Criminal Justice 1: Introduction to Criminology ONLINE COURSE Policies & Procedures

INSTRUCTOR: Ray Clarkson
E-MAIL: elray.clarkson@reedleycollege.edu
TELEPHONE: 559-638-3641 ext. 3846
OFFICE: On campus office meetings with Mr. Clarkson will need to be scheduled in advance.

Course Description The history and philosophy of Criminal Justice as it has evolved throughout the world. An in-depth study of the American Criminal Justice System, Role concepts, expectations, and the interaction of the sub-systems within it. An introduction to crime causation, punishment and rehabilitation, victimization, ethics. Education and training for professionalism within the Criminal Justice System. Course Objectives Students who successfully complete this course will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the evolution of the Criminal Justice System of the United States of America. They will develop an awareness of the objectives of the system, including an awareness of relevant social issues pertaining to it and the inherent crime problems within our society. They will also gain an understanding of the role expectations of criminal justice personnel and the demands and requirements of the different career options within the justice system. The student will gain an appreciation for the need of a well organized Criminal Justice System, and the need of a highly educated and trained body of professionals to work within the Criminal Justice System. Instructions for Accessing the Course The course will be accessible to students by Thursday, of the week preceeding the first day of classes. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the class site and each of the sidebar buttons. An introductory letter was sent out by email to all who were signed up for the course two to three weeks before the semester began. (To those who listed their email addresses when they registered). If you did not receive a letter you may obtain the information you need to log into the course by going to the college web page, and looking at the criminal justice page. Once logged in, go to the Discussion Board and Post a brief introduction of yourself so that we may become better acquainted. Required Textbook ESSENTIALS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ... 5TH EDITION, by Siegel and Senna (THOMSON/WADSWORTH PUBLISHING) The text is required reading. It is imperative that you read the assigned pages thoroughly to stimulate discussion and provide content for written assignments. Pay particular attention to words and terminology and how they apply to the discipline of criminology. Online Site E-Mail: To access the website go to the following URL: http://blackboard.reedleycollege.edu or... go to the Reedley College web site, then go to "Online classes" then click on "Blackboard courses" (RC,NC,FCC). LOGIN, using your user name (student ID number) and password (student ID number). Go to Personal Information and enter your e-mail address. You will need to be officially enrolled before you will be allowed to enter the site. If you do not have an e-mail address, you can obtain one for free through State Center Community College District (www.scccd.org); if you do not have Internet access at home, you can get low-cost access from this site as well. Free e-mail accounts such as Hotmail (www.hotmail.com) or Yahoo (www.yahoo.com) are available as well. Throughout the semester I will be using e-mail for announcements of assignments and special events, and you should check your account often. YOU MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE E-MAIL ACCOUNT AT ALL TIMES. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE INSTRUCTOR FOR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND/OR PROBLEMS. If I do not hear from you for an extended period of time I will assume you have discontinued the course and I will make the course inaccessible to you. For a more complete discussion of what you need to know before taking an online class, please see "Electronic Necessities” by going to the "Documents" button on the Blackboard page, or go to the college web page and check out the online orientation information.. Necessary Programs: Internet browser (such as Internet Explorer, Netscape) E-mail program Word processor (MS Word, see Submitted Paperwork below) Other word processors like note pad, note book, etc., do not work . Adobe Acrobat Reader for research materials. Submitted Paperwork: Some work must be submitted via the "Digital Dropbox." The dropbox accepts files in the following formats: MS Word documents (*.doc), RTF, PDF or ASCII Text. Unfortunately, Microsoft Works and WordPerfect do not work. You must be able to ship your work to me in an acceptable format. If I can't receive it ... I can't read it, which means I didn't receive it. Attendance: Although an online class does not chart attendance per se, you do need to make your presence known every week. There will be credit/no credit assignments requiring a response from you every week along with Discussion Board assignments. If you fall behind at any point during the semester, you will find it extremely difficult to catch up. Most assignments will have both a date and a time that they are due. I will accept no late assignments, unless you have contacted me prior to the due date and time. There will be no makeup's of late reading response assignments for any reason. Grading: I will evaluate your participation in discussions; turn in assignments, quizzes and examinations. Each will be given/posted a value. At the close of the semester I will total all points that you have accumulated and calculate that against the total points possible for the course. You will then receive a letter grade according to the following scale: STANDARDCOLLEGE GRADING SCALE 90% = A 80% = B 70% = C 60% = D 59% = F Participation: ...............................35% Assignment Responses: ............... 35% Mid-Term Examination ................10% Final: ........................................ 20% Your assigned responses and participation will be graded together. In other words, it is not enough to simply make a response to an assignment. The response often includes interaction with other students and/or with the subject matter, as well as applying some in depth critical thinking to the assignment. The course is designed to stimulate thought, open-mindedness, logic and deductive reasoning. The student is expected to be able to make choices and decisions concerning the lesson material based upon those principles and to be able to articulate an appropriate response. Your grades will reflect your ability to do that to the satisfaction of the instructor. Extra Credit If you miss an assignment, you may NOT make it up, however, you may obtain extra credit by doing the following: Extra credit may be earned by Court Sittings or Ride-a-long’s with a law enforcement agency. To receive credit for court sittings you must be present in the court room for a minimum of two hours while arraignments, a preliminary, or a court case is going on. You must obtain a stamp or signature form the court clerk or bailiff, and complete and turn in the college form. To receive credit for a ride-a-long, you must ride around with a police officer for a minimum of four hours, obtain the officer's signature, fill out the college form and turn it in. You may send them in by regular mail or drop them off at my office. Each court sitting or ride-a-long is worth 25 points. You may accumulate up to 100 points by this process. The form is available in COURSE DOCUMENTS. Just print yourself a copy as needed. Use the same form for court sittings and/or ride-a-longs. In order to receive credit all forms must be received by me no later than Friday of the week preceding finals week. Academic Dishonesty: Plagiarism … passing off another’s work as your own is dishonest and is a very serious offense; it is also easy to detect. If you are caught you will face disciplinary action. Having someone else respond in your place to any of the assignments for this course is also dishonest and places your academic standing in jeopardy.

