SYLLABUS FOR CJSA 1312
Crime in America
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Course Dates/Times: 22 Feb – 1 Apr 2016
Weekly CTC Blackboard discussions and assignments
Instructor: Nikki M. Drago
Instructor’s Location: Ramstein, Germany
(Central European Time)
Skype Office Hours: Monday – Friday
Flexible but please give me a notice so I can set a time
up that works best for both of us.
Instructor Email: moandnikkid@yahoo.com
Phone: +491718626381
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY
Nikki M. Drago is currently the Chief Enlisted Manager for the United States Air Forces in
Europe Inspector General. Prior to this duty he was the Security Forces Manager for the 423d
Security Forces Squadron, RAF Alconbury, England. He was the senior enlisted leader for 129
active duty members and 18 Ministry of Defense Police Officers and civilian employees
responsible for providing security, police services and force protection for more than 4,000
military and civilian personnel and strategic level resources. His primary duties included the
inspection and evaluation of Security Forces activities, determination of training requirements,
and identification of equipment needs. He developed and implemented contingency plans for the
base Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection program.
He earned an Associate Degree in Police Science through the Community College of the Air
Force in 2002, a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice Administration through Columbia
Southern University in 2007 and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in
Military Operation through Trident University in 2012. He began teaching for Central Texas
College in August 2013.
Nikki grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and entered the Air Force in May 1997. He began his career
as a security specialist and has served in a variety of assignments to include Operations
Superintendent, Flight Sergeant and various flight and staff positions. He deployed in support of
Operations Juniper Shield, United Assistance, Joint Forge, Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom and
Enduring Freedom.
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I. INTRODUCTION
A. This course will introduce students to American crime problems in historical
perspective, social and public policy factors affecting crime, impact and crime trends,
social characteristics of specific crimes, and prevention of crime.
B. This course is not chronologically dependent upon other Law Enforcement courses. It
is a required course for the Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice degree
program.
C. This course is occupationally related and serves in preparation for career(s) in Law
Enforcement, Criminal Justice, and Corrections.
D. Prerequisite(s): (None)
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, Crime in America, the student will be able to:
A. Explain the psychological, social, and economic impact of crime in society.
B. Identify characteristics of major crimes.
C. Discuss the impact on society and the prevention thereof.
D. List crimes by definition and classification according to major sub groupings.
E. Discuss the basic theoretical and behavioral models, as well as the historical
development of laws and contributions of famous law givers.
F. Define selected terms vital to the understanding of the legal terminology which will be
encountered in numerous Criminal Justice courses.
III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A. The instructional materials identified for this course are viewable through
http://www.ctcd.edu/academics/booksinstructional-materials/
Criminology: The Core-CTC Custom Cover, Larry J. Siegel, 5th Edition, Cengage
Publisher, ISBN 9781285068909
B. References:
1. Black’s Law Dictionary
2. Texas Statutes (e.g., Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Family Code,
Health & Safety Code, etc.)
3. U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and latest Amendments, and Texas Constitution
4. www.fbi.gov/ucr
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
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A.
Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive for this course will
not be the grade of the instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.
B.
You should attend online class regularly on Central Texas College (CTC)
Blackboard. Online attendance involves logging into your Blackboard class and
participating in discussions, submitting assignments, etc. Be prepared to also take
any unannounced quizzes relating to text assignments and lecture material presented
from the beginning of the course. Please refer to ‘Class Attendance and Course
Progress’ under the Academic Policies section in our current CTC Course Catalog.
C.
You are encouraged to give your best effort throughout the course. From the
beginning, you should plan for a steady, organized, and continuous effort, which in
the long run will prove more effective for your final grade than a last minute crashcram policy. Your course grade is not determined solely by exam grade. Such
factors as class participation, initiative, attendance, and individual research papers
will be considered in grade computation.
D.
From time to time, special library and/or outside assignments will be made to
members of the class individually and/or in groups. You are expected to read all
assignments and fulfill your responsibilities to any group assignment.
E.
You are expected to read all assigned material and bring your textbook to class.
Keep informed on all assignments, especially after an absence.
F.
Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade, since both the material
assigned and that discussed in class will be the basis for examination material.
G.
Scholastic Honesty: All students are required and expected to maintain the highest
standards of scholastic honesty in the preparation of all coursework and during
examinations. The following are considered examples of scholastic dishonesty:
Plagiarism: The taking of passages from the writing of others without giving proper
credit to the sources.
Collusion: Using another’s work as one’s own, or working together with another
person in the preparation of work, unless such joint preparation is specifically
approved in advance by the instructor.
Cheating: Giving or receiving information on examinations.
H.
Special Work: A term paper or other project, per requirements of the instructor, will
be required. The subject must be appropriate for the course material. Check with
the instructor when you have made a selection. The value is indicated in the
semester grade computation and has considerable weight on your final average.
V. COURSE FORMAT – BLACKBOARD
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This course has been developed on Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make
sure that they have access to CTC Blackboard and that they are familiar with the contents
and assignments. It is also the student’s responsibility to log into CTC Blackboard at least
once a week to ‘attend’ the online class portion and to participate in the online
Blackboard discussions and assignments. Failure to do so will violate the attendance
policy and will have a negative impact on the course grade.
