CJ 221 (MW 9:25-10:40) JUVENILE JUSTICE
FALL 2011
Instructor:
Lynn F. Monahan, Ph.D.
932-7489 South Campus Hall Room 100
email: lmonahan@newhaven.edu
Office Hours: M 1:00-4:30 and W 1-2:45 or by appointment
Textbook:
Parry, David L. (2005) Essential Readings in Juvenile Justice. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Course description: This course will focus on the U.S. juvenile justice system and the special
issues and problems unique to juveniles. The service learning component requires a minimum of
2 hours per week working with juveniles in the Greater New Haven area. It is expected that
students will gain a greater understanding of the challenges facing youth in low income, urban
environments as well as the factors that contribute to academic and personal failure and success.
Course Objectives:
Students will be able to:
 trace the historical roots of the American juvenile justice system
 identify the central issues and problems associated with juvenile justice
 differentiate between fact-based and myth-based decision-making
 understand how community-based programs impact juveniles
 read, analyze and critique scholarly articles relating to the above topics
Requirements:
2 Quizzes
Final Exam
Article Reviews
Service Learning Journal
Site Evaluation
Class Attendance
20% (10 points each)
20%
25% (5 points each)
15%
15%
5%
Blackboard and UNH email: Various important announcements and information will be posted
on Blackboard and/or sent to your UNH email address, so it is important to get into the habit of
checking both.
Exams will be multiple choice and short answer. The Final exam is cumulative.
Make-up exams are given only under unusual circumstances. Extra credit work may be offered
from time-to-time, but not on an individual basis.
Attendance in class and at your service site is taken and does make a difference on your final
grade.
Article Reviews: due on Mondays. You will be asked to read, summarize using the “Article
Summary Outline” and discuss in class 5 articles from the book. I will post the assignments on
Black Board and the dates due. You must bring a hard copy of your review to class on the due
date. Late reviews will not be accepted.
Service Learning: Mentoring hours at Common Ground High School are as follows:
Monday
3:15-5:15
Tuesday
3:15-5:15
Wednesday 1:30-3:30
Thursday
3:15-5:15
(Friday 3:15-5:15- possibly)
Your contact person is: Carla Lia (clia@nhep.com) 203-389-0823 X1205
Make sure to read the Mentor Manual and fill out the Mentor Matching form posted on
BlackBoard. Send the Matching form to Carla Lia (clia@nhep.com)
Service Learning Journal: due weekly on Mondays. Your journal should include 4 parts:
1. the top half should be a brief description of your activities at the service site, what were
the effects of what you did, and what your impressions are of the student(s) and staff
that you worked with.
2. The bottom half should include course and book concepts that relate to your
experience. You will be asked to share these with classmates who are also working at
the site, and with the class as a whole.
3. At the end of the semester, a summary of your experience with youth in the
community, relating to the concepts we have covered in class.
4. A list of activities that you did with your mentee, your assessment of their effectiveness,
and your recommendations for future activities.
POINTS WILL BE TAKEN OFF FOR SLOPPINESS, MANY SPELLING ERRORS AND
FAILURE TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
CJ 221
READING AND ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR- FALL 2011
Week of:
Aug 31
Introductions & Expectations. Service Learning Overview: Sally Anastos
Sept 5 (Labor Day) no class
Sept 7
Definitions and extent of Delinquency.
Sept 12
Ch 1 Delinquency and Public Policy: Concepts, Processes and Issues
Sept 19
Ch 2 Juvenile Courts and the Invention of Delinquency
Sept 26
Ch 3 The Constitutionalization of Juvenile Justice and the Movement for Reform
Oct 3
Ch 4 Policing Juveniles
Oct 10 no class
Oct 12
Quiz 1
Oct 17
Ch 5 The Intake Process and Diversion of Minor Offenders
Oct 24
Ch 6 Detention
Oct 31
Ch 7 Transfer to Adult Criminal Court
Nov 7
Nov 9
Nov 14
What else doesn’t work: Scared Straight and DARE
Quiz 2
Ch 8 The Juvenile in Court: Adjudication and Disposition of Juvenile Delinquency
Cases
Nov 21
(Nov 23- 27 Thanksgiving Break)
Nov 28
Ch 9 Juvenile Corrections
Dec 5
Ch 10 The Future of Juvenile Justice
Dec 12
Last day of class: discussion of Service Learning Experience
Dec 13 & 14 Reading Days
FINAL EXAM IS FRIDAY DECEMBER 16 8-10 am