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE “WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS”

FIRST WEEK

AUG 17, 2009

FIRST… LET’S GET ACQUAINTED. You know something about me. I would like to know a little about you; something you can share with the other classmates. Please go to the “SQUAD ROOM,” (It is in Discussion Board), and post a brief introduction of yourself. Include your goals and expectations of this course. Read about your fellow classmates and post a greeting to at least two of them. Do this anytime during the first week. (INFORMATION) The first two weeks assignments will be from my commentaries found in ASSIGNMENTS. We will start into the Text Book in the third week. Be patient with the ONE WORLD CONCEPT, it does have purpose and lends validity to our modern day Criminal Justice System. One who truly understands this concept will find it much more difficult to disparage our country and our criminal justice system; and they will find it a little easier to understand the basis and structure of world government. In ASSIGNMENTS… Read ONE WORLD, YOU, AND FREEDOM. (Put some thought into this… don’t be frivolous. Use your imagination to see how it really might feel…. REMEMBER, THIS IS A CRITICAL THINKING COURSE. TRY TO BACK UP WHAT YOU SAY BY SOUND LOGIC AND REASON, OR EVEN DOCUMENTED RESEARCH. YOUR GRADE WILL DEPEND ON HOW WELL YOU RESPOND. POST… your response in the DISCUSSION BOARD, by 8:00 pm, FRIDAY 8/21/09

SECOND WEEK

AUG 24, 2009

THIS WEEK CONTAINS THREE READING ASSIGNMENTS… BUT THEY ARE SHORT. (I encourage you to read the responses of the other students. It might provide further insight and some interesting points of view.) READ IN ASSIGNMENTS…. “ONE WORLD, YOU PLUS, AND FREEDOM.” READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “ONE WORLD, YOU, THEM, AND CONFLICT.” READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “DIVIDED WORLD, DEALING WITH CONFLICT. POST YOUR RESPONSE TO ALL THREE READING ASSIGNMENTS… by Saturday, 8/29/09. Address the issues of each in the appropriate DISCUSSION BOARD forum. NOTE… Be sure to frequently check back in the forums for additional remarks and or discussion from the Instructor.

