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Syllabus
CORR 443
Penology
Spring Semester 2008
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
James Burnett
Armstrong Hall 113
389-5669
james.burnett@mnsu.edu
Monday, Wednesday: 10 am-11 am, 12:15 pm-2:00 pm,
Wednesday: 3:15pm- 6:00 pm. Please make appointments
Text:
Ross, Jeffrey I. and Stephen C. Richards.(2003) Convict Criminology. Canada: ThomsonWadsworth
Walker, Samuel, Cassia Spohn and Mirriam Delone.(2004) The Color of Justice. Canada:
Thomson-Wadsworth
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on issues related to our system of punishment for criminal offenders. We
begin with a historical review of the origins of prisons and then proceed to an examination of the
current thinking regarding modern forms of punishment. Additionally, we will discuss current
trends in prison programs and will examine issues relevant to prisons today. Since class meets
once a week, after the third absence the final grade will drop one letter grade.
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
This course, along with Correctional Law, is the only course that focuses primarily on prison and
the individuals incarcerated therein. Even if students are not planning a career inside a
correctional institution, it is likely they will work with individuals who have been incarcerated or
their family members. It is important for majors and non-majors alike to consider the possible
goals and consequences of incarceration as well as possible alternatives.
 Students will gain a historical perspective regarding the origins of prison as well as the
various “eras” of prison philosophy.

Students will learn about current issues relevant to correctional institutions (i.e., special
needs inmates, death penalty, treatment programs, and suggestions for reform).

Students will engage in critical thinking and analysis of current issues relevant to
correctional institutions.

Students will examine the similarities and differences between the experiences of male
and female prisoners.

Using a critical perspective, students will consider issues of social control and the
ironies of imprisonment
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Active Learning
Given that this is a relatively small, upper-level course, it is expected that students will
participate in class discussions. The entire class will be divided into groups for projects
(Debates, Lyric Assignments, C.O.J. Role Plays and C.C. Chapter Presentations) to allow
for more opportunities for interaction among students. Learning encompasses absorbing
information through reading and listening, as well as communicating ideas through
writing and speaking. Discussion will add diversity to the class, help you think out your
ideas, learn to express them clearly to others, and enable you to better comprehend the
topic
EVALUATION/GRADES
Grades will be based on cumulative points and no late assignments will be accepted.
There will be opportunities for extra credit and students will not be allowed to turn any
assignment in to me in advance of the class if they will not be present on the date the
assignment is due. All group assignments must be accompanied by a group feedback
evaluation, names of members who participated and a written summary of the results.
Debate Assignments
Campus Involvement (2@25each)
Class Participation and Field Research
2 Chapter Presentation Assignments
(The Color of Justice R.P.=50 points)
(Convict Criminology Present=50 points)
Midterm
Final
50 points
50 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
Total: 500 points
Grades will be based on the following point scale:
A = 90-100%
450-500 points
B = 80-89%
400-450 points
C = 70-79%
350-400 points
D = 60-69%
300-350 points
F = below 60%
299 or fewer points
Attendance:
Class attendance is mandatory and after your third absence, final grades will
drop one grade level and continue to drop. Participation Points are earned by
attending/participating in class exercises, group presentations and guest speaker
discussions.
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Corrections Upper Division Debate Instructions
Spring 2008
1.
2 Groups will choose an issue off of d2l to work on: Defense Attorneys,
Incarcerations Rates, Juveniles, Prison Labor, Focus of C.J. System, Death
Penalty, Prison Racism, Use of Executed Prisoners Organs, Violent Offenders
etc.
2.
Groups will decide who will present on each side of the issue
Yes – Agree
No – Disagree
3.
Using the assigned readings, as well as
outside sources, groups should prepare a
15 minute presentation (each side) on the issue.
4.
Time is then observed for questions and discussion
from the audience. Discussion will be tracked for participation points
5.
Turn in a group topic summary, group evaluation feedback forms and a list of
group members who “actually” participated in the exercise.
Campus Involvement Assignment
Each student is required to attend two campus activities outside of class. Acceptable
events are limited to: Good Thunder Reading Series, Art/Music Department Events, ISO/
Institutional Diversity Cultural Events, Kessel Peace Institute, Women’s Center/
Women’s Studies, Theatre/ Dance/Performing Arts events and sporting events.. This
assignment will challenge you by creating opportunities for campus Diversity
involvement at MSU.
