Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Missouri State University

Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice

CRM 355-001: Current Issues in Policing

Spring2018 Strong Hall Room 202

Tue/Thu3:30-4:45 pm

Instructor Information

Name: Chief Paul WilliamsOffice: Strong Hall, Room 235

Cell phone: (417) 839-8820Email:

Office Hours: 4:45-6:00 and by appointment

Prerequisite Courses

CRM 210, CRM 250, CRM 260, and CRM 270.

Course Description

This course addresses a selection of contemporary issues and controversies facing police officers and law enforcement agencies. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to, problem-oriented and community policing, police use of force, racial profiling, leadership in law enforcement, and police corruption.

As learned in the prerequisite courses, policing is a complex, multifaceted social phenomenon; it is simultaneously a social institution (i.e., public law enforcement), a billion-dollar industry (e.g., the private policing and private security industries), a social sorting mechanism (e.g., racial profiling and the school-to-prison pipeline), and a cultural practice embedded in everyday life (e.g., surveillance). This course is designed to explore the challenges facing both police (individually and as an organization) and society by fully exploring a selection of contemporary issues and controversies facing police officers, law enforcement agencies, and modern society from a multidisciplinary approach. Discussion topics will vary based on class interest, some examples are:

o Strategies and practices (e.g., problem-oriented and community policing, use of force, racial profiling)

o Leadership in law enforcement

o Diversity (e.g. race, gender, sexual orientation) in law enforcement

o Inter-agency collaboration

o Misconduct and corruption

o Homeland security

o Technology and social media

o Immigration

o Militarization of police

o Challenges of the profession (e.g. stress, family, media)

o Nature of the relationship between the police and society

o Private industry

o Weapons, Tools, and Techniques

Course Objectives

This course will provide students a strong foundation of the role of police in society and an understanding of the processes and institutions of justice, which contribute to more effective and enlightened citizenship. At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:

• Recognize and explain challenges facing police officers within the institution, as well as in society
• Evaluate and develop policies related to these issues
• Identify, describe, and evaluate strategies, tactics, and methods in policing
• Describe the role of law enforcement in democratic societies
• Compare and evaluate emerging forms of policing
• Recognize and identify competing explanations for seemingly simple phenomena
• Recognize the power in the police occupation and how to avoid abusing this power
• Describe how a police officer impacts lives and the crucial role of ethics for police officers

Required Readings

-Textbook: Roger Dunham and Geoffrey P. Alpert. Critical Issues in Policing; Seventh Edition (2015),Waveland Press.

-Various assigned or provided readings that will be identified during the course.

Attendanceand Participation Policy

Because class attendance and course grade are demonstrably and positively related, the University,and this instructor, expects students to attend all class sessions of courses in which they are enrolled. Class participation is essential for learning the course material. Therefore, you should be prepared to arrive to class on time, with the assigned readings complete, and ready to engage the instructor and fellow students in discussion. Absence from class will negatively impact your grade. Excused absences will only be granted to those students who provide appropriate documentation for an absence from class resulting from: (1) participation in University-sanctioned activities and programs; (2) personal illness; or (3) family and/or other compelling circumstances. Any student who believes that his or her final grade for a course has been reduced unfairly because of attendance factors has the right to appeal that grade under the process outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog. It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520.

Course Assessments

There will be a variety of assignments and activities used in this course to evaluate student learning throughout the semester and ultimately to provide a grade based on your overall performanceat the conclusion of the class, including written examinations, a policy related position paper, and a group presentation.

Up-to-date grade calculations will be available in this course’s grade center in Blackboard. Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Exams (3)150 points

Policy Paper150 points

Group Presentation100 points

Attendance and Participation100 points

Total500 points

There is no extra credit offered during this course.

Grading Policy

Your overall numerical score in the class will be converted to a letter grade based on the following scale:

A (4.00) = 90-100%

B (3.00) = 80-89%

C (2.00) = 70-79%

D (1.00) = 60-69%

F (0.00) = 59% and below

Academic Dishonesty

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, which are available at either at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library.Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

Nondiscrimination

Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e. concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at

Disability Accommodation

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of the Disability Resource Center, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), Students are required to provide documentation of disability to the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations. The Disability Resource Center refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787,

Religious Accommodation

The University may provide a reasonable accommodation based on a person’s sincerely held religious belief. In making this determination, the University reviews a variety of factors, including whether the accommodation would create an undue hardship. The accommodation request imposes responsibilities and obligations on both the individual requesting the accommodation and the University. Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their sincerely held religious belief shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious observances on which they will be absent by submitting a Request for Religious AccommodationForm to the instructor by the end of the third week of the course.

Cell Phone Policy

As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.

Audio and Video Recording Course Activity

Students who wish to record lectures or class activities for study purposes must inform me first. Distribution or sale of recordings or other course materials is prohibited without the written permission of the instructor and other students who are recorded. Distribution without permission is a violation of copyright law and the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities (Sections 4.6, 4.8, 4.9).

Dropping a Class

It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520.See Academic Calendars ( for deadlines.

Title IX Policy

Missouri State University has a Title IX policy that guides our response to instances of sexual violence. Sexual Violence includes: Rape, Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, Sexual Harassment and Pregnancy issues. The Title IX policy can be located on the MSU Title IX website at This website is also a good resource for any questions or issues involving Title IX and contains contact information for the MSU Title IX Office and staff.

Mental Health and Stress Management

As a student, you may experience a range of personal issues that can impede learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance and may reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. You can learn more about free and confidential Missouri State University Counseling Center services available to assist you at

Suicide Prevention Resource

In accordance with Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. §173.1200), Missouri State has established a new policy regarding Suicide Prevention, Available Suicide Programs and Related Procedures.The SuicidePrevention Resource Policy can be found at:

Emergency Response Statement

In the case of severe weather, students should move to the basement utilizing the north and south stairwells. If Strong Hall is to be evacuated, students should proceed northeast to Glass Hall-Room 101 (overflow to rooms 102 and 108).Students who require assistance during an emergency evacuation must discuss their needs with their professors and the Disability Resource Center. If you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. For additional information, students should contact the Disability Resource Center, 836-4192 (PSU 405).For further information on Missouri State University’s Emergency Response Plan, please refer to the following web site:

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