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Course Description

ADJU-1 Introduction to Criminal Justice Administration

An introduction to the history, nature, structure, and function of the criminal justice system in America, with comparisons to systems in other nations. An examination of the various aspects of the administration of justice systems, including law enforcement, courts, correctional agencies (including probation and parole), including the increasing roles of private entities in the system.

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I. Overview and Course Goals

Welcome to ADJU 1 Introduction to Criminal Justice Administration online! This course focuses on the basic law, procedures and rules that govern the criminal justice system in America. It is designed to produce students who can understand, appreciate and discuss the benefits and problems with the justice system in America today. The students will become conversant with the Bill of Rights, basic law terminology and procedures. Because it is a survey course of a broad field, it will, of necessity, cover each topic in a broad brush. However, the reference area and online conference room will allow the student to delve deeper into any subject area that particularly attracts the student. The student will learn how to use the World Wide Web to research legal topics. Each week we'll focus on a different aspect of law in America through our online conferencing discussions: these are reinforced and expanded in readings in our text.

During Week 1:

We begin to focus upon the purpose and history of the justice system in American and throughout the world. We will discuss the common law heritage we have inherited from England. We discuss the other prevalent forms of the justice systems throughout the world. We will begin to work with the on line conference system and learn the basics of finding our way around the World Wide Web.

Chapter and Topics:  CH1 and CH2:  Overview of American Criminal, multiculturalism, UCR, NCVS and special categories of crime

During Week 2:

Chapter and Topics:  CH 3: Criminal Law

During Week 3:

We continue the learning about specialized definitions and topics.

Chapter and Topics:  CH 4 Policing:  Purpose and Organization

During Week 4: (ONLINE MID-TERM EXAM)

The students will tackle the basics of the rules of procedure and rules of evidence. The student will learn how these rules shape our criminal law and justice system. Mid-Term will be administered. During this week the mid-term will be posted in the discuss area of the course under week 4. It is to be completed by no later than (NLT) midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST), Saturday of week five. Five points will be deducted for each day the mid-term is turned in late up to 7 days after which time a grade of zero shall be given.

Chapter and Topics:  CH5 and CH6:  Legal Aspects of Policing and Policing Issues and Challenges

During Week 5:

Chapter and Topics:  CH 7 and CH 8:  Courts:  Structure and Participants, Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial

During Week 6:

Chapter and Topics:  CH 9:  Sentencing

During Week 7: (ONLINE FINAL EXAM THIS WEEK)

It is the student’s sole responsibility to contact the Main Campus and/or the Fort Irwin Education Center (Barstow Office) to make arrangements with the computer lab at the main campus or the Fort Irwin Barstow Site Staff to take the online final exam during week 7 of the course. This is to be done as soon as possible, before week eight.

The final exam must be completed during this week.

During Week 8: 

Chapter and Topics:   CH 12 and CH 13:  Prison Life and Juvenile Justice  

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II.  Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s):

• Analyze basic concepts of the American justice system and evaluate the impact of cultural awareness on the American criminal justice system in the United States and abroad;

• Evaluate the complexity of social, political, and economic systems and problems and develop ways to contribute to the solution of such problems as they involve law enforcement, courts and corrections;

• Interpret specialized terms associated with the American justice system and evaluate the basis for the American penal system, parole and bail.

In the box below type the one objective and SLO that interests you the most from the list above and one reason why you took this class.

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III. Course Policies

This course is offered on-line, over the Internet and the World Wide Web, using technology and courseware, which allows students to participate at any time, from any location. Because of this flexibility, it is important to plan your time carefully. Students are expected to sign in to the class conference forum (your "virtual classroom") and participate in discussions and other activities at least four times per week. You should expect to spend a minimum of four --five hours per class week on-line--the same amount of time you'd spend in the physical classroom. You'll be sending and receiving E-mail, performing on-line research and participating in Web explorations and "tours," and interacting socially and professionally with classmates. See Ground Rules for On-Line Participation for additional guidance.

A class week is defined as the period of time between Monday and Saturday. The first week begins the first day of the semester and ends midnight the following Saturday. Assignments scheduled for completion during a class week should be completed by Saturday of the week assigned. Writing assignments and formal papers should be completed and successfully submitted, or postmarked, so that they are in my hands on the due date. NOTE: Because this is an online course designed to get feedback on assignments to you directly via Internet, you must make prior arrangements with me before submitting a paper via fax or the postal service. If you ever have problems transmitting your assignments to me, telephone me immediately, and we'll get the problem solved. My phone number is (870) 424-3221.

