CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-BAKERSFIELD
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
RACE, ETHNICITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE COURSE SYLLABUS
CRJU 330-Spring 2009
MWF 12:20pm-1:40pm
Class Location: BDC 154-B
Instructor: Dr. Reem A. Abu-Lughod
Office: DDH C123
E-mail: rabu_lughod@csub.edu
Office Hours: M,W,F: 11:00am-12:00pm & Tuesdays 10:00am-12:00pm or By
Appointment
To access course information and all other requirements please visit
www.csub.edu/~rabu_lughod
Required Texts:
1. Samuel Walker, Cassia, Spohn, and Miriam DeLone. The Color of Justice: Race
Ethnicity, and Crime in America. 3rd Ed. Wadsworth. 2004. ISBN: 0-534-59499-9
2. Jeffrey Reiman. (2007).The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison: Ideology,
Class, and Criminal Justice. Boston, MA. Allyn and Bacon, 8th Ed. ISBN: 0-20546172-7
Students are encouraged to prepare the “assigned readings” listed in the course schedule
prior to attending class. This is likely to generate better class discussions as well as help
students understand criminal justice issues as they relate to race, ethnicity and class.
Course Description:
This course examines different issues of race and ethnicity as they relate to the criminal
justice system in America. One of the most important points that students should take
into consideration, is that historically as well as in modern times, racism, differential
treatment by the criminal justice system, and discrimination have been a part of the
structure of American society. This course further focuses on social, institutional,
political, as well as economic factors that have contributed to racial discrimination and
biases in the criminal justice system. Finally, this course considers different measures that
have or should be taken into consideration in order to address the problems of the past
and present.
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Course Objectives
The objectives of this course were created to enhance students’ knowledge of race issues
in criminal justice as well as encourage students to “think outside the box.” At the end of
this course students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of racial and ethnic issues as they relate to the
American system of justice.
2. Critically analyze issues of inequality that take place in courts based on an
offender’s color, social class, or gender. Demonstrate an understanding of the
roots, social and cultural, of assumptions and their effect on members of racial
and ethnic groups within the criminal justice system.
3. Integrate issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and class by trying to relate theory to
practice. In other words, students should ask themselves throughout the course,
“why is this important,” and “how do all these issues relate to today’s structure of
the criminal justice system.”
4. Think how modern society has been influenced by past and current day biases in
the justice system and how can “we,” as members of society, be influential in the
policy-making process.
5. Explain statistical figures to modern-day reality of how some members in society
are treated. In other words, students should ask themselves: “what do the numbers
mean in terms of sentencing, punishment and differential treatment.”
6. Demonstrate an understanding of unique criminal justice terminology.
7. Understand the significance of the gap between the rich and the poor. Ask
yourself: has the gap increased. If so, how?
8. Critically analyze who the real victims of society are.
9. Create a new definition and understanding of racial discrimination, class
differences, and inequality in society.
10. Challenge current policy practices and ways of how punishment is being
implemented in the U.S. particularly when it’s related to minorities.
Performance & Grading is based on the following configuration:
Grading
Exam 1
30%
Exam 2
30%
Presentation
10%
Attendance
5%
G Research Project 20%
G Presentation
5%
Total
100%
Grade Breakdown:
100 -94.00
93.99-90.00
89.99-87.00
86.99-83.00
82.99-80.00
79.99-77.00
A
AB+
B
BC+
76.99-73.00
72.99-70.00
69.99-67.00
66.99-63.00
62.99-60.00
59.99 or less
C
CD+
D
DF
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Class Format: A lecture format will be used. Students are advised to read all assigned
material prior to attending class and are expected to ask as well as respond to questions
during class discussions. Guest speakers and films will also be a part of this course to
enrich students’ overall understanding of the subject matter.
Group Research Project

Students are required to get in groups of 5, choose an ethnic or racial group
anywhere in the world and examine the following: 1) the role race and ethnicity
play among that particular group of people, 2) conflicts that result among the
different ethnic groups e.g. due to economic status (Reiman), 3) differential
treatment of ethnic groups by their criminal justice system or their
government/kingdom, 4) the underlying reasons to the conflict as you perceive
them, and finally 5) the impact of conflict on law and policy in the chosen country
of that ethnic group. This assignment should be between 15-20 pages, typed,
double-spaced, in Times New Roman (12 Font), using at least 15-18 scholarly
references to support your research. No two groups should research the same
racial/ethnic group. Therefore, students should consult with the professor before
conducting their research. E-mail attachments will not be accepted. All “groups”
must turn in one hard copy of their project at the beginning of class the day they
are due.

Note: If students feel that one or more of their group members are not
contributing to the research project, it’s the groups’ responsibility to contact the
student/s to notify them that they may be excluded from the group. However, as
the instructor I would demand proof that the group has made several attempts to
contact the student/s and that student has been unresponsive.

