SYLLABUS
Course Number
CCJ2002
Course Title
Survey of Crime and Justice
Credit Hours
3 Credit Hours
Instructor Name and Contact Information
Claire Turner, M.S. Criminal Justice, University of West Florida
Ph.D. Student, Criminology, Florida State University
Email: cturner2@uwf.edu
(Please allow up to 24 hours for an email response)
Office Hours
Online: Tuesday/Thursday 9AM-10AM Central and Wednesday from 8PM-9PM Central
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the issues of crime and justice in the United States. The
course discusses the complexities of studying crime and evaluates the role of various criminal
justice subsystems.
Survey of Crime and Justice is designated as a General Studies course. The General Studies
curriculum at the University of West Florida is designed to provide a cohesive program of study
that promotes the development of a broadly educated person and provides the knowledge and
skills needed to succeed in university studies. This course has been approved as meeting your
requirement in the Social Sciences: Behavioral Perspective area. The major General Studies
learning outcomes for this course are analysis/evaluation and self-regulation.
If you are interested in a major in Criminal Justice you should contact the Department of Justice
Studies at (850) 474-2336 . If you are undecided about you major you should contact your
academic advisor or the Career Center at 850-474-2254.
Course Goals
Identify myths dealing with crime and the criminal justice system. Upon completion of the
course the student will be able to identify myths, their history, and the implications of these
myths. The student will also be able to identify solutions to the problems set forth by these
myths.
Required Text
Bohm, R. M., & Walker, J. T. (2012). Demystifying Crime and Criminal Justice. (2nd Edition)
New York: Oxford University Press.
ISBN: 978-0-19-984383-1
Topics Covered:
Over the semester this course will discuss the following myths:
-The Myth of Accurate Crime Measurement
-The Myth That "Criminals" Are Fundamentally Different from "Noncriminals"
-The Myth of Rational Choice as an Explanation for Criminal Behavior: A Biosocial
Critique
-The Myth That Violent Juvenile Offenders Will Become Adult Criminals
-The Myth of Black Crime
-The Myth That Mental Illness Causes Crime
-Myths About Drug Legalization or Decriminalization
-The Myth About Drug Use and Violent Offending
-The Myth That White-Collar Crime Is Only About Financial Loss
-The Myth That Current Gun Control Policies Reduce Crime
-The Myth That Sex Offenders Are Beyond Redemption
-The Myth That Stalking Is Not a Serious Crime
-Demystifying Terrorism: "Crazy Islamic Terrorists Who Hate Us Because We're Free?"
-The Myth That the Role of the Police Is to Fight Crime
-The Myth That Science Solves Crimes
-The Myths About Policewomen on Patrol
-The Myth That Police Use of Force Is Widespread
-The Myths of Racial Profiling
-The Myth That the Best Police Response to Domestic Violence Is to Arrest the Offender
-The Myth That the Exclusionary Rule Allows Many Criminals to Escape Justice
-The Myth That Punishment Reduces Crime
-The Myth That Imprisonment Is the Most Severe Form of Punishment
-The Myth That the Death Penalty Is Administered Fairly
-The Myth of Closure and Capital Punishment
-The Myth of Prisons as Country Clubs
-The Myth That Prisons Can Be Self-Supporting
-Correctional Privatization and the Myth of Inherent Efficiency
-The Myth That Correctional Rehabilitation Does Not Work
-The Myth That Rehabilitation Is the Focus of Community Corrections
Grading Scale:
A
93-100
A92-90
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B80-82
C+
77-79
C
CD+
D
F
73-76
70-72
67-69
66-60
Below 60
Grading Criteria:
7 Quizzes
7 Writing Assignment
14 Discussion Assignments
1 PowerPoint Project
1 Exam
Total:
20 Percent
20 Percent
20 Percent
20 Percent
20 Percent
100 Percent
Expectations of Academic Honesty/ Plagiarism Policy: Cheating and/or academic dishonesty
will not be tolerated. As members of the academic community of the University of West Florida
you are expected to uphold principles of academic honesty. Plagiarism is a very important issue.
Plagiarism occurs when someone takes a work presented by another person and then submits it
as their own original work. The University of West Florida has a tutorial on plagiarism located at
the following link: http://library.uwf.edu/Tutorials/module_plagiarism/default.htm
Student Code of Conduct: The Student Code of Conduct sets forth the rules, regulations and
expected behavior of students enrolled at the University of West Florida. Violations of any rules,
regulations, or behavioral expectations may result in a charge of violating the Student Code of
Conduct. It is your responsibility to read this information and it is located at the following link:
http://www.uwf.edu/judicialaffairs.
