 3 or more paperback books for the Florida State Prison (FSP) book drive by April 14, 2015, you will receive an extra 2.5 points. Due to budget cuts, the FSP library often has no budget to buy books. You will therefore be doing a community service. The books do not need to be new. They must be paperback, and cannot be overtly sexual or violent. You may provide me with the books at any time over the semester before the deadline date.
Summary of assignments
ASSIGNMENT POINTS
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Class Activities
Total
25
25
25
25
100
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Grading scale and procedures: This class will be graded using the following scale:
A
A-
93-100%
90-92
B+
B
B-
87-89
83-86
80-82
C+
C
C-
D+
D
E
There is no curve in this class.
77-79
70-76
65-69
63-64
61-62
60 and below
Class Policy on Recording Grades
Your grades will be posted on elearning throughout the course, within a week of an exam or a class activity.
Class Policy on Questioning Grades
If you have questions regarding your grade, you have until one week after the grade is posted on elearning to request clarification from me. After that time period, the grade stands (even if you did not check your grade until after that time period.)
Class Policy on Incompletes
It is unlikely that I will assign an “I” grade except in instances of a documented medical emergency.
Students with Disabilities: Students requesting classroom accommodations for disabilities must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students will provide documentation to the student who must then provide the documentation to me when requesting accommodation.
Student obligations to academic integrity: All students are expected to uphold the University of
Florida Academic Integrity Policy and refrain from all forms of academic deceit. You must act with honesty and integrity, and must respect the rights of others in carrying out all academic assignments. Exams for this class must be taken individually. Group or collaborative exams are
prohibited and are considered CHEATING. The complete university honor code may be found here:
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https:www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/
Honesty and Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of taking ideas and/or written statements from another and passing them off as your own. Examples of this are failing to cite a source for statements used in a paper, failing to signify a quotation through the use of quotation marks, or submitting work that is not your own. Anyone engaging in this intellectually dishonest practice will, at the very least, receive a grade of "0" for the assignment in which it occurs. Any form of academic dishonesty can result in serious disciplinary action by the University. If you are uncertain about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please contact me.
Respect in the Classroom: Cell phones should be turned off or placed on silent during class time.
Students who must speak on their cellphone to make/accept an emergency call must leave the classroom. Students found texting or surfing the internet may be asked to leave the classroom.
Snacks and drinks are permitted during class, however cooked meals are not. A 15 minute break will be provided at 4:20 p.m. of each class. You are free to enjoy meals during this time. Some topics in this course may inspire passionate opinions. Please respect the opinions of your classmates even if you disagree with them.
Additional Readings & Speakers: Occasionally, additional class readings may be posted on the elearning site. I also anticipate that we will have a few guest speakers this semester. You will be advised accordingly.
Course Schedule
Week 1
January 6
Topic(s)
Overview of the course; Foundations of criminal justice; crime control v. due process
Readings
Chapters 1&15 models; citizen responses to crime; the criminal justice process; the wedding cake model of criminal justice; discretion and ethics in criminal justice; juvenile justice
Week 2
January 13
Chapter 2
Week 3
January 20
Week 4
January 27
Foundations of law in the US; common law; civil v. criminal law; procedural v. substantive law; essential elements of a crime; felonies, misdemeanors; defenses
Ethics in criminal justice (e.g., the police, the courts, federal employees, corrections)
Police organizations; English roots; policing eras in the US; federal agencies, state agencies, local and municipal agencies; private policing
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
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Week 5
February 3
Week 6
February 10
Week 7
February 17
Week 8
February 24
Exam 1 & Class Movie: Aileen: Life of a Serial
Killer
Exam 1 covers lectures, additional readings assigned as well as chapters 1-5&15
(except Chapter 3)
Chapter 6 Patrol functions; recruiting, training; working personality; basic tasks; patrol effectiveness; traffic functions; police discretion; community policing; forensics
Challenges in policing; use of force in policing; civil liability; recruiting women and minorities; police technologies
Arrest, search, and seizure; the Fourth
Amendment; Fifth Amendment; Sixth
Amendment
Spring Break – No classes
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Week 9
March 3
Week 10
March 10
Week 11
March 17
Week 12
March 24
Week 13
March 31
Week 14
April 7
Week 15
April 14
Court organization; colonial courts; inside the courts; trial courts; the pretrial process; trial process; state courts; federal courts; Judges and attorneys; judicial selection; judicial benefits and problems; courtroom civility; prosecutors; defense attorneys
Exam 2 & Class Movie: The Hurricane
Chapters 9 & 10
Sentencing and punishment; purposes of punishment; types of sentences; federal sentencing guidelines; criminal appeals, capital punishment
Correctional structures and functions; jails and prisons; state and federal level facilities; supermax prisons
Prisoner litigation; specialized populations
(e.g., females, mentally ill, prison gangs, death row); constitutional rights; prison deprivations; prisonization
Community corrections; probation and parole; origins; functions; eligibility; rights; intermediate sanctions; restorative justice
Deadline for FSP book drive
Exam 2 covers lectures, additional readings assigned as well as chapters 6-10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
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Week 16
April 21
Exam 3 Exam 3 covers lectures, additional readings assigned as well as chapters 11-14
By attending this class it is assumed you have read, clearly understand, and accept all terms and conditions of this syllabus.
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