INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE I
CRJ # 101
Course Syllabus
Revised by: T P Hubert
January 20, 2014
Cedar 205
Number of Credits: 3
Transfers to institutions within NSHE as CRJ 101
Prerequisite: None
Students who complete a degree or certificate of achievement at WNC are able to demonstrate
appropriate:
Communication:
1)
college-level writing skills.
2)
oral communications skills.
3)
college-level reading skills.
Analysis:
1)
demonstrate knowledge of appropriate critical thinking skills.
2)
use appropriate principles of reasoning and decision-making.
Personal Development
1)
I)
engage in meaningful self-assessment
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
T P Hubert
Office: N/A
Phone: 775.849-9544
Email: Terry.Hubert@wnc.edu
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DIVISION CHAIR INFORMATION:
CTE Division Chair: Sherry Black
Office: Reynolds 113A, Assistant Laura-Lee Redwine
Phone: 445-4272
Fax: 445-3022
II)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will examine the development of the American Criminal Justice System and study
explanations of crime causation and the origins of law. The development of the police and
contemporary police management and issues are examined.
III)
COURSE OBJECTIVES OR OUTCOMES
CRJ 101 will introduce students to the study of the Criminal Justice system in America. The successful
student will identify with the historical antecedents of law, criminality and the police. This class will
establish the foundation for the Introduction to Criminal Justice 102 and its focus on the courts,
sentencing and corrections. Finally this class will utilize a multi-disciplinary approach examine the
functioning of the contemporary American system of Justice.
IV)
GRADING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
The final grade will be determined by averaging the written responses and the exams; scores falling into
90-100% category will receive an A ("superior"); scores falling into the 80-89% a B ("above average");
scores falling into the 70-79% will receive a C ("average"); scores falling into the 60-69% with receive a D
("below average"); and scores below 60% will receive a F.
EXAMS and ASSIGNMENTS
A total of two exams will be given throughout the semester. The final is a COURSE REQUIREMENT.
Exams will be derived from lectures, text, and video presentations. One quiz worth 50 points will be
given during the semester. The quiz will be announced the week before and cannot be made up. There
will be three written assignments during the term as indicated on the syllabus. The responses should be
three or four pages worth 50 points. Late assignments are penalized but may be turned in before the
Final exam.
MAKE UP POLICY
No make-up for any exam will be provided. A missed exam will be counted as the lowest score. (HINT:
If you miss an exam, miss an exam for hospitalization or some viable reason rather than the lack of
preparation.)
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ATTENDANCE
Attend every session. The course moves on, whether or not you move on with it. Once you start
missing a class here and another there, you may well find that you're too far behind to catch up.
Determine to attend faithfully, whether you feel like it at the time or not. The instructor may drop any
student when he feels that the student has had an excessive number of unexcused absences. In
general, unexcused absences in excess of the number of credits (3) to be earned in the course may be
considered excessive.
Please note, that there will be a class sign in log; it is your responsibility to sign in for each class.
V)
REQUIRED MATERIALS
TEXT:
CJ: Realities And Challenges, 2cd Ed, Masters, Way, Gertsenfeld, Muscat, Hooper, Dussich,
Pincu and Skrapec, McGraw/Hill Publishers
VI)
TOPICAL OUTLINE
Criminal Justice System
Consensus/Conflict
Crime Control/Due Process models
Crime Data-UCR/NCVS
Criminological Theory
Rule of Law, Civil v Criminal
Crime Categories/Typologies
Police History
Police Organization/ Management
Search-Seizure
Police Culture/ Issues
Bill of Rights and Constitutional Safeguards
VII)
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Lecture/discussion/video
Cancelled Class Hotline: 445-3030
ASSIGNMENTS: Three written Responses are required.
3
(Week)
01-27-14 Introduction, syllabus, assignment #1
Video: Reefer Madness
02-03-14 Chapter 1
The Criminal Justice system
02-10-14 TX Chapter 2
Measuring crime, Video: Untying The Straight Jacket
02-17-14 President’s Day
02-24-14 TX Chapter 2, continued
Crime typology, video: Death Detectives: LA County Coroner
03-03-14 Chapter 3
Explaining Crime and Victimization, #1 assignment due
03-10-14 TX Chapter 4
Rule of law, Video: Not My Fault: Strange Defenses
03-17-14 Spring Break
03-24-14 Mid Term Exam
03-31-14 TX Chapter 5
The Police
04-07-14 Chapter 5, continued
Police subculture
04-14-14 TX Chapter 6
Video: Dangerous Missions: Fish and Wildlife, #2 assignment due
04-21-14 Chapter 6, continued
Police organization
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04-28-14 TX Chapter 7
Legal Challenges, Video: American Justice: The Sting
05-05-14 Chapter 7,continued and Final Review, assignment 3 due
05-12-14 Final Exam
Prepare for class. From your course syllabus you will know the topic, the readings, and any other
preparation that may be required. Complete this before the class begins. In addition, you will find that
a quick review of your notes on the preceding class will do much to make the "new" class meaningful to
you.
Follow your course syllabus closely. It will tell you the subject for discussion/lecture on a given day.
Plan to spend two hours of outside preparation for every class session. Because student abilities vary
from course to course you may need to put more or less time than this on your work.
Special Note: Please be advised that this class is rated as “R”. It does contain adult language and adult
situations. Violence is both depicted and graphic on occasions. Abusive language and brief nudity will be
encountered. This class is not for the timid. If you have a problem with this type of class agenda, then,
you should consider dropping this class.
* If you have a disability for which you will need to request accommodations, please contact the
Disability Support Services office (Bristlecone building, room 103) as soon as possible to arrange for
appropriate accommodations.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STUDENT TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE SYLLABUS.
FINALLY,
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR STUDENT SERVICES RECORDS, i.e. Phone number, address, etc.
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