Students are required to present their part of their research to receive the group
presentation 5% allocated. The instructor will randomly assign groups to present
on specific days. Each individual presentation should not exceed 5 minutes
followed by a Q & A segment. Only students who present their part on the
assigned day will earn the points. No exceptions will be made.
Class Presentations:

Students are required to present “News Reports” that are relevant or pertain to the
course material. Presentations should be no more than 2-3 minutes long followed
by a Q & A segment. Due to the short time we have available during the quarter,
the instructor will randomly assign specific times and days for students to present
their cases. Students are required to turn in a one page critical analysis of the case
presented
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Exams
Two exams (a mid-term and a final) will be given this quarter. Each exam will be worth
30 points (for a total of 60% of the final course grade). Make-up examinations will only
be given with the instructor’s approval. Proper documentation and prior notification is
mandatory. All make-up exams must be taken within a week of the original exam date
(NO EXCEPTIONS).
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all scheduled class meetings. If, for any reason, a student
leaves class early without the instructor’s prior notification and approval, the student will
be considered absent for that entire class period. Only students who have attended all
class meetings when taking attendance will earn the full 5%. Students who present and
excuse themselves before the end of class that particular day will receive no credit for
their presentation and will not have the opportunity to make it up under any
circumstances. Furthermore, students who leave while their classmates are presenting
will also receive no credit for their own presentation and will not have the opportunity to
make it up. There will be no exceptions made.
Academic Integrity:
Students caught cheating (e.g., looking at another's exam or using a cheat-sheet) or
plagiarizing (i.e., copying word for word from an author without quoting that author or
paraphrasing an author without citing the author) will be sanctioned according to
University and Department policy –ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS. Please review
page 40 of your winter 2006 course schedule for a definition of cheating and plagiarism.
Academic Freedom
Freedom to pursue truth and to achieve personal and intellectual development is essential
to CSUB’s community of scholars. The University is firmly committed to such freedom
for both students and faculty.
For the achievement of academic freedom, a necessary condition for such pursuit is an
acceptance of the spirit of inquiry and appreciation for diverse ideas, viewpoints,
cultures, and life-styles. Acceptance must be present both in the classroom and in other
areas of the campus. The achievement of academic freedom, however, must occur within
a respect for law and the protection of the opinions and dignity of others (CSUB 20032005 Catalog, 57).
Classroom Conduct
The classroom is essential for the achievement of academic freedom, the pursuit of truth,
and the development of students. Because of its importance, students as they enter the
classroom must exhibit respect for the views of others, the professionalism of the
instructor, and the goals of academic freedom.
Faculty are obligated to recognize and respect student diversity and opinion. Yet they
have a fundamental responsibility to uphold the integrity of the learning environment.
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When confronted by unreasonable disruption of the classroom, faculty are expected to
initiate actions to correct such conditions. Such actions can result in disciplinary action
ranging from removal from the classroom to suspension from the campus (CSUB 20032005 Catalog, 57).
Lectures and discussions are most effective when there are minimal distractions and
interruption. As such students should be sensitive to the following issues. Students
should arrive to class prior to the scheduled start of class. Students should refrain from
leaving class during lecture. Cellular telephone and pagers must be turned off during
lecture and examinations unless approved by the instructor. Failure to do so will be
considered cheating during an exam (with an automatic F for the course) and absenteeism
during a regular class period.
Special Needs Policy:
If you have any special needs related to your participation in this class, including
identified visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical impairments,
communication disorder, and/or specific learning disabilities that may influence your
performance in this course, you should meet with the instructor to arrange for reasonable
provisions to ensure an equitable opportunity to meet all of the requirements of this
course. At the discretion of the instructor, some accommodations may require prior
approval by Disability Services (664-3360).
Following is a tentative outline of the course schedule and is subject to change.
Students will be notified of any changes in class.
APRIL
W
1ST
INTRODUCTION/SYLLABUS
F
3rd
COLOR OF JUSTICE (COJ) Chp. 1
M
6th
Instructor at NSSA conference
W
8th
COJ Chp. 2
F
10th
Reiman Chp. 1
M
13th
Reiman Chp. 2
W
15th
News Reports
F
17th
IC- Committee meeting at CSUB-SB
5
M
20th
COJ Chp. 3
W
22nd
COJ Chp. 4
F
24th
COJ. Chp. 5
M
27th
VIDEO
W
29th
COJ Chp. 6
F
1st
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
M
4th
Chp. 7
W
6th
Cont Chp. 7
F
8th
COJ Chp. 8
M
11th
News Reports/Articles
W
13th
COJ Chp. 9
F
15th
VIDEO
M
18th
News Reports
W
20th
COJ Chp. 10
F
22nd
COJ Conclusion
M
25th
News Reports
W
27th
Group Presentations Begin
F
29th
Reiman Chp. 3 Cont Presentations Begin
M
1st
Group Research Project/Final Presentations Due
W
3rd
News Reports
F
5th
Reiman Chp. 4
MAY
JUNE
6
M
8th
Reiman’s Conclusion/wrap up
EXAMINATION PERIOD: JUNE 10-13. FINAL EXAMINATION DATE AND
TIME WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN CLASS.
FINAL EXAMINATION WILL BE COMPREHENSIVE
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