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Criminal Justice 205: Introduction to Criminal Justice
Section 101
Credit Hours: 3
Fall 2013
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
10:10-11:00 a.m.
208 Humanities Building

Contact Information
Dr. Sarah Koon-Magnin
[e-mail]
*Email is preferred method of contact* [phone]

Office Hours and Location
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
11:05 a.m. – 1:05 p.m.
By appointment as needed
208 Humanities Building

Course Description
A review of the system for the delivery of Criminal Justice services in the U.S. and an analysis of operational practices at the major criminal justice decision stages. Criminal Justice majors must pass with a "C" or better.

Course Pre-requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this course.

Goals and Objectives of the Course
Introduction to Criminal Justice provides an overview of the three major institutions of criminal justice in the United States. After an introduction to the phenomenon of crime in America, we will spend the majority of time in this course focused on these three major institutions: police, courts, and corrections. The semester will conclude with an introduction to the juvenile justice system in America, which operates separately from the adult criminal justice system.
By the end of this course, students should be able to: • Describe the major trends in crime in the U.S. from 1980 to present • Understand the basic functions of the three primary institutions of the criminal justice system • Understand the various forms of interaction between the institutions of criminal justice • Explain the role of discretion in the American criminal justice system • Explain the differences between the adult criminal justice system and the juvenile justice system • Identify, understand, and explain the basic functions of the juvenile justice system

Course Format
This course will be taught as a “no web component” course which means that we will be meeting three times per week in a traditional classroom setting.

Course Materials
Crime & Justice in America: An Introduction to Criminal Justice (Second Edition) by Joycelyn M. Pollock Anderson Publishing ISBN: 978-1-4377-3512-3

Sakai
There is a website for this course on Sakai. Throughout the semester, the syllabus, students’ grades, and in-class handouts will be available for downloading and viewing on that site at the following address: http://www.southalabama.edu/ecampus/ Examinations
There are a total of five examinations in this course: four mid-term exams and a comprehensive final exam. • The four mid-term exams, each covering a few weeks’ worth of material, are worth 30 or 35 points each. • The final exam is comprehensive and will include material from the entire semester. The final exam is worth 55 points.

Make-Up Examination Policy
Exams can be rescheduled only for extenuating circumstances (e.g., student is hospitalized) and the student must contact Dr. Koon-Magnin in advance of the scheduled exam time. If the student cannot contact Dr. Koon-Magnin in person, the student must send an email to, or leave a voicemail for, Dr. Koon-Magnin prior to the exam. In the rare case that an exam needs to be rescheduled, it must be completed during the scheduled make-up exam period in Week 16 of the semester (December 2, 3, and 4; times to be determined).

Course assignments
In addition to the four mid-term exams and comprehensive final exam, there will also be 10 quizzes/in-class activities and students will also be graded for attendance/participation. See the attendance policy below.

Attendance/Participation Policy
There are a total of 39 class meetings this semester, not including those meetings in which an exam is taking place. Attendance will be taken on those 39 days, with half of a point (0.5) awarded for each day that the student is present. • In order to be marked present, students must be physically present when Dr. Koon-Magnin takes attendance. If a student is tardy, and misses attendance being called at the start of class, he or she will be marked absent. • If a student leaves class early without prior approval from Dr. Koon-Magnin, he or she will be marked absent. • Dr. Koon-Magnin reserves the right to mark students absent if they are engaging in disruptive or distracting activities, such as texting or using their cell phones for any other purpose. Any student who accepts a phone call during class will be marked absent. • To be clear: if a student is absent, if a student is not present at the time that attendance is taken, if a student leaves early or if a student does not adequately participate in class because of disruptive/distracting behavior, the student will receive a zero for attendance that day.
A total of 19.5 points are possible (39 days x 0.5 points = 19.5 points), but only 18 points will be counted towards the final attendance grade. Thus, students may miss three class periods without penalty. Any additional classes that are missed will result in loss of half of a point (0.5).

A student who unofficially withdraws from the course by ceasing to attend and participate in educational activities (e.g., taking tests) will receive a grade of F*.