Assistance: The Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) works with students and faculty to
help make UWF an accessible learning environment in accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The SDRC offers a variety of services
for students with documented disabilities, including learning disabilities, deaf/hard of hearing,
blind/low vision, mobility limitations, ADHD, psychiatric disorders, and medical disabilities. If
assistance is needed please contact the SDRC as soon as possible so arrangements can be made.
Contact Information is as follows: Student Disability Resource Center, 11000 University
Parkway, Bldg 21/Room 130, Pensacola, FL 32514. Office: 850-474-238 Fax: 850-857-6188 Email: sdrc@uwf.edu
Academic Performance Evaluation Methods:
Writing Assignments (Check Course Schedule)
For this assignment:
-Complete a short writing assignment for both myths discussed
-Put the assignment in the designated drop box on the due date(11: 59 PM central time)
- Please submit in .doc, .docx or .rtf document
Please complete the following for each myth (2 per assignment):
1)
Identify the Myth
-Introduce the myth and give a short introduction of what the myth entails.
2)
Identify supporters (interests) of the myth and policy implications that have/can result
from belief in the myth
-Who are the interests that are supported by the myth? Why do they support it? What policy
implications have resulted or could result from believing the myth?
3)
Solution to the myth
-What policy implications could overcome the myth? How can we educate people about the
myth and the reality of the situation?
The length of the assignment is not an issue as long as the response lets me know that you have
gained an understanding of the chapter. This being said, I suggest you dedicate a paragraph to
each section. One sentence will not be enough to answer each question and demonstrate to me
that you have gained an understanding of the myth. Please remember to complete the three steps
for each myth.
(Maximum Points: 10/10)
Discussion Assignments (Every Section)
Each section, I will post two discussion questions, one for each myth. You will be responsible
for responding to one of these questions and posting a follow up response to another student.
(Maximum Points: 5/5)
Quizzes (Check Course Schedule)
You will have seven quizzes. Each quiz will have ten questions. Five questions will be posted
regarding each myth. These will be helpful for preparing for your final exam. These are due on
the date indicated on the course schedule (11:59 PM central time). DO NOT work together on
these. I have ways of knowing if collaboration has occurred and you will automatically receive a
zero on the assignment if this is determined.
(Maximum Points 10/10)
PowerPoint Presentation (Due no later than Midnight 4/10)
You will have a power point project presentation due towards the end of the semester. There is a
20 side minimum. You will be able to be as creative as you like with this project. Clip art is fine
as long as it is relevant. You can also audio narrate your slides if you would like. For this
assignment, you will present a presentation on either the myth of your choosing or an area of
criminal justice you are interested in researching. You will have to cite a minimum of three
scholarly sources other than your text book. You will have to have the topic approved by me by
the date indicated on the course schedule.
(Maximum Points 100/100)
Final exam (Due no later than Midnight 5/4)
The exam will contain approximately 60-80 multiple choice questions for a total of 100 points.
The questions will come from the readings, class PowerPoint presentation, and class discussions.
No collaboration is permitted on the midterm or final. If collaboration is determined, I will issue
a grade of zero on the assignment for all parties involved in the collaboration.
(Maximum Points 100/10
Course Assignment Schedule:
* Please note the due date of all assignments. Assignments will not be allowed to be submitted
past the due date unless the student receives permission from the instructor before the due date of
the assignment.
1/7- 1/13
- Chapters 1 and 2
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
1/14- 1/20
-Chapters 3 and 4
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
1/21- 1/27
- Chapters 5 and 6
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
1/28- 2/3
- Chapters 7 and 8
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
2/4- 2/10
-Chapters 9 and 10
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
-Topic Due for PowerPoint Presentation
2/11- 2/17
- Chapters 11 and 12
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
2/18- 2/24
-Chapters 13 and 14
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
2/25- 3/3
-Chapters 15 and 16
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
3/4- 3/10
-Chapters 17 and 18
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
3/11-3/17
-Spring Break No Assignments Due
3/18- 3/31
-Chapters 19 and 20
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
4/1- 4/7
-Chapter 21, 22, and 23
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
4/8- 4/14
- Chapters 24 and 25
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
-PowerPoint Assignment Due 4/10
4/15- 4/21
- Chapters 26 and 27
-Discussion Assignment
-Quiz
4/22- 4/28
-Chapters 28-29
-Discussion Assignment
-Writing Assignment
4/29-5/4
Final Examination