University of Central Florida
Criminal Justice & Legal Studies Department
Syllabus: CCJ 3024 A001 Criminal Justice Systems
Class Meets: M & W 8:00-11:50AM, CL1 105
Term: Summer 2003
Instructor: Jerome Randall
Office Hours: Monday 12:00-12:45PM; Wednesday 8:00-12:30PM
Office Location: HPA Room 322
Telephone: (407) 823-3737
E-mail: jrandall@mail.ucf.edu
Course Description: An examination of the components of the criminal justice system and of their interdependence in light of their traditional autonomy.
Text: Criminal Justice In Action, second edition, Gaines and Miller. While no other supplemental text is required, relevant supplemental reading is encouraged.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
1. Provide an understanding of the criminal justice system
2.Understand how public policies on crime are formed
3. Explain the history and organization of American police
4. Discuss issues and trends in American policing
5. Explain the dual court system and the hierarchy of courts in the United States
6. Discuss the philosophical basis for criminal punishment
7. Explain the role of corrections in the criminal justice system
Course Requirements: Students will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1.All students will be required to complete a project on an appropriate criminal justice topic. Students will have the option of presenting an oral presentation in class or turning in a written paper. Many topics for the project are contained in the text and are available from the instructor. The paper should demonstrate the student’s ability to use information resources beyond the text and class lectures. Your analysis should be based on a wide variety of resources found in the library (books, journals, the worldwide web, etc. Do not use all web-based sources). This will comprise 30% of the final grade.
a. Oral presentation: A brief (one-page, typed and double-spaced) summary of the presentation and a list of all sources used to prepare it will be presented to the instructor prior to the presentation. Also, all sources must be shown to the class at the conclusion of the presentation. Do not use all web-based sources. Presentations will be no longer than fifteen minutes. Failure to comply with this will have a negative impact on your grade. Students may use a collage, video or other graphicrepresentation to support the presentation. Students may work in groups of two to four students (oral presentations only) toselect the topic, prepare it and present it in class.
b. Written project: The paper must contain a cover page with the student’s name, instructor’s name, title of paper, and class. It must be a minimum of seven pages and a maximum of ten pages, not including the cover, end notes or reference pages. Use proper citations utilizing APA or MLA style. The paper must be typed, pages numbered, double-spaced, 12 font, with no more than 11/2 inch margins on each side, top and bottom. The paper must be stapled (do not used paper clips), not placed in a binder or notebook. I expect to see a minimum of seven sources/references. Do not use all web-based sources. Your class text may be used, but will not be counted as one of the references. In grading the papers, I will look for errors in spelling, typing, and grammar (mechanics of writing).
2. Original Papers Only: I will only accept papers that are the original typed or computer-printed (no photocopies please). The entire paper must be consistent--the typing (font) and kind of paper. Do not insert pages that are a different kind of typing or paper. Anything other than this raises a presumption that this paper was previously used. It is not permissible to use the same, or substantially the same, paper for this course that is being used (or previously used) for another course. This is a form of academic cheating. Any such actions would require the permission of both instructors, which I will not grant.
3. Papers and Presentations Datelines: All papers will be collected immediately after attendance is taken on the due date. Papers that are not turned in at that time will be considered late. Have your papers completed before you come to class. Come to class on time. Dates for presentations will be assigned after groups are formed in class.
4. Two written exams will be given. They will consist of questions developed from the reading assignments, lectures, and any supplemental information provided. Exams will be objective in nature (multiple choice/true-false or a combination of multiple choice/true false and short answer). The exams will comprise 60% of the final grade (30% each).
NO MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE PERMITTED EXCEPT IN CASES OF A DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY.
5. Attendance/Participation: This will comprise 10% of the final grade. Each student is expected to attend class and participate in class meetings. While class attendance may not be checked daily, students are encouraged to attend each class. Final grades may be reduced for more than two unexcused absences or the same number of incidents of being late to class. Please come to class on time, it is too difficult to attempt to adjust attendance records for students who arrive late.
6. Academic Honesty Policy: Students are expected to be honest in their work. Violations of student academic behavior standards are outlined in The Golden Rule, the University of Central Florida’s Student Handbook. See http://www.ucf.edu/goldenrule for further details.
7. Disability Statement: The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable
accommodations for all persons with disabilities. Participants with disabilities who need accommodations must contact Student Disability Services.
8. Grading Policy: A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: below 60%
COURSE SCHEDULE
The course schedule is intended to be used as a guide to assist you in planning class preparation. It is subject to change, as the instructor may deem necessary. It is in the best interest of students to come to class prepared by reading the material prior to class, as students may be asked to comment on issues or questions reflecting their knowledge.
Week 1 5/7 Course introduction Ch 1: Crime and Justice in America
Week 3 5/19 Ch 4: Police
Week 5 6/2 Ch 7: Court
Ch 9: Pretrial Processes
Jun 4 Written Projects due
6/11 Ch 12: Corrections Review