Introduction to Criminal Justice
Hybrid Course
Semester Hours Credit: 3
Lecture Hours: 48
Location: Community ServicesBuilding,3293, Second Floor, NAVSTA, Rota
Class Dates: 8 Aug-2 September, 2016
In Class sessions – will meet on Wednesdays at 1800-2100: August: 10, 17, 24 and 31. September: 7, 14, 21, 28, with additional weekly CTC Blackboard discussions and assignments
Instructor: Mr. Justin Sierras
Office Hours: 1700-2200
Instructor Email:
Phone: +34 642 019 671
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY
- Mr. Justin Sierras is a US. Navy Veteran who served as a Master –At- Arms from 1998-2012. As a subject matter expert, he was hand selected to teach at the Navy Master At Arms “A” School and continue his teaching skills in the training department for commands therefore. Mr. Sierras obtained his Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice in 2013, from American Military University. After a short break he set out on his goal of obtaining his Masters degree in Business with an emphasis in Security Management. This goal was accomplished this past April 2016.
J. INTRODUCTION
A. The study of the history and philosophy of criminal justice and ethical consideration; crime defined; its nature and impact; overview of criminal justice system; law enforcement; court system; prosecution and defense; trial process; corrections.
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 as preparation for careers in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, and Corrections.
D. Prerequisite(s): (None)
II. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, Introduction to Criminal Justice, the student will:
A. Describe and explain the history, philosophy and ethical considerations of criminal justice.
B. Define the nature and impact of crime on society and how it is integrated in to the criminal justice system.
C. Distinguish between the civil and criminal court systems.
D. Interpret the relationship between the components of the criminal justice system.
III. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
A. The instructional materials identified for this course are viewable through
http://www.ctcd.edu/academics/booksinstructional-materials/
Student Textbook:
Siegel, L. J., & Worrall, J. L. (2015). Essentials Of Criminal Justice (9th ed.). Cengage Learning
ISBN-10: 1285441524/ ISBS-13: 9781285441528
B. Supplementary Reading: As assigned by individual instructor assigned to course.
IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A. Your first responsibility is scholarship. The grade you receive will not be the grade of your instructor, but rather the grade you and you alone make.
B. You should attend class regularly in both face-to-face and online Central Texas College (CTC) Blackboard classes. 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 semester. 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 crash-cram 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 a period of absence.
F. Good class notes are indispensable for earning a good grade since both the material assigned and discussed 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.
Students guilty of scholastic dishonesty will be administratively dropped from the course with a grade of “F” and be subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension and expulsion
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 – Hybrid with BLACKBOARD
This course has been developed as a hybrid course. Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction with instructor via CTC 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 eight weeks once a week for a three-hour face-to-face session. In addition, instructional strategies will include weekly CTC Blackboard assignments and discussion boards to accomplish the remaining instruction per week.
VI. EXAMINATIONS
A. There will be a minimum of two major examinations and a written paper or project as follows:
1. Mid-term exam must be taken between 28Aug16- 04Sep16.
2. Final exam on must be taken between 25Sep16- 01Oct16.
3. Term Paper is due on 25Sep16.
B.A student must be present for all 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-the-blank, 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. If final exam is online, it will be administered via BioSig application. See Blackboard class for registration information.
F. A term paper will be required for this course. You must select a topic from within the book and submit it to your instructor by Sunday of week 2. The research paper should be at least 5 pages in length. This does not to include the cover page and reference page. The paper must be written in APA format. A minimum of 3 Scholarly sources must be utilized. Wikipedia is not an acceptable source and should not be used.
VII. SEMESTER GRADE COMPUTATIONS
The final grade in this course will be based on the following:
Participation 100 points
Assignments & Quizzes 200 points
Discussion Boards (mandatory) 200 points
Term Paper/Term Presentation 200 points
Mid-term Exam 100 points
Final Exam 200 points
Total possible points: 1000 points
POINTS GRADES
900-1000 A=4 pts/sem hr
800-899 B=3 pts/sem hr
700-799 C=2 pts/sem hr
600-699 D=1 pt/sem hr
0-599 F=0 pts/sem hr
A term paper or term project 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 self-pay 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 Non-attendance.”
D. Faculty/Administrative Initiated Withdrawals
Faculty are authorized to withdraw students who are not making satisfactory course progress as outlined in the section of the Catalog entitled "Satisfactory Progress Standards.
A student may be administratively withdrawn by a designated member of the administrative staff of the College under the following conditions:
· The student has been placed on Academic Suspension or Disciplinary Suspension;
· The student has an outstanding financial obligation owed to the college;
· The student registered for a course without the required prerequisite or departmental permission;
· Students who do not participate or complete graded activities during the first week will be administratively withdrawn.
The college is under no obligation to refund tuition and fees, or other costs associated with a student who is administratively withdrawn.
E. 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.
F. Cellular phones, beepers, and other electronic devices will be turned off while the student is in the classroom or laboratory unless the student is using the device for class purposes. No texting or social networking is allowed during class.
G. Instructor Discretion: The instructor reserves the right of final decision in course requirements.
H. 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.
Hybrid courses combine face-to-face classroom instruction with assignments and interaction 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 eight sessions. See below for course outline.
a) Class will meet face-to-face on Wednesday’s (1800 to 2100)
b) CTC Blackboard Discussion Board Initial posts are due by Thursday, at midnight (European time)
1. CTC Blackboard peer response to Discussion Board posts is due by Sunday, at midnight (European time)
c) CTC Blackboard assignment/project is due Sunday, at midnight (European time)
SESSION 1: (10Aug 16) Intro and units 1 and 2.
A. Unit One: Chapter 1, Crime and Criminal Justice
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
- Discuss the formation of the criminal justice system in America.
- Be able to define the concept of a criminal justice system.
- Be familiar with the basic component agencies of criminal justice.
- Comprehend the size and scope of the contemporary justice system.
- Trace the formal criminal justice process.
- Know what is meant by the term criminal justice assembly line.
- Characterize the informal criminal justice system.
- Describe the “wedding cake” model of justice.
- Be familiar with the various perspectives on justice.
- Understand the ethical issues involved in criminal justice.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Classroom lecture/discussion
b. Reading assignment: Chapter 1
c. Homework and other assignments designated by the instructor
B. Unit Two: Chapter 2, The Nature of Crime and Victimization
1. Unit Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will:
- Be able to discuss how crime is defined.
- Be familiar with the methods used to measure crime.
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of crime measures.
- Recognize the trends in the crime rate.
- Comments on the factors that influence crime rates.
- Be familiar with international crime trends and how the United States compare to other nations.
- Know the various crime patterns.
- Understand the concept of the criminal career.
- Be able to discuss the characteristics of crime victims.
- Distinguish among the various views of crime causation.
2. Learning Activities:
a. Classroom lecture/discussion