In this course we will discuss many issues that have especial personal and emotional significance to some. While being cognizant of this sensitivity, our course approach will be scientific and objective. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussions with respect for all perspectives for the contribution they can make to our understanding of the subject. Students from other cultures are strongly encouraged to contribute perspectives from the criminal justice systems of their nations.
This course, Criminal Justice, will focus on agencies of criminal justice: law enforcement, the judiciary and correction, their history, personnel, policies, and procedures. Field trips to observe major criminal trials and to a maximum security prison will be scheduled to provide first hand learning experiences.
Juvenile Justice is a separate system and is covered in SOC 360 Juvenile Justice. Comparisons of the two systems and discussion of areas where the two systems intersect, e.g. juvenile treated as adult offenders will be covered in this course.
Experts as guest speakers, video presentations, field trips, debates and simulations will be scheduled to assist students in understanding the course content. Guests are prepared to answer questions. Videos, field trips and other class events will be debriefed, discussed and questions answered to the fullest extent possible.
Students are expected to read the assigned material prior to class so that the classroom time can be devoted to clarification and discussion of the assignments and extensions of this material not covered in the text. Questions are always encouraged and welcomed.
Current events, court decisions, legislation proposed or passed relating to this course will be presented to update text. Students are encouraged to contribute information and clippings to the class with the source, author and date noted.
3 quizzes 60%
Court and Prison Trip Reports 30%
Class Participation 10%
Extra Credit- OPTIONAL -(max.5%)
Grades are scaled on 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, 59 and below=F
Quizzes will be multiple choice, true/ false, and short essay questions. Pre quiz reviews will be scheduled time permitting. Quiz results will be returned to the student and reviewed in class.
Court and Prison Reports are graded based on the student¼s ability to relate what is observed to what has been learned in the course. Critical thinking is important in making comments. Good questions arising out of the field experiences should be related to the course material and not the details of the specific cases observed. „Is he guilty?¾ is not an acceptable question. Pure description is not analysis or commentary. What meaning did you attribute to what you saw or heard? How does this compare with your expectations based on course material and your past experiences? The sections in the Court Report requiring Charges, Stage in Trial, Judge¼s name, date is merely to ascertain that you knew where you were and what was transpiring. Your grade is enhanced by your ability to handle the Commentary and Questions sections.
Typed Trip Reports must be completed on the designated
forms or in the format for this purpose and turned in at the class meeting
following the trip. Exceptions from this rule may be given if necessary.
There are several books listed as Recommended which are on RESERVE in Hagerty Library. Select one and write a critical analysis and review you can also select two with different viewpoints and compare and contrast their perspectives. This NOT a book report with a listing of the subjects covered or extensive quotations. This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your critical thinking ability to compare and contrast this book to other course materials. You may discuss the author¹s thesis by comparing it to the work of others, by relating it to recent relevant research findings, by comparison with your course experiences both in class and on field trips, or in terms of public policy and/or laws. Because individual writing styles differ, I am reluctant to specify a set number of pages, however, for serious consideration a paper of five pages (not counting the title page and bibliography or appendix) minimum is expected.
The student will select a topic appropriately related to the subjects of this course and approved by the professor. The paper will be the product of research in professional journals, books and newspapers published not more than five years ago unless cited for historical reference. Internet material is not refereed as are professional journal articles so the validity and reliability of such information cannot be assured. Further, scientific research requires that future researchers or readers be able to replicate or review the basis of a report. Material on the internet is transitory and may not be available for such review. Limited references from the Internet may be used with the entire article reproduced and included in the Appendix of the paper. This material must be properly cited (author, source, title, pagination, date) in the footnotes and bibliography of the paper.
This report should represent an extension of course coverage not duplication. On that basis, limited use of the course text is permissible. The conclusion section of the paper must include a critical analysis of the reviewed literature or results of an experiment. The paper will not be acceptable if it is merely a „cut and paste¾ operation even if the sources are cited. This report should represent critical thinking by the student not simple replication of the work of others.
Typed reports should be a minimum of five pages not counting title page, bibliography, footnotes and appendix. The due date for this report and its presentation will be announced early in the term. The professor and Drexel reference librarians can assist you if requested.
No handwritten work will be accepted for grading.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Plagiarism, also known as academic cheating or theft, includes submitting some else's work as your own or not appropriately acknowledging (through correct reference citation) material you have borrowed/taken from other writers. Plagiarism also includes using without attribution material written or created by others that you have taken from the World Wide Web. Review guidelines in the Drexel Student Handbook on pages 40-42 or speak to your instructor.
