HODGES UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title:
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Course Number:
CCJ 1400
Term & Dates:
Instructor:
Marian Mosser, PhD
.
Phone:
Email:
Office Hours:
Hours Credit:
4 Credit Hours
Required Texts:
Text 1:
Siegel, L. & Senna, J. (2008). Introduction to Criminal Justice.
11th Edition. ISBN: 0-495-095419.
Other Course Materials:
As introduced in class.
Instructor Autobiography
Hello, Welcome to Hodges University Introduction to Criminal Justice Course CCJ 1400.
I am Marian Mosser your instructor and I look forward to an exciting learning experience
and to sharing with each of you. A little about me, I live in Florida and I have an
extensive background in the criminal justice area and emergency management. I have
two master’s degrees, one in Military History and the other in Criminal Justice. I teach
full time Criminal Justice studies courses at Hodges University, Naples, FL. I have a PhD
in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University. My dissertation
topic was titled Law Enforcement Preparedness Against Terrorism in the State of Florida
(2007), which we will discuss in this course. I am actively involved in developing
emergency management, criminal justice and terrorism courses and teaching is my
passion. I enjoy hiking, tennis, golfing, and reading a good book. I lived in Germany for
about eight years and understand enough German to order a beer and find the bathroom. I
also enjoy traveling and meeting interesting people, as I just returned in July from
visiting Israel, and will share some of what I saw and learned. Lastly, I enjoy a good meal
with a light hearted conversation and a stroll on the beach. I live one mile from the beach
and the sunsets are spectacular. I am looking forward to this class and learning from
everyone. So let’s get started.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course represents an introductory level of study in the areas of criminal justice. The
course will provide an overview of police, courts, and corrections, both from the historic
and contemporary perspective. The study will include local, state, and federal systems,
legal basis, and jurisdiction. This course is a prerequisite to all upper level CCJ courses.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a general introduction of the
criminal justice system. The student will be introduced to the foundations of crime and
justice, followed by the police, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice in succession.
The material is presented from a legal, criminological, historical and social systems
perspective. The course elaborates on each of these primary sectors of the criminal
justice system and also provides a brief background in the behavioral aspects of crime
and criminology.
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Demonstrate an understanding of the Criminal Justice System in America
Describe the nature of crime and the law
Illustrate an understanding of the extent and measurement of crime
Demonstrate an understanding of the history and structure of police systems
Demonstrate an understanding of procedural law and how it is applied
Describe the American court structure and the courtroom work group
Illustrate an understanding of due process and the stages of the court process
Describe the history of punishment and corrections
Illustrate an understanding of the juvenile justice system.
Instructional Methods
The class is grounded in broad-based objective inquiry of discussed differences. Students
are expected to engage with the class in the various discussions, to properly present ones
point of view, outside material and resources should be employed, for all in-class
discussions.
Course Requirements
Attendance
Students are expected to be in class at the posted class starting times. If you are more
than 30 minutes late for class you will be marked tardy and will not receive full credit for
participating. Missed classes will count against your participation grade, as it is
impossible to participate if you are not present.
Participation
Learners are expected to actively participate in and contribute to their own learning
experience. Participation means providing substantive comments, questions, and
contributions that advance the learning process for that learner as well as the other
learners in the course. 10% of your grade will be class participation.
Examinations:
Two exams will be given through out the course. Each exam is valued at 100 points.
Exams may consist of true/false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, and short answers
items. (Note: the final exam may be an essay). All make-up exams will be essay and/or
or short answer. Makeup exams are discouraged. Students will be penalized five points
per day until the makeup exam is taken. It is the responsibility of the student to make
arrangements with the instructor for any makeup work. During this course you will also
be asked to complete written or other homework projects that will count one letter grade.
Grading Criteria
Based on presentations by the instructor and guest lecturers, assigned readings,
participation in classroom discussion, and case studies, the student will demonstrate a
working knowledge and understanding of the objectives by scoring an average of 70% on
written examinations and classroom assignments, and demonstrating the ability to discuss
and apply theoretical concepts in a practical manner. The following tables provide an
overview of the assignments, their weighting, and due dates. Please note that
participation (as discussed earlier) is part of your final grade. Final course grades are
based on participation and completion of the assignments listed below.
