INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CJ 200 Sec. 200 CRN 1856
Spring 2009
Smith Hall 416
Monday & Wednesday; 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM
Darrell L. Legg, Instructor
Office SH 423
Phone: Home - 886-8399
EMAIL: dlegg@marshall.edu
Criminal Justice Department - 696-3196 (to
leave message)
Office Hours: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Monday & Wednesday and By Appointment
THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Required Textbooks:
1.
Adler, F., Mueller, G., & Laufer, W. (2009). Criminal Justice: An Introduction. Boston, MA:
McGraw Hill Publishing. ISBN# 978-0-07-337995-1
Course Description:
This survey course examines the various components of the criminal justice system,
including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students will be introduced to various
criminal justice agencies and career possibilities.
Our main goal is to understand how the criminal justice system is actually many
subsystems working toward a common goal. Each of these subsystems (law enforcement,
courts, and corrections) must work in cooperation with each other in order to make sure
justice is obtained and society is safe. In order to achieve our main goal, we will:
1. demonstrate an understanding of the myriad issues involved in the U.S. Criminal
Justice “System” ;
2. describe the system within the overall context of society and its institutions,
customs, and agencies;
3. explain the relationships among the three traditional components of the system
(law enforcement, courts, and corrections) and how each of these three relate to
other societal institutions, customs, and agencies;
4. demonstrate an awareness of “problematic” aspects of the system and its
components, as well as the ways such problems have been, currently are, or could
be remedied;
5. provide an overview of law making (origin of law, authority, purpose);
6. provide an overview of law breaking (criminalization of behaviors, prevention
efforts through law enforcement); and
7. provide an overview of reactions to law breaking (punishment, corrections).
8. provide a detail overview of the U.S. Criminal Justice System and its’ interactions
with special populations
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Reading and Assignment Dates
Date
Week 1 (Jan. 12 & 14)
Chapters
1&2
Week 2 (No Class on
Monday, Jan. 19- Class
on Wed. Jan. 21)
Week 3 (Jan. 26 & 28)
Week 4 (Feb. 2 & 4)
Week 5 (Feb. 9 & 11)
Week 6 (Feb. 16 & 18)
Week 7 (Feb. 23 & 25)
Week 8 (Mar. 2 & 4)
Week 9 (Mar. 9 & 11)
Week 10 (Mar. 18 &
20)
March 22-29
Week 11 (Mar. 30 &
Apr. 1)
Week 12 (Apr. 6 & 8)
Week 13 (Apr. 13 &
15)
Week 14 (Apr. 20 &
22)
Week 15 (Apr. 27 &
29)
Week 16 (Date to be
announced)
2&3
Topics
Welcome; Criminal Justice: An Introduction &
Overview; Crime & Criminals
Crime & Criminals; Explaining Criminal Behavior
3&4
4 & Test 1
5
6
7
Test 2 & Ch 8
9
10
Explaining Criminal Behavior; The Criminal Law
The Criminal Law; Test 1 (Ch. 1-4)
History & Organization of the Police
Police Functions & Police Culture
The Rule of Law in Law Enforcement
Test 1 (Ch. 5 – 7); The Origin & Role of the Courts
Lawyers & Judges
Criminal Prosecution & Adjudication
11 & Test 3
Spring Break
Sentencing ; Test 3 (Ch. 8 – 11)
12
13
Corrections: Yesterday & Today
Institutional Corrections
14
Alternatives: Community Corrections
15
Justice for Juveniles & Victims & Review
Final Exam
Final Exam (Ch 12 – 15)
Tenets of Attendance (Policy Statement)
Attendance is MANDATORY in this class. A student should recognize that one of the most
important aspects of a college education is classroom attendance & participation. The value of
this part of the academic experience cannot be fully measured by the testing process.
Absences such as those resulting from illness, death in the family, or institutional activities
(Those approved by the academic deans, such as debates, artistic performances, class trips, and
athletics) are to be excused when a student reports such and is subsequently verified by the
instructor. For such absences, the student should not be penalized (MU Undergraduate catalog).
