Missouri State University
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice
CRM 210: Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
Spring 2015
Instructor: Shauna Mitchell
Office: Strong Hall Per Course Faculty
Phone: 417-425-5700 (cell)
EMail:Shaunamitchell@missouristate.edu
Class Location: Strong 202
.
Office Hours: The best way to reach the instructor is through email. Office hours are by
appointment only. Please contact me by email or phone to set an appointment. We can
also arrange a phone meeting if necessary.
Communication: My goal is to get back in touch with you within 24 hours during the
week (M-F) if you email/contact me. If you email me with an important question or
problem, you need to be sure and check your email as well in a timely manner. It is also
imperative that you regularly log-in to view announcements and to read all class emails
that are sent to you regarding the course.
Also, please keep in mind that I will not be providing you with reminders of when items
are due. It is your responsibility to keep up with the course and be familiar with all due
dates.
Communication Etiquette
It is likely that some of the students in this course are going to have different ideas and
opinions about offenders, the criminal justice system, laws, victims, etc. Disagreements
should be handled through constructive dialogue. No name calling or offensive speech
directed at a student is allowed!!
Blackboard: There is a Blackboard help desk (836-5891). This is who you need to
contact when you are having technical difficulties. If you are having a technical difficulty
that prohibits you from finishing an assignment, you need to contact the help desk to
resolve the issue and let me know as well. From my past experience, the major
challenge is students getting kicked out of exams. When this happens, please let me
know ASAP and contact the help desk. The help desk does recommend that students
use Firefox as their browser when logged in to Blackboard. The following website is a
great tool to help students understand all of the Blackboard tools and how to complete
and access your work: https://experts.missouristate.edu/
Please also be aware that I can track and see what you have done in Blackboard. This
includes when and for how long you were logged in. I have had (a few) students in the
past attempt to claim that they completed work/exam and then claim technical
difficulties. Please do not attempt to do this, since I can view a log of when you were
logged into the course. Like I said, if there is a problem, let me know so we can work it
out.
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Course Description:
This course provides an introductory examination of concepts, terms, theories,
structures, processes, and issues involved in the American criminal justice system.
During the semester we discuss ideological principles involved in operation of the
system, definitions of key terms in criminal justice procedures, and stages in criminal
justice processing. In addition, we develop an appreciation of issues and dilemmas
faced by those working in criminal justice, including a critical sociological analysis of the
justice process in American society. The course entails two broad objectives. At the end
of the semester students will: 1) have a fundamental understanding of the operation of
the American criminal justice system, including familiarity with basic terms, concepts,
stages, and issues, and 2) be able to analyze and critique the justice system from a
sociological perspective.
Text:
There is one required text for the course:
Hendrix, Nicole (2013). Experience Criminal Justice
(First Edition). Radford University.
Throughout the course students may also read additional chapters, journal articles, and
news articles.
Connect
You are expected to purchase and make sure you are set up for Connect. It is through
McGraw-Hill and will be used to help students study more effectively by using interfaces.
Assignments through Connect will occasionally be assigned in lieu of class, or in
addition to, in order to engage students throughout the course.
Attendance:
Because class attendance and course grade are demonstrably and positively
related, the University expects students to attend all class sessions of courses in
which they are enrolled. I will be reasonable in accommodating students whose
absence from class results from: (1) participation in University-sanctioned
activities and programs; (2) personal illness; (3) temporary military orders or
Veterans Administration medical appointments; or (4) family and/or other
compelling circumstances. If necessary, you may be asked to provide
documentation verifying the basis of any absences resulting from the above
factors.
Grading for attendance:
I will be keeping track of attendance and you can receive an A based on your
attendance. Below are the guidelines for grades on attendance. Your attendance
is 10% of your overall grade.
Grade A
3 or less
absences
Grade B
4-5 absences
Grade C
6-7 absences
2
Grade D
8-9 absences
Grade F
10 or more
absences
Reading ExpectationsReading assignments from text chapters are required. The readings facilitate and add to
material covered in PowerPoint presentations providing an important body of information
for the course. Reading material is reflected in a significant amount of examination
questions. From my experience, students putting effort into assigned readings typically
do much better on examinations.
QuizzesPrior to each new Chapter lecture, there will be a 5 question quiz. The quiz will ensure
that students come prepared to class by reading the assigned Chapter BEFORE the
beginning of class. The quizzes are not intended to be tricky, and will ask questions that
are on the greater concepts of each chapter.