Plagiarism is a serious ethical offense that can result in a failing grade for the paper and/or the course and will result in a letter to the University Judicial Board.
Students completing this course should have an understanding of:
Why and how societies develop theories of crime causation and how these theories are related to criminal justice policies and practices.
Students should be able to define criminology, criminal justice and crime and know how they differ from journalistic, political and personal perspectives.
How criminal law and criminal justice procedures differ from civil and administrative law.
The development, purpose and limits of criminal law including the tension between individual rights and the public good.
What rights do defendants, victims and witnesses have in the criminal justice process?
Students will know how data is collected by various agencies, the limitations and strengths of each source and the validity and reliability of criminal statistics.
An understanding of the ethics, morality and legality of research on crime, criminals and criminal justice.
Students will know the major theoretical perspectives on crime causation and the major research findings supporting or questioning each.
The role of victims and their rights in the criminal justice system over time will be examined.
Students will understand the legal definitions of various categories of crime and the characteristics, frequency and costs of these crimes and the perpetrators of each.
Understanding the different components of the criminal justice system and their interrelationship, costs and effectiveness will be examined.
The history and development of law enforcement agencies including their jurisdictional limits and interrelationships will be made clear.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES-continued
The future of law enforcement and the increasing role of science and technology will be studied.
Students will understand the various levels of courts, their jurisdictions and interrelationship. How judges are selected, their functions, ethics, and limitations.
Who are the courtroom workgroup and what are their various roles.
Students should understand the philosophical and legal basis of our criminal justice system.
Students will discuss the emerging technologies used in the criminal justice system
How has the jury system evolved, its strengths, weaknesses and future trends.
The various and conflicting functions of correctional facilities in our society. The history of prisons and jails, their cost effectiveness and major problems.
Students should understand the role and the power of citizens in crime prevention and criminal justice and legislative changes.
The impact of the mass media, political process and high profile crimes on criminal justice policies, process and legislation.
Emergent areas of crime and the virtual decriminalization of other crimes.
The students should be able to understand the moral, legal, sociological and political factors impacting the death penalty in the United States. Should juveniles and mentally ill/retarded people be executed? The research on capital punishment will be discussed.
Students completing this course should be more critical and better-informed consumers of criminal justice news and proposed legislation and policies.
SOC 206 Criminal Justice along withS204 Criminology, S360 Juvenile Justice, S320 Deviant Behavior, S390 Internships in Criminal Justice, with appropriate methodology and statistics courses provide a good preparation for many positions in the field of criminal justice. Students anticipating internship placement at the end of their sophomore and junior years should plan to take SOC 204, SOC 206 and the courses related to their placement such as Intro to Law Enforcement, Forensic Science, Intro to Correctional Practices, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Investigation or Computer Forensics These are core components of a Minor or a Major in Criminal Justice.
Students in Psychology, Computer and Information Science, Natural sciences, business and engineering can combine these courses with their majors to prepare them for specialized positions in the criminal justice system or for graduate school programs.
Criminal Justice is an excellent course for those planning careers in law, politics and political science, social work, counseling, human resources and many other areas.
Criminal Justice is by definition a multidisciplinary study. This course will make every effort to incorporate diversity and multicultural perspectives in understanding crime, criminal behavior and social responses to criminality.
Opportunities for experiential learning will be presented for students enrolled in SOC 206 Criminal Justice and SOC 390 Internships in Criminal Justice. Special internships and employment opportunities with federal, state and nonprofit agencies will be announced in class. Students will be encouraged and assisted in applying for competitive placements. Criminal Justice disciplines offer many rewarding career possibilities. Corrections is a growth industry with employment in many professional disciplines at county, state and federal levels. Information on employment opportunities will be circulated in class.
You are encouraged to discuss your career interests in the field with Dr. Hall and the other professors who teach in our Criminal Justice Program.
After completing this course you should be a better-informed citizen; one who is able to analyze criminal justice issues from media, political and other sources.
I AM AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU IN UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE TOPICS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME DURING OFFICE HOURS, OR BY VOICE MAIL OR E-MAIL. I RESPOND TO CALLS AND E-MAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I CAN¹T HELP YOU IF YOU WAIT TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME WHEN YOU HAVE FAILED.
Dr. Julia Hall, Coordinator,
Criminal Justice Program
Dept. of Culture & Communication 33rd & Powelton Ave.
Drexel University (215)895-2472
3141 Chestnut Street (215)895-1333 (FAX)
Philadelphia, PA 19104 hall@drexel.edu