CRJU 6600: Special Topics in Crim Justice (Technology & Criminal Justice Systems)
University of Colorado Denver
School of Public Affairs
Fall 2016
Professor: Dr. Jennings
Email:
Office Hours: online by appointment only
Class: August 22-December 17, 2016
Online via Canvas
Please go to
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an overview of a number of issues related to technology and its relationship with offenders, victims, and the criminal justice system. Specifically, we will be covering a myriad of technology-related topics such as: cybercrime, online fraud, sex crime, cyberbullying, cyberterrorism, and digital forensics. In addition, we will also be examining the criminal justice system's response to these intersections of technology and crime as well as focusing on the use of technology by actors in the criminal justice system for job-related functions and purposes.
COURSE COMPETENCIES
In the SPA CCJ program, students will become innovative thinkers and skilled professionals in the field of criminology and criminal justice by developing five main competencies, including: (1) substantive knowledge, (2) research skills, (3) critical thinking, (4) effective communication, and (5) Diversity and Cultural literacy. These competencies are developed through both course work and experiential learning.
SPECIFIC COURSE GOALS & OBJECTIVES
1). Understand the prevalence and incidence of cybercrime.
2). Identify the various types of cybercrime such as online fraud, sex crime, cyberbullying, etc.
3). Understand cyberterrorism from a global perspective.
4). Demonstrate knowledge of digital forensics and the criminal justice system’s response to the intersections of technology and crime.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & POLICIES
Course Material. All of the course material will be made available on Canvas, and you are required to take all of your exams online in Canvas.
Important Dates. Students are responsible for knowing all academic calendar dates for the semester. Please see the Registrar’s website for the full academic calendar.
Technical Requirements. Students are responsible for maintaining or accessing a computer system capable of participating in all aspects of this course. This includes, but is not limited to, running the eCollege software, Real One player, Adobe Reader, and web browsing.
Respect for Fellow Students. You need to respect the views of your fellow students even those that may be in opposition to your own. So, it is important to be professional and respectful when participating on the Discussion Board.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Student Conduct & Discipline. The University has rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of its business. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with the rules and regulations that govern student conduct and activities. Please visit the UCD Policies & Guidelines website, , for a complete guide to applicable policies and procedures.
Academic Integrity. All students are expected to uphold the University’s academic honesty code. A student must submit work that represents the student’s own original analysis and writing. If a student relies on the research or writing of others, the student must cite those sources. Words or ideas that require citations include, but are not limited to, all hardcopy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source. The University honor code and related policies is available online at:
Email Use. The University requires all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s UC Denver-assigned email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students to be official only if it originates from a UC Denver student account. (Beware! If you send emails from your personal email address, those emails may be quarantined by the system and never reach the instructor.)
Accommodation for Disability. The University is committed to providing reasonableaccommodation and access to programs and services to persons with disabilities. Students who want academic accommodations must register with Disability Resources and Services (DRS), 177 Arts Building, 303-556-3450, TTY 303-556-4766. I will be happy to provide the requested accommodations once you provide me with a copy of DRS’s letter.
COURSE MATERIALS
Required Textbooks:
1). Cybercrime and Digital Forensics: An Introduction. (2015). By Thomas J Holt, Adam
Bossler, Kathryn C Seigfried-Spellar. Routledge. ISBN: 9781138021303. Paperback
version.
COURSE GRADES
DISCUSSION BOARD PARTICIPATION
You are required to post one substantive responseto each of the 11Discussion Board prompts on Canvas. Your substantive response/s are due by the date of the Exam for the corresponding material (e.g., your response to Discussion Board Prompt #1 is due by 9-4-16 at 11:59pm). Your participation on the Discussion Board accounts for 35% of your overall grade for the course.
Your grade will be based on the following:
Your grade for this course will be based on your scores your participation in the discussion board, your journal article critique, and your research paper. There will not be any opportunities for extra-credit points.
Discussion Board Participation: 35%
Journal Article Critique: 25%
Research Paper: 40%
Total: 100%
The following is the grading scale to be used:
A (90-100); B+ (87-89); B (80-86); C+ (77-79); C (70-76); D+ (67-69); D (60-67); F (59 or below).
JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUE
You are required to choose 1 of the 12 articles posted on Canvas that is of interest to you and provide a 2 page double-spaced review of the article. Your article review must be turned in to the instructor via the upload link in Canvas by 11-6-16 @ 11:59pm. ANY article critique turned in late will be marked down. In this article critique, you should summarize the article and its main findings, discuss 5 strengths of the article and 5 weaknesses of the article, and conclude with recommendations on how research in the future on this topic can be improved.
RESEARCH PAPER
You are required to complete a 12 page research paper (double-spaced). The instructor will provide a list of possible topics on Canvas, but should you have another topic not on the list that you think would make an interesting research paper and is relevant to the course then that is certainly appropriate as well. The research paper (which is due at the end of the course) is expected to be at least 12 pages in length including references in APA 6th edition format and will account for 40% of your overall grade for this course. All papers must be turned in to the instructor via the upload link in Canvas by the final day of the course (12-13-16 @ 11:59pm). ANY papers turned in late will be marked down.
COURSE SCHEDULE
DATES LECTURE TOPIC READINGS
Module 1August 22- September 11
Course Introduction: August 22-August 28
Discussion Board #1: August 29-September 4
Discussion Board #2:
September 5-September 11 / Technology and Cybercrime
Computer Hackers and Hacking / Chapters 1 & 2
Module 2
September12- September 25
Discussion #3:
September 12-September 18
Discussion #4:
September 19-September 25 / Malware and Automated Computer Attacks
Digital Piracy and Intellectual Property Theft
Economic Crimes and Online Fraud / Chapters 3, 4 & 5
Module 3
September 26-October 9
Discussion #5:
September 26-October 2
Discussion #6:
October 3-October 9 / Sex Crimes and the Internet
Cyberbullying Online Harassment and Cyberstalking / Chapters 6 & 7
Module 4
October 10 – November 6
Discussion Board #7:
October 10-October 16
Discussion Board #8:
October 17-October 23
Work on Journal Article Critique:
October 24-October 30
Journal Article Critique Due: November 6 / Online Extremism Cyberterror and Cyber Warfare
Cybercrime and Criminological Theories / Chapters 8 & 9
Module 5
November7 – November 20
Discussion Board #9:
November 7-November 13
Discussion Board #10:
November 14-November 20 / The Evolution of Digital Forensics
The Acquisition and Examination of Forensic Evidence / Chapters 10 & 11
Module 6
November 21 – December 13
Thanksgiving Holidays: November 21-November 27
Discussion Board #11:
November 28-December 4
Work on Research Paper:
December 5-December 11
Research Paper Due:
December 13 / Legal Challenges in Digital Forensic Investigations
The Future of Cybercrime Terror and Policy / Chapters 12 & 13