The grade of a learner for each course is based solely on the achievement of the learner as
defined and determined by the individual faculty member. The following grades area
awarded for undergraduate courses: A, B, C, D, F, I, W, and AW. Hodges University
does not use plus or minus grades. Grades reflect the following standards:
A-Work at this level is exemplary. An "A" learner is clearly superior in performance
compared to typical graduate learners.
B-In the graduate program, a "B" learner meets expectations.
C-At the graduate level, this work is typically not expected and is not satisfactory.
D-Work that is not acceptable as graduate-level work.
F-Work that is unsatisfactory. An "F" learner, on balance, does not meet minimum course
requirements.
The grading scale used in this course is illustrated in the table below
Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Weight
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
< 59.9
Exam Schedule:
Midterm exam – Week 8
Final exam – Week 15
Evaluation:
The method of evaluation will include written examinations (each exam one third of the
overall grade), written case problems, classroom discussion (10%) of the study questions
and homework assignments. The first day of class all requirements will be fully
explained. Students must read and be prepared to discuss all assigned material.
Remarks:
All material covered by class lecture, guest speakers, videos, projects are subject to be on
any test given. Extra credit may be available at the discretion of the instructor.
1. The professor reserves the right to change the syllabus at any time.
2. Absence or tardiness is equivalent to inability to participate fully in classroom
discussion.
3. Appropriate dress is mandatory.
4. Eating, drinking, smoking, and gum chewing are not permitted during class
discussion.
5. Leaving the classroom during the class period should be avoided.
6. Failing to return an assignment, missing a quiz, or a test is equivalent to a zero on
a test.
7. Assignments after the deadline will be penalized 5 points per day.
8. It is not permitted to leave the classroom during a quiz or exam.
9. No hats will be worn in class.
10. No recording devices are allowed in class unless approved by the instructor
11. Except for on duty personnel all cell phones and pagers must be turned off or
placed on the silent mode
Class Outline (Fall 2007)
Week 1
9/10-9/16/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 2
9/17-9/23/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 3
9/24-9/30/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 4
10/1-10/7/07
Topic: Crime and Criminal Justice
Lecture Notes
Chapter 1:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus.
Introduce Criminal Justice
What is crime? Who are crime rates in your area?
Class Discussion
Topic: Nature and Extent of Crime
Lecture Notes
Chapter 2:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Understanding Crime and Victimization
Lecture Notes
Chapter 3:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure
Police in Society: History and Organization
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 5
10/8-10/14/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 6
10/15-10/21/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 7
10/22-10/28/07
Lecture Notes
Chapter 4:
Chapter 5:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: The Police: Organization, Role, Function
Lecture Notes
Chapter 6:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Issues in Policing, Police and the Rule of Law
Lecture Notes
Chapter 7: and Ch 8.
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic:
Assignments
The Courts and the Judiciary, The Prosecution and the
Defense
Lecture Notes
Chapter 9: Chapter 10.
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Exam # 1
Main
Classroom
Class Discussion
Reading
Week 8
10/29-11/4/07
Reading
Assignments
Topic: Terrorism
Lecture Notes
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Main
Classroom
Week 9
11/5-11/11/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 10
11/12-11/18/07
Reading
Class Discussion
Topic: Pretrial Procedures
The Criminal Trial
Lecture Notes
Chapter 11:
Chapter 12:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Punishment and Sentencing
Lecture Notes
Chapter 13:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 11
11/19-11/25/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 12
11/26-12/2/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 13
12/3-12/9/07
Class Discussion
Topic: Community Sentences
Lecture Notes
Chapter 14: pp.
