SYLLABUS

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY (52240)

FALL 2011

Ray Clarkson
Phone:  638-3641, ext. 3846
E-mail: elray.clarkson@reedleycollege.edu

MONDAY EVENINGS: 6:00pm TO 8:50pm

OFFICE HOURS:  By Arrangement.

TEXT:  ESSENTIALS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, (7th Edition) By Siegel and Senna.

Last Day to drop this course:  Friday of the 9th week.  (A letter grade will be assigned after that date).

Course Description

•	An introduction to crime causation, punishment, rehabilitation, victimization, ethics, and education and training for professionalism within the Criminal Justice System.

•	The history and philosophy of Criminal Justice as it has evolved throughout the world.
•	An in-depth study of the American Criminal Justice System; its role concepts, expectations, and the interaction of the sub-systems within it.

Course Objectives
A.	 Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate their knowledge of the evolution of the Criminal Justice System of the United States of America through written tests and classroom discussions.
B.	 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.
C.	 They will also gain an understanding of the role expectations of criminal justice personnel and the demands and requirements placed upon them. 
D.	 The student will gain an appreciation for the high level of security and trust expected of them by our society.
E.	They will be able to organize a structured Criminal Justice System, organized and manned by personnel who constitute a highly educated and trained body of professionals, devoted to the concept of freedom from crime and oppression.

Attendance
Attendance will be recorded on a daily basis.  If a student arrives to the class after roll has been taken, the student must notify the instructor at the end of the class session.  If a student misses six consecutive hours of class meetings without notifying the instructor, the student will be dropped from the class.  Arrive on time; students are required to be in their seats ready to begin the class when the class begins.  Arriving late is rude and disruptive, and is not fare to the other students.

Exams
An examination will be given at the end of each unit.  There will be occasional un-announced quizzes, projects and homework assignments.

Final exam … Monday, of the last week of the semester. (During finals week)

Missed exams
Missed exams may be made up with excused absences.  It will be the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor prior to the next class meeting to arrange for the make-up.  Failure to do so will result in the student receiving a zero for that particular exam.

Extra credit
Extra credit of up to one hundred points may be earned by participation in a ride-a-long program.  The student may contact the instructor for approval and instructions about the program.

Grading Policy
I will keep a running tally of points accumulated by the students and grades will be determines according to the following scale:

	Total Points Accumulated:
	90% = A
	80% = B
	70% = C
	60% = D
	59% = F

CLASS POLICIES:

VOICE RECORDERS, CAMERAS, CELL-PHONES, COMPUTERS,  I-PODS AND OTHER TECH  EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS  CAPABLE OF RECORDING VIDEO OR VOICE, OR PLAYING GAMES, ARE NOT ALLOWED WITHOUT INSTRUCTORS PERMISSION.  CELL PHONES ARE NOT TO HAVE AN AUDABLE SOUND (RING TONE) NOR MAY THEY BE ANSWERED IN THE CLASSROOM.

VISITORS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, ARE NOT PERMITTED.

IF YOU HAVE A NEED FOR AN ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATION OR MATERIALS IN ALTERNATE MEDIA (i.e., Braille, large print, electronic text, etc) PER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OR SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

CHEATING / PLAGIARISM IS AGAINST THE LAW AND AGAINST SCHOOL POLICIES.  IT IS ALSO EASY TO DETECT.  THOSE FOUND PARTICIPATING IN SUCH BEHAVIOR WILL BE DELT WITH ACCORDING TO SCHOOL POLICY.

OBSTRUCTION, DISRUPTION, DISORDERLY, PROFANE OR LEWD CONDUCT IN AND OF THE CLASS IS CAUSE FOR IMIDIATE DISCIPLINE.  STUDENTS INVOLVED IN SUCH BEHAVIOR MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CLASS.
ATTENDANCE IN THE CLASSROOM WHILE IN POSSESSION OF OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ANY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, INCLUDING ALCOHOL WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  THESE OFFENSES CONSTITUTE VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW AMOUNTING TO CRIMES OF THE STATE FOR WHICH AN ARREST MAY BE MADE.
FIREARMS OF ANY NATURE AND ANY OTHER ILLEGAL OR PROHIBITED WEAPONS ARE ALSO CRIMES OF THE STATE AND WILL BE HANDELED ACCORDINGLY.

COURSE OUTLINE

1.	Overview of the Need for a Criminal Justice System  (6 hours)

2.	The Nature of Crime, Law, and Criminal Justice  (9 hours)

3.	Law Enforcement in America  (10 hours)

a.	Historical Development
	b.	Organization and Operations
	c.	Critical Issues

4.	The Court System  (9 hours)

a.	Structure and Role
b.	Process and Procedure
c.	Sentencing

5.	Corrections  (9 hours)

a.	Correctional Philosophy
b.	Structure and Purpose
c.	Prison Systems
d.	Punishment and sentencing

6.	Special Topics  (9 hours)

a.	Victimology
b.	Terrorism & Home Land Security
c.	Future Trends in Criminal Justice