Each student will write a 3-page reflection paper for each activity attended.
In each reflection paper, the following questions should be addressed in descriptive
detail:
1. What is my perception of this event?
2. What did I learn from this event that I did not know before?
3. What was this event trying to say to students at MSU?
4. What did the event say to me about myself?
Involvement Paper #1
due March 5th
Involvement Paper #2
due April 23, 2007
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Chapter Presentation Assignment
In addition to meeting this specific corrections program goal, this course also provides
opportunities for students to think critically about how people of color are treated by the
Criminal Justice System. The course also introduces a new Critical Criminology
perspective through the text,“ Convict Criminology.” As a group, students will be
assigned a chapter in the two required texts to present (one-half hour) to their fellow
classmates.
Group Presentation #1 will be a role play based on assigned chapters in the text, The
Color of Justice.
C.O.J. Role Play Instructions
1) Select a possible situation or issue related to your group’s Color of Justice
Chapter that can be acted out in a one act scenario. (Confrontation, conflict etc.)
What led up to it will be explained by the group’s spokesperson.
2) Decide what characters will be included and who will play the part of each. Select
fictitious names for the characters.
3) The outcome must not be decided in advance. The characters must be left free to
pursue options and solutions. Let the actors play it out.
4) Select a director who is the spokesperson for the exercise. Then select the cast.
The director should use creativity to lead the group in making a scenario and as
spokesperson should introduce the play and set up the scene for the class by:
a) Explain what has gone on before the role play starts, b) provide the names of the
characters and the real names of the students playing the role
5) At the end of the role play, the director yells “cut” and processes the scene while
actors are still in role/character. The actors shake off their roles/character and the
spokesperson asks the actors to process the scene as MSU Corrections students.
Possible Scenes in The Color of Justice
Group 1 Chapter 3 Race, Ethnicity, Social Structure : Using one of the major theories
of crime( Social Strain, Differential Association, Social Disorganization, Culture
Conflict, Conflict or Routine Activity), come up with a scene depicting the relationship
between inequality and criminal behavior.
Group 2 Chapter 4 Justice On The Street: Use the theme, “ Police Behaving Badly( ie,
unjust arrest, use of deadly force, abuse, discrimination, disproportion, etc) to depict
policing.
Group 3 Chapters 5 The Courts: Depict the opposite of the court system that denied
rights, tried and sentenced the Scottsboro Boys in 1931. What would a contemporary
court processing system look like that has equal justice, adopted reforms, fairness and no
discrimination. Role play a scenario of fairness for minorities in such a system.
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Group 4 Chapter 7 Race and Sentencing: Depict 3 types of sentencing; 1) Clear bias
against non-whites at trial ( example: Hispanics, Native Americans, etc.) 2. Fair or no
racial discrimination at trial. 3. Situation where sentencing involves determinate
sentencing or sentence guidelines.
Group 5 Chapter 8 The Color of Death: Any scenario having to do with the death
penalty.
Group 6 Chapter 9 Corrections vs. College: Any aspect of the American correctional
system
Group Presentation #2 will be a group presentation/power point/discussion on
assigned chapters in the text, Convict Criminology.
Convict Criminology
Group 1 Chapter 3: Why study prisons and Chapter 10 Two-Legged Data Dilemma
Group 2 Chapter 4: 40 years and Chapter 11: Understanding Women
Group 3 Chapter 5: C Block and Chapter 12: Healthcare in the Federal Prison
Group 4 Chapter 6: Journey Thru Feds. And Chapter 13: Mentally Ill
Group 5 Chapter 7: Rehabilitating Criminals and Chapter 14: Soaring Eagle
Group 6 Chapter 8: Who’s doing time and Chapter 15: 20 Years Teaching
Each group will turn in a chapter summary with a list of all members who worked on
the project. Each group member will be part of the presentation team. To receive full
credit, each member must be present at other group presentations. The use of specific
examples from the chapters is encouraged. Chapters should be summarized and not
plagiarized. Some sort of media (ex: power point) should be used.