JagAlert
JagAlert is an academic program intended to help freshman and sophomore students be successful in their courses. Watch for the JagAlert email around week 6 of this semester and then check your alerts in PAWs

Determining Final Grade
The point breakdown for this course is as follows:
| | |Rounded Percent |
|Assignments |Points | |
|Exam 1 |30 |12% | |
|Exam 2 |35 |14% | |
|Exam 3 |35 |14% | |
|Exam 4 |35 |14% | |
|Quizzes Total |42 |17% | |
|Final Exam |55 |22% | |
|Attendance/Participation Total |18 |7% | |
|TOTAL |250 |100% | |

Grading Scale Points Percentages Letter Grades
225-250 90-100% A
200-224 80-89% B
175-199 70-79% C
150-174 60-69% D
149 or below 59% or below F

A student who unofficially withdraws from the course by ceasing to attend and participate in educational activities (e.g., taking tests) will receive a grade of F*.

Important Dates
Last Day to Add or Change to a Course Audit: Wednesday, August 21
Last Day to Drop a Course: Friday, October 25
Final Examination Week: Monday, December 9 – Thursday, December 12

10:10 Final Examination for this course: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2013

Labor Day Holiday (NO CLASS): Monday, September 2
Fall Break (NO CLASS): Monday, October 7 – Tuesday, October 8
Thanksgiving Break (NO CLASS): Wednesday, November 27 – Sunday, December 1

Email Etiquette
All emails to Dr. Koon-Magnin should take the form of professional correspondence. This includes an appropriate salutation (i.e., Dear Dr. Koon-Magnin), a clear statement of your question or concern, and complete identifying information of the author (i.e., your name, Jag number, and the course in which you are enrolled). Vague inquiries such as “What is the reading?” without appropriate context will not be responded to.

Course Policies

Attendance
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding attendance is found in the Course Bulletin (http://www.usouthal.edu/bulletin/academic.htm) and includes the following: “An individual student is responsible for attending the classes in which the student is officially enrolled. The quality of work will ordinarily suffer from excessive absences.” Note the graded attendance policy for this course on pg. 2.

Student Academic Conduct Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct is found in the Lowdown (http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown). The University of South Alabama “is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to educating students relative to their responsibilities.”

“As a community of students and scholars, the University strives to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All members of the community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in academic work. This responsibility can be met only through earnest and continuing effort on the part of all students and faculty. Any dishonesty related to academic work or records constitutes academic misconduct including, but not limited to, activities such as giving or receiving unauthorized aid in tests and examinations, improperly obtaining a copy of an examination, plagiarism, misrepresentation of information, altering transcripts or university records. Academic misconduct is incompatible with the standards of the academic community. Such acts are viewed as moral and intellectual offenses and are subject to investigation and disciplinary action through appropriate University procedures. Penalties may range from the loss of credit for a particular assignment to dismissal from the University... Note that dismissal from any University of South Alabama college or school for reasons of academic misconduct will also result in permanent dismissal from the University. Faculty, students, and staff are responsible for acquainting themselves with, adhering to, and promoting policies governing academic conduct.”

Statement about Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious offense and will not be tolerated in this course. If a student submits plagiarized work it will be documented and filed with the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts & Sciences (and possibly additional University administrators).

All written work completed outside of class must be submitted via the course site at Turnitin.com (more information about how to create an account and submit work through this site will be provided in class prior to the due date of an out-of-class written assignment).

For more information about what constitutes plagiarism, see the website link below or speak to Dr. Koon-Magnin. http://www.usouthal.edu/univlib/instruction/plagiarismforstudents.html Academic Disruption Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in the Lowdown, the student handbook (http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown): “Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others, results in or threatens the destruction of property, and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of order in an academic environment. An academic environment is defined as a classroom, laboratory, library, study hall, field trip or similar setting in which formal learning is taking place. Though dependent upon the size and nature of the academic setting, disruption refers to behavior a reasonable person would view as substantially or repeatedly interfering with the conduct of an activity. Disruptive behavior may range from the mildly annoying (which should be tolerated as much as possible) to clearly disruptive, dangerous and/or violent behavior which should never be tolerated.” I expect that students will be cordial, courteous, and respectful of faculty members and fellow students.