THIRD WEEK

AUG 31, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS…”LAWS, RULES, & REGULATIONS.” POST YOUR RESPONSE in the DISCUSSION BOARD by 8:00 pm, Thursday, 8/3/09 READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “COMMENTARY ON CITIZENS.” POST IN DISCUSSION BOARD by FRIDAY, 8/4/09 READ IN THE TEXT BOOK, (Essentials of Criminal Justice, 6th edition) Pages 2 through 14. READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “WALK THROUGH THE SYSTEM.” POST YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT BY SUBMITTING YOU’RE WRITING TO THE DIGITAL DROPBOX, by 8:00 pm, SUNDAY, 8/6/09 (The Digital Dropbox can be accessed in TOOLS. Write you paper in MICROSOFT WORD, then attach and send it through the Digital Dropbox.) If you use a different word processor, I might not be able to open it through BlackBoard.
In response to Walk Through the System… formulate an argument, pro or con, regarding, Bail, Miranda Warnings, and Jury Trial verses Court Trial. For example… you might give me a reasonable argument as to why you would choose a court trial over a jury trial.

FOURTH WEEK (SHORT WEEK)

SEP 8, 2009

READ IN TEXT…PAGES 15 THROUGH 29. READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… Commentary on “THE SYSTEM, PART ONE.” (This file might open very slowly). POST YOUR RESPONSE IN DISCUSSION BOARD by 8:00 pm, Thursday, 9/10/09 READ IN ASSIGNMENT… “THE SYSTEM, PART TWO,” (Due Process). POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD by FRIDAY, 8:00 pm, 9/11/09

FIFTH WEEK

SEP 14, 2009

QUIZ OVER CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 3 IN THE TEXT. THE QUIZ WILL BE AVAILABLE IN COURSE DOCUMENTS FROM 8:00 am, MONDAY, 9/14/09 THROUGH WEDNESDAY, 10:00 pm, 9/16/09. IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN OPEN-BOOK TEST… THEREFORE, I EXPECT YOUR ANSWERS TO BE ESPECIALLY ACCURATE AND COMPLETE.
ALSO ASSIGNED THIS WEEK… THE FOLLOWING: READ IN ASSIGNMENTS THE COMMENTARY ON “WHAT IS A CRIME?” (VICE OFFENSES). Take an approach on each issue and state your feelings and opinions. Try to think “outside the box” using logic, reason, and common sense. I expect a lot of thought and even some introspection on this assignment. POST YOUR RESPONSE in the DIGITAL DROPBOX, by 8:00 pm, TUESDAY, 9/22/09

SIXTH WEEK

SEP 21, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENT… Commentary on the Development of the Justice System in the USA; (The Basis of our Laws). READ IN “COURSE DOCUMENTS” ABOUT THE “LIFE BOAT.” THEN READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “THE LIFE BOAT.” POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD FORUM by 8:00 pm SATURDAY, 9/26/09 (Tell me what you discovered about religion and the Criminal Justice System. Is there a correlation between the religious aspects of the Criminal Justice System and the situation of the Life Boat?)

SEVENTH WEEK

SEP 28, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS, THE COMMENTARY ON “CRIME CAUSATION.” POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE SQUAD ROOM, by 8:00 pm, THURSDAY, 10/1/09 READ IN COURSE DOCUMENTS… “LETTER TO THE JUDGE.” POST IN DIGITAL DROP BOX, YOUR RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS ASKED IN LETTER TO THE JUDGE, by 8:00 pm, Saturday, 10/3/09. (All answers may be found in the reading assignment)

EIGHT WEEK

OCT 5, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS…”FINAL THOUGHTS ON CRIME CAUSATION.” POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD BY 8:P.M. WEDNESDAY, 10/7/2009. READ IN ASSIGNMENTS…COMMENTARY ON CRIME STATISTICS. POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE SQUAD ROOM, by 8:00 pm FRIDAY, 10/10/09. (Express your thoughts and feelings on the readings and especially on the scope of the crime problem. Share your feelings with other students.)

