Introduction to Criminal Justice
University of Texas at El Paso
CRIJ 1301, Spring Semester, 2009
Instructor-Paul Cross
Office Hours: Daily, immediately before or after class
Office Location: Criminal Justice Office 1st floor Liberal Arts building
Office Phone: 747-7943
E-mail: pcross@utep.edu
Course webpage:
Class Days: MWF 08:00-08:50 Liberal Arts Building room 323
Course objectives:
An introduction to the Criminal Justice system. An overview of the principles of
criminal procedures and criminological theory with an emphasis on the role of law and
those involved in it’s administration-police , courts and corrections organizations. The
course includes a study of criminal justice history, organizational processes, and
problems related to law and justice agencies in a heterogeneous, democratic society.
Complementary objectives are to review major theoretical perspective employed to
explain criminal behavior and to discuss patterns in criminal offending and various types
of crimes.
Course Requirements:
Students will be required to read each chapter, participate in class discussion and be
ready to discuss current events in criminal justice as they occur.
Exams: There will be three class exams and one written paper
One Written Paper on a Criminal Justice topic
The first exam will cover chapters 1-5 and reading material and lecture.
The second Exam will cover chapters 6-11 and reading material and lecture
The final exam will cover chapters 12 through 18 and reading material and lecture
Attendance:
Students are expected to come to all classes and be on time. Roll will be checked in
every class meeting. Classes missed for legitimate reasons, such as illness, temporary
duty, are excusable with an official written excuse; however the student must make up all
missed work as follows: Typewritten chapter outlines/ comments and/or observations on
the material missed may be turned in within the next two class meetings following and
absence. A failing grade will be recorded for students who do not make up excused
absences or for material missed due to un-excused absences. Three un-excused absences
and the student will be dropped from the course.
Exams and will be based both on lecture and assigned reading materials.
Grading distribution:
The final course grade will be determined using the average of the following metrics:
Exam one 25% Exam two 25% Final 25% Written Paper 25%
The following will be used to assign course letter grades:
A :90-100
B: 80-89
C:70-79
D:60-69
F: Below 60 or three or more un-excused absences
There will be no curve used in the grading nor will extra work be accepted for credit,
except as previously described for participation credit for absences.
Academic Honesty:
Submitting someone else’s work as your own or not performing your own work at
exam time will not be tolerated. A student , whom the instructor deems is being
dishonest, will be quietly advised and if the departure of dishonesty is not immediate, the
director of the Criminal Justice Department will be advised in writing. The Criminal
Justice Program will abide strictly with College Policy. Anyone found cheating on an
examination or a paper in this course will be reported to the Dean, and the Director will
work towards the student’s dismissal from school.
Note for students with disabilities:
Alternative formats of this syllabus are available upon request to students with
disabilities. Please contact the instructor. Students with disabilities are responsible for
making their needs known to the instructor, and seeking available assistance in a timely
manner.
Cell Phones and Lap Tops: Students are advised to turn off cell phones while in class or
put them on the vibrate mode. Lap tops may be used in class but students are encouraged
to have them in a silent mode.
Course Text book: Schmalleger, F. Criminal Justice Today ( 9th Edition) Prentice
Hall
Schmalleger’s book has a student study guide. A CD program with interesting
criminal justice fact situations and problems for the student to solve and is coupled to a
website with online study questions for each chapter, power point multimedia
presentations for each chapter and links to a multitude of important criminal justice sites.
The book has excellent references to the current literature cited and explains in detail
the theory, hypothesis and research behind each chapter. The book explains to the student
what to be aware of , and enables the student to deal with what research is about and what
a student should be able to do upon completion of the course.
Criminal justice is a multi disciplinary endeavor and any student intending to go into
any portion of the field should be able to apply the sociological, psychological, political,
criminal law and procedural law aspects in order to achieve success.
From law enforcement, probation, correctional, counseling, to employment as a lawyer,
a student must deal with sociology, psychology, politics and an understanding of legal
and procedural principles. Schmalleger provides excellent material on these and many
other subjects.
Lecture Topics and Reading Assignments , by Week
Jan
Jan
21
23
Jan
Jan
Jan
26th Chapter 1 What is Criminal Justice
28th Chapter 2
30th Chapter 2 The Crime Picture
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
Feb
March
March
March
March
March
2nd
4th
6th
9th
11th
13th
16th
18th
20th
23rd
25th
27th
The Constitution and Bill of Rights
Chapter 1 What is Criminal Justice
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 The Search for Causes ( Last Day to drop without a W)
Chapter 4 Criminal Law
Chapter 4
Review for Exam One
Exam One
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Guest Lecturer
Forensics Lecture
Chapter 5 Policing History and Structure
Crime Trends Nationally
2nd Chapter 6 Policing : Purpose and Organization
4th Guest lecturer
6th Chapter 7 Policing: Legal Aspects
9th Chapter 7 Policing : Legal Aspects
11th Chapter 8 Policing: Issues and Challenges
Spring Break March 16th-20th
March
March
March
March
March
March
13th Review for Exam Two
16th -20th Spring Break
23rd Exam Two
25th Chapter 9 The Courts Structure and Participants
27th Chapter 9
30th Chapter 10 Pre-Trial Activities and the Criminal Trial
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
April
1st Chapter 11 Sentencing
3rd Chapter 12 (Course Drop Deadline)
6th
Modern Police Initiatives
8th
Chapter 13
10th Good Friday No classes
13th Chapter 14 Prison Life
15th Chapter 14 Prison Life
17th Death Penalty Lecture
20th Deadline to turn in written paper
22nd Chapter 15
24th Chapter 16
27th Chapter 16
29th Chapter 17
May
May
May
1st
4th
6th
Chapter 18 The future of Criminal Justice
Review for Final
Review for Final
Final Exam Monday May 11th