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Corrections: History: Institutions & Prisons
Prison Life: Living in and Leaving Prison
Lecture Notes
Chapter 15:
Chapter 16:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Online Research assignment
Class Discussion
Topic: Juvenile Justice System
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 14
12/10-12/16/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Week 15
12/17-12/22/07
Reading
Assignments
Main
Classroom
Lecture Notes
Chapter 17:
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Careers in Criminal Justice
Lecture Notes
Review for Final Exam
Other articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Class Discussion
Topic: Final Exam and Conclusion
Lecture Notes
Articles as assigned in weekly syllabus
Final Exam
Resources: The mission of the Informational resource Center is to support the university
in providing the best educational programs possible, to provide assistance to faculty and
students in accessing information both at the University and at other remote sites, to
provide opportunities for the student to learn from any different formats of information,
and to provide life skills in access to information and resources.
The Information Resource Center at the Naples and Fort Myers campuses are part of the
university wide network, which provides access to the various databases, CD – ROM and
online resources. The online catalog provides access to the print and audio-visual
collection for the networked libraries. Document delivery is provided daily by print, fax,
or e-mail. Inter-library loan services are available by request for books or full text
articles. Through the IRC’s reciprocal borrowing agreement, students can borrow items
from other libraries.
The IRC subscribes to various online databases to assist students in their area of study.
Westlaw, Loislaw and Lexis-Nexis are legal databases. Students may do research from
remote sites from the IRC’s web page using assigned ID codes to search databases such
as Electric Library; Searchbank Infotrac; Academic, and Health Indexes; and Proquest
Direct. Medline accesses medical information and dialog offers approximately 600
databases with a wide range of topics. Data Bases available just for graduate students
include; Commerce Clearing House, STAT-USA, and Standard & Poors. Also available
for research needs are the Internet and various web pages on specific subjects maintained
by the IRC. The CD-ROM titles provide the access to hundreds of journals and
newspapers through EBSCO. Encyclopedia and other CD-ROM titles as well as LUIS
and First Search are all available to the students to assist in their research needs.
The Hodges University Information Resource Center (IRC) has compiled a selected list
of on-line resources intended to help you find relevant information and complete your
under graduate research. Start at the university website or go directly to:
http;//www.internationalcollege.edu search using your personal LIRN identification
number that was assigned to you by the librarian accessing there are, of course, numerous
on-line resources available. As you discover other interesting sites, please do two things:
(1) bookmark it for your own future reference, and (2) share it with the rest of the class.
Students will be given a complete IRC packet at orientation.
As a result of the emphasis on electronic delivery of information, high priority is placed
by the IRC on students in the new technologies. All students receive training and
orientation through classes, handouts, minicomputer sessions or personal training
requested from the professional librarian or library staff.
It is each student’s responsibility to acquire the competency to access the various
databases provided through the IRC. Please make an appointment with one of the
librarians to gain access to this wealth of research material.
Additional Assistance
Personal Counseling and Career Advisement – Counseling services are available to
address student needs on career, academic, social, or personal matters. The Director of
Counseling is available to students and can be contacted via email
(merickson@internationalcollege.edu) or telephone [Naples campus: 800-466-8017; Fort
Myers campus: 800-466-0019]. Contact with a Career Development Coordinator can be
arranged by contacting either the Naples or Fort Myers campus or via the Career
Development page on the Hodges University web site.
Academic Achievement Services (AAS) – Students who experience difficulties with
course material are encouraged to discuss the matter with the professor. At times,
students or professors may feel it is necessary to augment class work with out-of-class
assistance. AAS provides one-on-one tutoring, virtual tutoring, resource material, and
from time to time, scheduled workshops to support students’ academic success. Students
may contact Academic Achievement Services via (a.) visiting the Tutoring Lab at the
Naples or Fort Myers campus; (b.) email [aas@internationalcollege.edu]; (c.) telephone
[800-466-8017; 800-466-0019].
Americans with Disabilities Act – It is the responsibility of the student with special access
needs to inform the University of these special needs and to provide the requisite
supporting documentation. The ADA Coordinator for the University is the Director of
Counseling who is responsible for the coordination of compliance efforts, in particular,
between the student and professors.
The End