College of Southern Idaho

Department of Social Science

Syllabus-Criminal Justice: CRIJ 201-Community Based Corrections

Web Based-Spring 2010

Course Description: This course is designed to familiarize the student with the alternatives to formal incarceration utilizing resources and facilities within the community.

Prerequisite: None

Required Textbook: Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections, Dean John Champion,6th Edition

Instructor: Brett Reid Office: Canyon 206
Office Phone: 732-6339 E-Mail Address:

Office Hours: 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., M, W, F Class Schedule: WEB

The CSI Mission Statement

The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides quality educational, social, cultural, economic, and workforce development opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. CSI prepares students to lead enriched, productive and responsible lives in a global society.

Social Science Department Mission

The mission if the Social Science department is to provide educational, social and cultural opportunities which encourage enriched, productive and responsible lives primarily by instructing students to understand, interpret, and apply Social Science discipline coursework.

Social Science Department Goals: This course also addresses the following Social Science Department goals:

1. Help students understand important facts, concepts and theories of Social Science subjects.

2. Help students acquire techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in the disciplines.

3. Help students develop ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.

4. Teach students to use evaluation, analysis and synthesis to interpret and solve problems.

5. Teach students to use different perspectives from the social sciences and education to make better-informed decisions.

6. Help students acquire an informed understanding of various cultures.

7. Prepare to transfer to a university.

Criminal Justice Program Objectives:

  1. To examine the social, philosophical, and historical perspectives of criminal behavior and the administration of justice.
  2. To introduce students to major criminal procedure concepts and examine how corresponding Supreme Court precedent impacts criminal procedure.
  3. To introduce students to the historical development of policing in America and contemporary policing theories.
  4. To introduce students to the historical development of corrections in America and contemporary correctional theories.
  5. To introduce students to the law of criminal evidence and examine how criminal evidence law is applied during a criminal trial.
  6. To prepare students for transfer to a four-year criminal justice program and upper-division course work in criminal justice administration.
  7. To prepare students for entry level positions in the criminal justice field.

Correctional Emphasis Mission Statement

The Criminal Justice Program with an emphasis in Corrections prepares students to understand the concepts associated with all aspects of the correctional field and profession in order to prepare then for employment in a correctional setting or related criminal justice profession.

Correctional Emphasis Course Objectives:

1.  To examine the roles of probation and parole officers, pre-sentence investigators, special populations of offenders under supervision, and the sentencing methods utilized by the court system.

2.  To examine the social, philosophical, and historical perspectives of community corrections in America.

3.  To introduce students to major alternatives to traditional community correctional theory.

4.  To introduce students to the historical development of community corrections in America and contemporary correctional theories.

5.  To introduce students to major theories regarding patterns of criminal behavior, victimology, and methods of treatment in corrections.

6.  To prepare students for entry level positions in the corrections field.

Outcomes Assessment Methods

Multiple Choice/True False Exams / Web Discussion when appropriate / Homework
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CRIJ 201 Course outcomes aligned with Social Science Goals and Criminal Justice Program with Correctional Emphasis Objectives

Social Science Department Goals / Correctional Emphasis Program Objectives
1.Understand the concept of community based corrections / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,2,3,4,5,6
2. Understand the philosophy of probation and parole. / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,2,3,4,5,6
3. Evaluate the roles of jails and prisons. / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,2,4,6
4.Understand the components of probation and parole administration / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,3,4,5,6
5. Evaluate the theories of offender treatment / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,2,3,5,6
6. Indentify components of juvenile probation. / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, / 1,2,3,5,6
7. Understand the sentencing options and theories available to judges. / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 / 1,2,3,5,6

The textbook, study guides, homework, and evaluations will help the student achieve the Social Science Department and Criminal Justice Program goals with an emphasis on correctional program goals and the course objectives.

Policies and Procedures

Student Disability: Any student with a documented disability may be eligible for related accommodations. To determine eligibility and secure services, students should contact the coordinator of Disability Services at their first opportunity after registration for a class. Student Services is located on the second floor of the Taylor Building on the Twin Falls Campus. Contact at 208.732.6260 (voice) or 208.734.9929 (TTY), or email

Web “Attendance” Policy: Students are expected to meet the guidelines and due dates of the class as outlined in this syllabus as well as to monitor the course announcements frequently for any additional information that may be necessary for the student to successfully complete this course. It is imperative that you check your student email on a daily basis during this course, it will only last 4 weeks and if you miss a test or information on the announcements, you may be left behind.

Honesty Policy: I follow the honesty policy defined in the CSI Student Handbook. If a student cheats on an exam or plagiarizes on a writing assignment, I will give the student a zero on that exam. If a student violates the honesty policy more than once, I may fail the student.

Required Assignments: I expect students to complete tests and homework as assigned and as scheduled. This helps facilitate student learning and all tests will be based on the text, assigned homework, and Power Points.

Grading Practices:

1.  I will give three exams each worth 100 points during the semester (300 total points). Each exam will have 50 True/False questions worth 2 points each. The exams will be designed to assess the course outcomes. The tests will be available during the time slots indicated on Blackboard. Please watch for any announcements regarding the dates the tests will be available

2.  Homework will be required each week and will be factored into your final point score. Homework will only be accepted through the last week of class ending January 15th. Therefore, it will be necessary for you to track the course and check the announcements often to make sure you are tracking with the class. Homework will consist of answering one of the questions at the end of each chapter contained in the “Questions for Review” section. There are 14 chapters in the text. Homework is worth 10 points per chapter totaling 140 points. Keep the answers short but answer the questions adequately.

3.  You should submit your homework to me by email at . Make sure you let me know who the homework is from and what chapter you are responding to.

4.  I may post and extra credit/bonus assignment so watch for it on the announcements section. The bonus assignment maybe worth up to 20 points.

The following grading scale will be used:

A = 396-440 Points (90-100%)
B = 352 to 395 Points (80-89%)
C = 308 to 324 Points (70-79%)
D = 264 to 307 Points (60-69%)
F = Less than 264 Points (0-59%)