CRJ 102
Introduction to Criminal Justice II
Spring 2010
Credits: 3
Transfer: UNLV and UNR
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Maury Reichelt, MA
Sergeant, Nevada Department of Public Safety
Phone: 684-2427
E-mail: mreichelt@dps.state.nv.us
Division Chair: Robert Morin, J.D., Ph.D.
Office: Bristlecone 350A
Phone: 445-4401
Fax: 445-3141
E-mail: rpmorin@wnc.edu
Text: Criminal Justice Today, 10th edition, by Frank Schmalleger
Study guide for the text is highly recommended.
Course Description:
This course covers the adjudicatory process, adult and juvenile correction functions within the
Criminal Justice system.
Course Objectives/Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student passing with a grade of 80% should be able
to:
1. Identify the court system, both state and federal
2. Assess pretrial activities
3. Analyze the Grand Jury system
4. Define courtroom “actors” and their function
5. Describe the different types of witnesses
6. Analyze the theories of sentencing
7. Assess victim impact statements and their relevance to sentencing
8. Separate probation and parole
9. Identify the types of punishments, both historically and modern day
10. Distinguish differences between jails and prisons
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11. Analyze the main court decisions concerning juveniles
12. Assess today’s juvenile process
13. Look at America’s problem with drugs and criminal activity
Topical Outline
The following is a tentative schedule of material to be covered. This schedule is subject
to minor changes with advance notice to students.
Week One-1/25: Review syllabus, define goals of the class and discuss policies of
Western Nevada Community College. Address current issues in the news today.
Each student will be required to stay current on recent events in the newspaper that
correspond to our class and bring in the articles for the week you feel pertinent.
Discuss expectations and answer questions concerning the up-coming semester.
Read Chapter 9
Week Two-2/1: Discuss Chapter 9, regarding history and structure of the American
Court State and Federal system, and the Courtroom Work Group.
Week Three-2/8: Discuss Chapter 9, regarding the professional and nonprofessional
Courtroom participants.
Read Chapter 10
Week Four-2/15: No class Presidents Day
Week Five- 2/22: Discuss Chapter 10 (All) pre-trial activities, the criminal trial, its
stages and improving the adjudication process.
Read Chapter 11
Week Six-3/1: Discuss Chapter 11 regarding the philosophy and goals of the criminal
sentencing. Sentencing structures, federal guidelines and innovations in sentencing.
FIRST TEST Chapters 9 and 10
Week Seven-3/8: Discuss Chapter 11, the sentencing environment, the victim, sentencing
options and the death penalty.
Read Chapter 12
Week Eight-3/15: Discuss Chapter 12 (All) Probation and Parole.
Read Chapter 13
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Week Nine-3/22: No Class. Spring Break
Week Ten-3/29: Discuss Chapter 13 early punishments and the emergence of prisons.
Week Eleven-4/5: Discuss Chapter 13 prisons today, jails and private prisons.
Read chapter 14
Week Twelve-4/12: Discuss Chapter 14 the male and female inmates world and the
staffs world.
SECOND TEST Chapters 11, 12 and 13
Week Thirteen-4/19: Discuss Chapter 14, prison riots, prisoner’s rights and issues facing
prisons today.
Read Chapter 15
Week Fourteen-4/26: Discuss Chapter 15, juvenile justice throughout history and the
problems of children today.
Week Fifteen-5/3: Discuss Chapter 15, the legal environment, the juvenile justice
process today and the post-juvenile court era.
Read Chapter 16
Week Sixteen-5/10: Discuss Chapter 16 (All), drugs and crime in America. Learn the
different types of illegal drugs and their social costs on society, such as other offenses
linked to drug use and the response and strain on America’s justice system
Week Seventeen-5/17: FINAL EXAMINATION Chapters 14, 15 and 16
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Simple Rules of order:
1. Talking among the students is not permitted during the lecture or video presentation.
The professor is easily annoyed and will embarrass you if you insist on talking during
these times.
2. Cheating and plagiarism is not permitted. Those caught cheating on an exam or
plagiarism on homework can expect to be punished to the fullest extent of the college’s
guidelines. These punishments may include failure on the exam, failure in the course or
expulsion from the college.
3. Discussion of the material is encouraged. The professor has been known to arbitrarily
increase student’s grade because they contributed to the course through discussion. This
discussion should be directed at the professor, not at each other.
4. Attendance is mandatory. You cannot purchase a degree in Criminal Justice from
Western Nevada Community College. You must earn it!
5. Late assignments will be penalized by one grade per day, unless alternative
arrangements are made with the professor prior to the due date of the assignment.
6. Pagers and cellular phones will be turned off during class. No test messaging.
7. This is a three credit class. You are allowed one absence without penalty/dropped from
the class. Use it wisely. Students are encouraged to speak to the professor should a
problem arise where they must miss more than one class. A role sheet will be present in
class each week and it is your responsibility to sign in. If a lecture is missed it is your
responsibility to get class notes from another student. So make a friend in class!
8. There are NO make-up exams or homework. You miss an exam or homework
assignment, you get an ‘F’ for that particular piece of missed work. If you are unable to
take an exam or turn in a homework assignment on the scheduled day, you must make
arrangements with the instructor prior to the due date.
Evaluation: Course evaluation will consist of three exams. The tests will not be comprehensive.
They will consist of the most recent material discussed after the previous test. Examinations may
include multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank and true/false. All material in the book
may be covered whether or not explicitly mentioned in class. All exams will have an 80 minute
time limit.
Grading: Grades will be assigned on the basis of the average of the three tests and the
homework. 90-100% is an A, 80-89% is a B, 70-79% is a C, 60-69% is a D, and below 60% is
failure. Class participation can bump up your grade.
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The grading break down is as follows:
Exam #1 – 30% of total
Exam #2 – 35% of total
Exam #3 – 35% of total
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R: This class is rated “R”. This class contains adult language, adult situations and brief nudity.
Any problems with this, you might want to drop the class now!
Follow your course syllabus closely. It will tell you the subject for discussion/lecture on a given
day. Plan to spend at least three hours of outside preparation for every class session. Because
student abilities vary from course to course you may need to put more time than this on your
work. If you have a disability and need academic accommodation please contact Disability
Services at (775) 445-3267 Carson Campus.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STUDENT TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE
SYLLABUS.
AND FINALLY
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR STUDENT SERVICES RECORDS, I.E.,
Phone number, address, email, etc…
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