Changes in Course Requirements
Not all classes progress at the same rate thus course requirements might have to be modified as circumstances dictate. You will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be changed.

Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodations. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).

Online Writing Support
The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutoring services through SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available at http://services.smarthinking.com Course Topical Outline

Week 1 – Introduction to the Criminal Justice System

• M 8/19 – Introduction to Criminal Justice System

• W 8/21 – Public Perceptions of the Criminal Justice System: Chapter 1

• F 8/23 – The Formal and Informal Criminal Justice System: Chapter 1

Week 2 – Crime in America

• M 8/26 – Sources of Crime Data: Chapter 2

• W 8/28 – Crime and Victimization in America: Chapter 2

• F 8/30 – Patterns and Trends of Crime and Victimization in America: Chapter 2

Week 3 – Criminal Justice System and the Law

• M 9/2 – Labor Day – NO CLASS

• W 9/4 – Theoretical Explanations of Crime and Victimization in America: Chapter 3

• F 9/6 – More Theoretical Explanations of Crime and Victimization in America: Chapter 3

Week 4 – Exam 1; Introduction to Policing

• M 9/9 – EXAM 1 – Introduction to the Criminal Justice System and Crime in America

• W 9/11 – The Development of Policing: Chapter 4

• F 9/13 – Structure, Organization, and Styles of Policing: Chapter 4

Week 5 – Policing

• M 9/16 – Policing in Society: Chapter 5

• W 9/18 – LAPD Documentary

• F 9/20 – The Legal Process: Chapter 6

Week 6 – Policing; Exam 2

• M 9/23 – Interrogation and Line-Ups: Chapter 6

• W 9/25 – Due Process and Policing: Chapter 6

• F 9/27 – EXAM 2 – Policing

Week 7 – Courts and Sentencing

• M 9/30 – The Criminal Law: Chapter 7

• W 10/2 – The Role of the Courts: Chapter 7

• F 10/4 – The Courtroom Workgroup: Chapter 8

Week 8 – Courts and Sentencing

• M 10/7 – Fall Break – NO CLASS

• W 10/9 – The Federal Court System: Chapter 8 • F 10/11 – Pre-Trial and Trial Procedures: Chapter 8

Week 9 – Courts and Sentencing

• M 10/14 – Trial Procedures: Chapter 9

• W 10/16 – Trial Procedures: Chapter 9

• F 10/18 – History and Goals of Sentencing: Chapter 9

Week 10 – Exam 3; Introduction to Corrections

• M 10/21 – EXAM 3 – Courts and Sentencing

• W 10/23– Types of Sentences: Chapter 9

• F 10/25 – The Goals and Costs of Corrections: Chapter 11

o Last Day to Drop a Course

Week 11 – Corrections

• M 10/28 – Bail and Preventive Detention: Chapter 11

• W 10/30 – Pre-Trial Diversion, Probation: Chapter 12

• F 11/1 – Intermediate Sentences and Restorative Justice: Chapter 12

Week 12 – Corrections

• M 11/4 – History of Prisons: Chapter 13

• W 11/6 – The Incarceration Experience: Chapter 13

• F 11/8 – Designing a Prison

Week 13 – Corrections

• M 11/11 – Working in a Prison

• W 11/13 – Parole: Chapter 14

• F 11/15 – Reentry and Recidivism: Chapter 14

Week 14 – Exam 4; Introduction to Juvenile Justice

• M 11/18 – EXAM 4 – Corrections

• W 11/20 – “When Kids Get Life” Documentary, Part 1

• F 11/22 – “When Kids Get Life” Documentary, Part 2

Week 15 – Applying Course Material

• M 11/25 – “When Kids Get Life” Documentary (if necessary), Juvenile Justice: Chapter 10

• W 11/27 – Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS

• F 11/29 – Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS

Week 16 – The Juvenile Justice System

• M 12/2 – Juvenile Courts: Chapter 10

• W 12/4 – Review for Final Exam, Student Evaluations

• F 12/6 – Exam Preparation Day – NO CLASS

COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM:
Final Examination for this course: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2013