Fieldwork Exercise
Each group will be assigned a fieldwork case-study-exercise (Guided Fantasy Titanic
Exercise, Images of Crime, Drug Testing in the Workplace) that will be explained in
class handouts. Each group will follow directions to perform the exercise, discuss and
process and present the results to the larger class. Each group member will be part of
the presentation team, fill out a group feedback evaluation and to receive full credit be
present at all other presentations..
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COURSE OUTLINE
Wednesday, January 16th
Review Course Requirements, Reading Assignments on Historical Prison Perspectives
(Behavior as a Continuum, The Pennsylvania System, Correctional Ideologies, Prisons
and Jails and Origins of the Death Penalty), Divide into Groups, and In-class Group
Color of Justice Role-Play Planning Time.
Wednesday, January 23rd
Concentric Circles Self Esteem, Lecture on Prison Subculture, The Challenge of Prison
Gangs and Street Gangs, Video on Gangs and In-class Group Color of Justice Role-Play
Planning Time.
Wednesday, January 30th
Imagine a Better Community, Lecture on Color of Justice Introduction, Ch.1 and Ch. 2,
Color of Justice Role-Play Final Planning
Wednesday, February 6th
Color of Justice Presentations 6 groups@20 minutes each, Group Evaluation Feedback
and Summary Handed in: Graded
Wednesday, February 13th
Quick Decisions Exercise, Group Work- In-class planning for Field Research Exercise
Wednesday, February 20th
Daytime: Possible Campus Involvement Activity Opportunity. Attendance at the 32nd
Pan African Student Leadership Conference. "Building Leaders for the Pan African
Community: Our Individual and Collective Responsibilities"
Classtime: Reflection Exercise, Group Work- In-class planning and Out of class research
for Field Research Exercise
February 26th
Attend the 29th Annual SBS Frontier Forum presented by Dr. William Wagner at
7:00 pm, Tuesday, February 26 in the Ostrander Auditorium as a possible Campus
Involvement Activity
Wednesday, February 27th
Presentations of Field Research Exercise, Group Evaluation Feedback and Summary
Handed in: 6 Groups@ 20 minutes each: Graded
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Wednesday, March 5th
Hand out Midterm ( due in drop box 3-17-2008) covering: Prison History, Correctional
Ideology, Prison and Jails, COJ, Gangs, Death Penalty, Field Research, Group Work- Inclass planning for Convict Criminology, Collect Campus Involvement Activity( due in
drop box 3-5-2007)
Wednesday, March 12th
Spring Break
Wednesday, March 19th
Movie on Prison life of Women, Lecture on Convict Criminology, Ch.1 and Ch. 2, Inclass Preparation of Convict Criminology Chapters
Wednesday, March 26th
Movie on Prison life of Men, In-class Preparation of Convict Criminology
Chapters/Debates
Wednesday April 2nd
Groups Presentations of Convict Criminology Chapters: 6 groups @ 20 minutes each
Wednesday April 9th
Group Work- In-class planning for Debates
Wednesday April 16th
Group Work- Out of class-work for Debates
Wednesday April 23rd
Campus Involvement Activity 2 ( due in drop box 4-23-2007), In-class Debates, 3 groups
(Yes vs. No) @ 40 minutes each: Group Evaluation Feedback and Summary Handed in:
Graded
Wednesday April 30th
In-class Debates, 3 groups (Yes vs. No) @ 40 minutes each: Group Evaluation Feedback
and Summary Handed in: Graded
Final Handed Out and due in drop box May 7, 2007
Closing Note:
Students are responsible for all materials in the course, including assigned readings,
lectures videos, handouts, and guest speakers. The Mid-Term and Final Exams will be
take home and uploaded into the D2L Drop box. I believe a better learning environment is
created when students attend class regularly, are prepared for class, and are willing to engage in
an on-going dialogue in the classroom. It is our responsibility, together, to create a comfortable,
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stimulating environment in which to learn. I give you my word that I will do my best to
contribute to such an environment. However, after the third absence, student’s final grade will
drop one letter grade. In addition, I hope you will be willing to take responsibility for developing
this learning opportunity as well. * I reserve the right to add to or delete items from this syllabus.