The course will meet for six weeks. In addition, instructional strategies will include
weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the remaining
instruction per week.
VI. EXAMS
A. There will be two major examinations, a research paper, discussion board questions
and quizzes as follows:
1. Exam 1 (Due NLT 13 Mar)
2. Exam 2 (Due NLT 1 Apr)
3. Quizzes (Each Lesson, Due NLT 28 Feb, 3, 13, 20, 27 Mar & 1 Apr)
4. Research paper (Due NLT 27 Mar)
B.
A student must complete all scheduled examinations. Students who know in
advance that they will be absent from an examination due to valid reasons must
arrange to take an early examination. Unexpected absences due to illness or
extenuating circumstances will require the student to see the instructor about
individual make-up work.
C.
Students without excused absences will be given a zero for the missed examination.
D.
Examinations will consist of both objective (true/false, multiple choice, fill in-theblank, and matching) and subjective (short answer and essay) questions. Students
must be able to communicate both orally and in written form, thus some questions
requiring the composition and writing of an essay answer will be required.
E.
Final exams will be monitored via BioSig application.
VII. EXAMS SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS
EXAM
POINTS
Mid Term
225
Final Exam
225
Research Paper
150
Quizzes
180
Discussion Board/Participation 120
TOTAL
1000
CJSA 1312
POINTS
900-1000
800-899
700-799
600-699
0-599
GRADES
A=4 pts/sem hr
B=3 pts/sem hr
C=2 pts/sem hr
D=1 pt/sem hr
F=0 pts/sem hr
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A term paper is expected from all students. Students may vary in their competency levels
on these abilities, so the instructor may need to revisit the term paper concept during the
course.
VIII. NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM COURSE INSTRUCTOR
A. Tuition refunds are made only in the case of class cancellation or official and timely
withdrawal from CTC or from a course. Please refer to the current course catalog for
more details.
B. GoArmyEd students should contact their education counselor before withdrawing and
are required to withdraw through the GoArmyEd portal.
Please note: a military withdrawal does not override CTC’s grading policy. For selfpay students, refunds are computed from the date the Application for Withdrawal or
Refund is filed with the CTC Field Representative or designated Student Services
Officer. Special conditions apply to students who receive federal, state, and/or
institutional financial aid.
Tuition and fees paid directly to the Institution by the Veterans Administration, Title
IV (Financial Aid Programs, a sponsor, donor, or scholarship shall be refunded to the
source rather than directly to the students.
C. Course Withdrawals, Student Responsibilities: It is the student’s responsibility to
officially withdraw from a course. The instructor cannot initiate a withdrawal based upon
a student’s request. Rather, students must initiate the withdrawal with the designated
Education Center Representative, through the CTC Field Representative or the Student
Services Officer for that region.
Applications for Withdrawal will be accepted at any time before the completion of 75%
of the course, after which time the student will be assigned an “FN”- “Failure for Nonattendance.”
D. Incomplete / Course in Progress Grade Policy: An “IP” or “Incomplete” grade may be
assigned by an instructor if a student has made satisfactory progress in a course with the
exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other project. The “IP” grade may also be
assigned based on circumstances beyond a student’s control, such as personal illness,
death in the immediate family, or military orders. Notice of absences, with supporting
documentation, may be required by the instructor. The instructor makes the final decision
concerning the granting of the incomplete grade. With an “Incomplete” grade, students
are required to complete a set amount of work before the instructor will submit an official
letter grade.
E. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course
requirements.
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F. Civility: Individuals are expected to be cognizant of what a constructive educational
experience is and respectful of those participating in a learning environment. Failure to
do so can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
IX. COURSE OUTLINE
Note:
The instructor has the right to change the course schedule. Any changes will be announced in
class. If the student misses a class period and changes are announced, it is the student’s
responsibility to receive the missed information from a classmate or the instructor.
Assignments and interaction are via CTC Blackboard. It is the student’s responsibility to make
sure that they have access to internet so that they may communicate, via CTC Blackboard, with
the instructor. The class is broken down into six lessons. See below for course outline.
A. Lesson 1: Chapters 1: Crime and Criminology (22-28 Feb)
1. Learning Objectives:
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Explain the various elements of the criminological enterprise.
Differentiate between crime and deviance.
Discuss the three different views of the definition of crime.
Discuss the different purposes of the criminal law.
Describe the criminal justice process.
Identify the ethical issues in criminology.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 1
b. Discussion Board Question
Chapter 2: The Nature and Extent of Crime (22-28 Feb)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Discuss the various forms of crime data.
2. Analyze recent trends in the crime rate.
3. Be familiar with the factors that influence crime rates.
4. Identify the gender and racial patterns in crime.
5. Know what is meant by the term aging-out process.
6. Be familiar with the concept of chronic offending and know its causes.
2. Learning Activities:
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a. Reading Chapter 2
Chapter 3: Victims and Victimization (22 - 28 Feb)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Describe the victim’s role in the crime process.