Online Discussion AssignmentsThis course involves 13 online discussion assignments- 10 points each. 6 points for
your initial response and 2 points for each response to a peer. You are asked to respond
to a specific issue or discussion question involving and applying material from a
particular chapter. The questions will be posted each week. You are to post an initial
response to the issue/question before class starts and must respond to at least two of
your classmate’s postings by midnight two days later. Scores on these assignments will
be based on the quality of your contributions to these forum discussions. Of course, you
may respond to more than two classmates and you also are encouraged to reply to
those responding to your comments. Late discussions will be accepted up to two
days late with point reductions.
Discussions are graded based on quality of material. To receive full credit for the initial
discussion, students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the material
and the issue based on the readings. Students must provide a detailed answer. Points
for the responses to other students are based on students going beyond simply agreeing
or disagreeing. Again, provide thoughtful detail.
To earn the full points:







Respond to the initial discussion question by the due date and time
Be respectful of all other classmates and the Instructor in his / her postings
Be thorough in his / her response and use grammatically correct statements in
complete sentences
Consider evidence and support as provided in the textbook, lecture materials,
and or articles
Include rational, reasonable thought in his / her answer
Respond to the opening question a minimum of 1 time by the due date and time
Respond to a minimum of 2 student’s by the due date and time
Exam InformationEach unit in the course includes an examination covering text material, PowerPoint
presentation(s) assigned during that unit, and any other materials assigned (additional
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readings, videos, etc.). There are four exams. Exams are worth 100 points. They are
not cumulative.
EXAM MAKE-UP POLICY: Make-up exams only will be given in cases
involving a medical emergency or death with documentation. For a
rescheduled exam please contact me about these circumstances within
twenty-four hours of the scheduled exam date. MAKE-UP EXAMS MAY BE
ENTIRELY ESSAY QUESTIONS, DIFFERENT IN FORMAT FROM THE
ORIGINAL EXAM. Students may also have reduced points for late exams
depending on the circumstance.
Additional Notation on Academic Integrity
1. Misrepresentation of Student’s Identity
Students must complete the online discussion boards, assignments, and exams by him
or herself and cannot, under any circumstance, have someone else complete these
components of the course under the guise of the student.
2. Original Work
All students must submit original work. Any submission or work that is not written by the
student will be given a 0 and university policies will be followed through. Also, all
submitted work must be original to this class (do not turn in work that was completed in
another course). Any student caught doing this will receive a 0 grade for the assignment.
Any student who is caught working with another student to complete ANY work
(including exams) that is not assigned as group work will receive a 0 and university
policies will be followed through.
Final Course Grade CalculationOnline Discussion:
Chapter Quizzes:
Connect and Individual Assignments:
Attendance:
Exams:
15%
10%
15%
10%
50%
And based on the following scale:
A
90-100%
B+
88-89%
B
82-87%
B-
80-81%
C+
78-79%
C
70-77%
D
60-69%
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F
<59%
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Schedule and Topic List:
Date
Activities/Topic
Assignments
Tuesday
January 13
Syllabus Review
Introduction
Read Chapter 1 for January 15
Thursday
January 15
Chapter 1 Quiz- Criminal Justice in
America
Lecture
Discussion Board Chapter 1- First post
due by Jan 20 prior to class. Reponses
always due two days later before class
starts (5:30 p.m.)