NINTH WEEK

OCT 12, 2009

MID-TERM TEST THE TEST WILL BE AVAILABLE IN COURSE DOCUMENTS FROM 8:00 am, MONDAY, OCT 12, to 10:00 pm, WEDNESDAY, OCT 14. (OPEN BOOK … JUST LIKE THE FIRST QUIZ) OCT 16, 2009 IS THE LAST DAY THAT A STUDENT CAN WITHDRAW FROM A CLASS WITH A “W”. A DROP AFTER THAT DAY WILL REQUIRE A LETTER GRADE. READ IN COURSE DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE “NEW-HALL INCIDENT”

TENTH WEEK

OCT 19, 2009

POST YOUR RESPONSE TO THE “NEW-HALL INCIDENT” IN DISCUSSION BOARD by 8:00 pm, THURSDAY, 10/22/09. (How did this make you feel?) READ IN THE TEXT… CHAPTER FIVE. READ IN ASSIGNMENTS, Commentary on “moving west.” READ IN THE TEXT… CHAPTER SIX.

ELEVENTH WEEK

OCT 26, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS THE COMMENTARY ON “PARA-MILITARY COPS.” POST YOUR RESPONSE ON “MOVING WEST AND PARA-MILITARY COPS, “ IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD by FRIDAY, 8:00 pm, 10/30/09.

TWELFTH WEEK

NOV 2, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS, THE COMMENTARY ON “ARREST, SEARCH, AND SEIZURE.” RESPOND TO “SITUATIONS” AS ADDRESSED IN THE COMMENTARY BY SUBMITTING YOU’RE WRITING TO THE DIGITAL DROPBOX, by 8:00 pm, FRIDAY, 11/6/09.

THIRTEENTH WEEK

NOV 9, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… COMMENTARY ON THE “EXCLUSIONARY RULE.” POST IN DISCUSSION BOARD, YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT by 9:00 pm, THURSDAY, 11/12/09. READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… THE COMMENTARY ON “ETHICS.” POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE SQUAD ROOM. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS WITH OTHER STUDENTS by 9:00 pm, MONDAY, 11/16/09.

FOURTEENTH WEEK

NOV 16, 2009

READ IN TEXT… CHAPTER SEVEN READ IN COMMENTARY… “WHAT DO THE POLICE DO?” POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD, INCLUDING YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS REGARDING CHAPTER SEVEN, by 8:00 pm, THURSDAY, 11/19/09 READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “TERRORISM & CYBER-CRIME. (This is a power-point presentation. It opens very slowly and you must move it along by clicking your mouse.) QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR MAJOR CRIME PROBLEMS WILL BE IN THE FUTURE? POST YOUR RESPONSE IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD by 9:00 pm, SATURDAY, 11/21/09.

FIFTEENTH WEEK

NOV 23, 2009

TAKE A BREAK … IT IS THANKSGIVING WEEK

SIXTEENTH WEEK

NOV 30, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “THE COURT SYSTEM.” READ IN THE TEXT.. CHAPTERS NINE AND TEN. POST IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD… YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING THE COURTS, by 9:00 pm, FRIDAY, 12/4/09. READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “CORRECTIONS OR WHAT?” READ IN THE TEXT… CHAPTERS THIRTEEN AND FOURTEEN. POST IN DISCUSSION BOARD.. YOUR RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ADDRESSED IN THE CORRECTIONS READINGS by 9:00 pm, MONDAY, 12/7/09.

SEVENTEENTH WEEK

DEC 7, 2009

READ IN ASSIGNMENTS… “WHAT ABOUT THE VICTIM?” POST YOUR RESPONSE IN DISCUSSION BOARD… by 9:00 pm, FRIDAY, 12/11/09. NOTE: IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME… JUST WAIT.. YOUR TURN IS COMING. I CAN JUST ABOUT GUARANTEE THAT. I HOPE YOUR VICTIMIZATION IS A SMALL ONE.

EIGHTEENTH WEEK

DEC 14, 2009

FINAL EXAMINATION THE FINAL EXAM CAN BE ACCESSED IN COURSE DOCUMENTS, BEGINNING AT 8:00 am, MONDAY, 12/14/09. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 8:00 pm, WEDNESDAY, 12/16/09. LIKE THE OTHER TESTS, THIS IS AN OPEN-BOOK EXAM. THE FINAL EXAM IS COMPREHENSIVE. IT WILL INCLUDE QUESTIONS FROM THE ENTIRE TEXT AND ALL COMMENTARIES. SOME QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONIONAL OUTSIDE RESOURCES. ALL EXTRA CREDIT POINTS WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR FINAL OVER-ALL GRADES FOR THE SEMESTER.