2. Know the greatest problems faced by crime victims.
3. Know what is meant by the term cycle of violence.
4. Be familiar with the ecology of victimization risk.
5. Describe the most dominant victims characteristics.
6. Be familiar with the most important theories of victimization.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 3
b. Discussion Board Question
c. Quiz
D. Lesson 2: Chapter 4: Rational Choice Theory (29 Feb – 6 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Describe the development of rational choice theory.
2. Explore the concepts of rational choice.
3. Explain what is meant by the term seductions of crime.
4. Discuss the elements of situational crime prevention.
5. Analyze the elements of general deterrence.
6. Discuss the basic concepts of specific deterrence.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 4
b. Discussion Board Question
Chapter 5: Trait Theory (29 Feb – 6 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the development of trait theory.
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2. Discuss some of the biochemical conditions that have been associated with
crime.
3. Describe the link between genetics and crime, according to trait theory.
4. Discuss the elements of the psychodynamic perspective.
5. Show why behavioral theory is linked to crime.
6. Understand the controversy surrounding the link between intelligence and
crime.
2. Learning activities:
a. Reading Chapter 5
b. Quiz
c. Begin Research Paper
C. Lesson 3: Chapter 6: Social Structure Theory (7 – 13 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Describe the association between social structure and crime.
2. Know the elements of social disorganization theory.
3. Be familiar with the views of Shaw and McKay.
4. Know the various elements of ecological theory.
5. Discuss the concepts of strain.
6. List and compare the elements of cultural deviance theory.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 6
b. Discussion Board Question
Chapter 7: Social Process Theories (7 – 13 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the concepts of social process and socialization.
2. Discuss the effects of family relationships on crime.
3. Understand how the educational setting influences crime.
4. Be aware of the link between peers and delinquency.
5. Contrast social learning, social control, and social reaction (labeling) theories.
6. Link social process theory to crime prevention efforts.
2. Learning Activities:
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a. Reading Chapter 7
b. Quiz
c. Exam 1
D. Lesson 4: Chapter 8: Social Conflict, Critical Criminology & Restorative Justice
(14 – 20 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the ideas that underpin critical criminology.
2. Link globalization to crime and criminality.
3. Define the concept of state (organized) crime.
4. Know the goals and findings of critical research.
5. Know some of the basic ideas of critical feminism.
6. Discuss how restorative justice is related to peacemaking criminology.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 8
Chapter 9: Developmental Theories: Life-Course, Propensity & Trajectory
(14 – 20 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Trace the history of and influence on developmental theory.
2. Know the principles of the life course approach to developmental theory.
3. Explain the term problem behavior syndrome.
4. Articulate the principles of Sampson and Laub’s age-graded life course theory.
5. Be able to define the concept of the latent trait and assumptions of the general
theory of crime (GTC).offenders.
6. Know the principles of trajectory theory.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 9
b. Discussion Board Question
c. Quiz
E. Lesson 5: Chapter 10: Violent Crime (21 – 27 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
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After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the various causes of violent crime.
2. Define rape and be familiar with why men commit rape.
3. Discuss the issues involving rape and the law.
4. Recognize that there are different types of murder.
5. Understand the nature and patterns of robbery.
6. Be able to discuss newly emerging forms of violence, such as stalking, hate
crimes, and workplace violence.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 10
Chapter 11: Political Crime & Terrorism (21 – 27 Mar)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Define the term political crime.
2. Identify the causes of political crime.
3. Compare espionage and treason.
4. Distinguish among terrorists, insurgents, guerillas, and revolutionaries.
5. List and identify the various forms of terrorism.
6. Know the supposed causes of terrorism and what motivates the terrorist.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 10
b. Discussion Board Question
c. Quiz
d. Research Paper Due
G. Lesson 6: Chapter 12: Economic Crimes: Blue-Collar, White-Collar & Green-Collar
(28 Mar – 1 Apr)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the history of theft offenses.
2. Recognize the differences between professional and amateur thieves.
3. Understand the various forms of shoplifting.
4. Know what is meant by the term Ponzi scheme.
5. Be familiar with the various forms of white-collar crime.
6. Discuss efforts to control white-collar and green-collar crime.
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2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 12
b. Discussion Board Question
Chapter 13: Public Order Crimes (28 Mar – 1 Apr)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the term social harm.
2. Discuss the activities of moral crusaders.
3. Be aware of the various forms of outlawed deviant sexuality.
4. Distinguish among the different types of prostitutes. .
5. State of the arguments for and against legalizing prostitution.
6. Discuss the causes of substance abuse.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 13
b. Discussion Board Question
Chapter 14: Crimes of the New Millennium: Cybercrime & Transnational
Organized Crime (28 Mar – 1 Apr)
1. Learning Objectives
After mastering the content of this chapter, a student should be able to:
1. Be familiar with the concept of cybercrime and why it has become important.
2. Distinguish among cyber theft, cyber vandalism, and cyber terrorism.
3. Know the various types of cybercrimes, such as computer frauds, illegal
copyright infringement, and identify theft.
4. Discuss efforts to control cybercrime.
5. Trace the evolution of organized crime.
6. Be familiar with the activities of transnational organized crime.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Reading Chapter 14
b. Quiz
c. Exam 2
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