Tuesday
January 20
Chapter 2 Quiz- Defining and
Explaining the Role of Criminal Law
Lecture
Guest Speaker: Officer Jonathon
Conklin, Springfield Police
Department
Chapter 2 Continued
Thursday
January 22
Tuesday
January 27
Thursday
January 29
Tuesday
February 3
Chapter 3 Quiz- Identifying and
Measuring Crime
Lecture
Chapter 3 Continued
Discussion Board Chapter 2- First post
due by Jan 29
Discussion Board Chapter 3- First Post
due by February 5
Thursday
February 5
Chapter 4 Quiz- The Process of
Justice: An Overview
Lecture
Thursday
February 10
Chapter 4 Continued
Exam Review
Thursday,
February 12
EXAM 1- Chapters 1-4
Tuesday
February 17
Guest Speaker: Warden SandersMissouri Federal Medical
Correctional Center
Thursday
February 19
NO CLASS- In lieu of class, Connect
Assignments are posted and due by
January 24
Note: Baby arrives: February 20
Tuesday
February 24
Chapter 5 Quiz: The Structure and
Function of Policing
Lecture
Discussion Board Chapter 5- First post
due by February 26
Discussion Board Chapter 4- First post
due by February 12
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Thursday
February 26
Guest Speaker: Dan Shepers,
Federal Probation Officer
Tuesday
March 3
Chapter 6 Quiz: Policing Cases and
Concepts: The Law of Arrest,
Search, and Seizure
Lecture
Chapter 6 continued
Thursday
March 5
March 6-15
SPRING BREAK
Tuesday
March 17
Chapter 7 Quiz- Police Conduct and
Integrity
Lecture
Thursday
March 19
Chapter 7 Continued
Exam 2 Review
Tuesday
March 24
Exam 2- Chapters 5-7
Thursday
March 26
Chapter 8 Quiz- The Structure and
Function of the American Courts
Lecture
Tuesday
March 31
Chapter 8 continued
Thursday
April 2
NO CLASS- Spring Holiday
Tuesday
April 7
Chapter 9 Quiz- The Business of the
Court: From First Appearance
through Trial
Lecture
NO CLASS
Thursday
April 9
Tuesday
April 14
Chapter 10 Quiz-Sentencing, the
Death Penalty, and Appeal
Exam Review
Thursday
April 16
Exam 3: Chapters 8-10
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Discussion Board Chapter 6- First post
due by March 5
Discussion Board Chapter 7- First post
due by March 19
Discussion Board Chapter 8- First post
due by March 31
Discussion Board Chapter 9- First post
due by April 7
Required: Must attend one session of
Criminal Justice Conference at MSU
Dates of Conference: Wednesday, April
8 through Thursday, April 9
Discussion Board Chapter 10- First post
due April 16
Tuesday
April 21
Chapter 11 Quiz- The Structure and
Function of American Corrections
Lecture
Lecture
Chapter 11 Continued
Discussion Board Chapter 11- First post
due April 23
Chapter 12 Quiz: Life on the Inside:
Institutional Conditions and Inmate
Rights
Lecture
Chapter 12 Continued
Discussion Board Chapter 12- First post
due April 30
Tuesday
May 5
Chapter 13 Quiz- Community Based
Corrections
Lecture
Discussion Board Chapter 13- First post
due May 7
Thursday
May 7
Chapter 13 Continued
Exam Review
May 12
Final Exam- Chapters 11-13
5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Thursday
April 23
Tuesday
April 28
Thursday
April 30
The following are MSU required syllabus statements:
Non-Discrimination Policy
Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and
maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has
been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns
about possible discrimination to the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Park
Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, 417-836-4252. Other types
of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with
your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department
Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.
Students with Disabilities
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the
Disability Resource Center, Carrington Hall, Room 302, 417-836-4192 or 417836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to
provide documentation of disability to the Disability Resource Center prior to
receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center refers some types of
accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides
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diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information
about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, 417-8364787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.
Academic Dishonesty
Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated
persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are
responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic
Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at
http://www.missouristate.edu/policy/Op3_01_AcademicIntegrityStudents.htm and also
available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of
academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy. Any student
caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive zero points for the assignment.
Emergency Response Statement
Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must discuss their
needs with their professors and Disability Services. If you have emergency medical
information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building
must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
For additional information students should contact the Disability Resource Center, 8364192 (PSU 405), or Larry Combs, Interim Assistant Director of Public Safety and
Transportation at 836-6576.
Cell Phone Policy
As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other
students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and
students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the
Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or
similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be
turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during
class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the
University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when
numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their
devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices
should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this
policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
Religious Accommodation
The University may provide a reasonable accommodation based on a person’s
sincerely held religious belief. In making this determination, the University reviews a
variety of factors, including whether the accommodation would create an undue
hardship. The accommodation request imposes responsibilities and obligations on
both the individual requesting the accommodation and the University. Students who
expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of
their sincerely held religious belief shall be provided with a reasonable alternative
opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of
students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious
observances on which they will be absent by submitting a Request for Religious
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Accommodation Form to the instructor by the end of the third week of a full semester
course or the end of the second week of a half semester course.
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