When students attend classes they are in a position to make significant contributions to their
learning experiences and the learning experiences of others by asking pertinent questions,
making pertinent observations, and sharing information. When students cut classes, they not only
keep themselves from learning, but they keep other from learning all they possibly could.
Students should participate, just not occupy a chair.
Students will be held accountable for all requirements and information covered in all classes. If it
becomes necessary to give quizzes to spur attendance, the points gained on these quizzes will
count toward test scores.
Any materials due are due on the day stated. If assignments or papers are late or not turned in, in
class on the date stated, the paper or assignment will only be accepted with a minimum of a letter
grade deduction for lateness.
In-class materials will not be available for Amake-up.@
All exams will be taken on the dates assigned. If an exam is missed, then this will result in a 0
(zero) being given for the exam. However, exams may be rescheduled by the instructor if he is
given prior notice, or excuse as specified in the catalog and in the above tenets
Course Requirements
The class grade will consist of several items. There will be 4 (four) exams following each major
topic of discussion and five (5) scheduled quizzes.
EXAMS: The exams will consist of a variety of multiple choice, true - false, matching, and fill in - the - blank questions. Exams will reflect quiz material, class material, and reading material.
Each exam will be worth 200 points.
QUIZZES: The five (5) scheduled quizzes will be worth 20 points each, for a total possible of
100 points. These quizzes will be based on your reading assignments and will be a maximum of
10 questions each. Some MAY be shorter.
CLASS PARTICIPATION: In this subjective portion of your overall grade, I will assess your
individual participation in class discussion. You will be awarded anywhere from 0 to 100 points
for your active participation. A maximum of 50 points of this participation will be indicated on
your exam. So it is possible to only earn participation points for one half of the semester and not
the other.
***NOTE*** LATE ASSIGNMENTS, IF ACCEPTED, WILL LOSE ONE FULL LETTER
GRADE.
GRADING SCALE:
A = 900 - 1000+ points
B = 800 - 899 points
C = 700 - 799 points
D = 600 - 699 points
F=
<600 points
Miscellaneous Information: PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED LATE FOR ANY
REASON. Your paper counts as ten percent of your final grade. Only original copies of the
paper will be graded. Carbon/Xerox copies are not acceptable. Papers will be stapled in the
upper left corner, and will not be enclosed in any type of plastic or paper folder.
MAKE A COPY OF YOUR PAPERS BEFORE SUBMITTING THEM.
WARNING!!! In the past, students have procrastinated, on both term papers and other
assignments. Students have had such problems as typing papers on the night before they are
due, and having the electricity go out, losing not only the computer, but the whole report; or
having relied on another student to type a paper on the morning it is due, the typist arrived at
school late, and the paper was not ready on time. You are responsible for your work, and
excuses such as these will not cause a paper to be accepted late!
Grade Inquiries: Student materials will be returned as soon as graded to the student. If the
student has a question about a grade on an assignment, the student must bring the assignment
to the professor. No grade inquiries about specific assignments will be explored without the
questioned assignment. It is the student's responsibility to keep their materials. Final
examinations and materials not picked up will be kept in my office for 30 days into the next
semester. A student may pick up their final examination and other materials after grades are
turned in for the semester until thirty days into the next semester. At that time, finals and all
other material not claimed will be destroyed.
Special Notes: Portable cellular phones, beepers, similar paging devices, MP3 Players, etc.
may be disruptive to the class, and you are encouraged NOT to bring them into the classroom.
If you do bring them to class, please make sure they are turned off. Should they become a
nuisance, you may be asked to remove them from the classroom.
“Policy for Students with Disabilities: Marshall University is committed to equal
opportunity in education for all Students, including those with physical, learning
and psychological disabilities. University policy states that it is the responsibility of
students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) in
Prichard Hall 117, phone (304-696-2271) to provide documentation of their disability.
Following this, the DSS Coordinator will send a letter to each of the student’s instructors
outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in classroom
experiences, outside assignments, testing and grading. The instructor and student will
meet to discuss how the accommodation(s) requested will be provided. For more
information, Please visit (http://www.marshall.edu/disabled) or contact Disabled Student
Services Office in Prichard Hall 117 (696-2271)