Ground Rules for On-line Participation

Quizzes Quizzes are to be completed the week they are assigned.  The links to each of the quizzes are posted in the discuss area of the course under their corresponding assigned week. These are open book quizzes and there is no time limit, however access to the quiz will only be granted once so be sure not to access the quiz until you are ready to take it. There are a total of 5 quizzes assigned for this course.

Discussion Assignments Discussion (student classroom participation) work must be posted in the classroom not later than Saturday of the week assigned. I will not accept these via email. They must be posted in the correct thread i.e., week one discussion question in week one discussion classroom thread in order to be scored. Postings placed in the wrong classroom thread will not be graded and will not be scored. Late discussion thread postings by a student will receive a 5 (five) point penalty for each day late after the due date up to 7 days. The weekly discussion thread will be deleted 7 days past the posting due date, and therefore unavailable to receive student postings in the classroom for that week. The required discussion posting(s) not posted after 7 days of their due date will not be scored and will receive the grade of zero. No class-work posted after the last Saturday of the online term will be scored.

Absentee Policy: Student(s) who fail to participate in the classroom during a course week will be deemed absent for that week. The absence will be annotated as absent unexcused (AU), unless the instructor has been informed beforehand and deemed the absence as absent excused (AE). The instructor shall report all absences to the main campus. A student who has not participated for 14 consecutive days regardless if the absences were deemed AU or AE may be recommended for administrative withdrawal to the main campus. Emails sent to the instructor during a "course week" without actual classroom participation will not count as classroom participation or attendance. This will be scored and annotated accordingly AU or AE. In a traditional classroom just because a student contacts the instructor and is excused from a scheduled class meeting does not mean the student is given credit for participation or attendance. The student is still annotated as AU or AE. The online classroom shall be no different in this respect. It is the instructor's sole discretion as to what he/she shall consider AU or AE.

Final Examination The final examination is an open book and open note multiple choice exam that will be taken in person at the main campus computer lab during week seven or eight. It's the student's responsibility to contact the main campus to obtain directions to the correct building and/or room to take the online final exam.  If an alternate proctor is required the student must make arrangements with the instructor prior to final exams week.  Note that approved alternate proctors include the education center, librarian, professor from other universities and school officials. Friends, family and immediate supervisors will not be approve to proctor an exam for you.  You must ensure that your proctor has the ability to administer an online exam to you as you will need to be on a computer for approximately 1-2 hours to take this online exam.

Students are expected to complete 4 - 5 hours per week of discussion group or other appropriate online activities, including sending/receiving E-mail and navigating and conducting research over the World Wide Web.

All students will participate in the discussion group every week. Conventions of "on-line etiquette," which include courtesy to all users, will be observed.

Students may get assistance with computer-related problems through the webmaster@bcconline, or through msbeshears@bcconline.com.

ACADEMIC HONESTY:

Barstow Community College policies are in effect. All work must be your own, unless the instructor authorizes collaboration, in which case you must, in writing, acknowledge the help you have received. Presenting as one's own the words, ideas, or expression of another in any form is cheating through plagiarism, and will not be tolerated. The claim of ignorance is no excuse.

In the box below type I understand and agree to abide by the class policies listed above.

V. GRADING POLICY:

You will be able to track your average exactly throughout the course. The grading scale is as follows: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 0-59.  The weight of each category for this course is as stated below: 

Mid-term 25% 

Final Exam 30% 

Discussion/Participation will comprise 20% 

Quizzes 25% 

Each student is responsible for:

Reading the Instructor's Bulletin Board every time they log on the internet and the classroom. NOTE: Other assignments may be posted on my Bulletin Board. It's your responsibility to check it as stated.

Participating in the classroom course discussion areas. However merely signing in weekly without actually participating in meaningful discussion will not earn a student full credit for classroom participation. Full participation is considered signing in weekly and contributing to the class discussion(s) each week with meaningful valid discussion with classmates concerning the course subject material and the assigned topic(s) for each week.

• Ensuring all assignments will be turned into the instructor on time. Assignments/quizzes and exams received late will be deducted 5 points for each day late up to 7 days. All assignments received 7 days after the due date will receive a zero for that assignment.
• Contacting the instructor after 72 hours if they have not heard anything from the instructor regarding an email the student may have sent.  Note that I respond to most emails within 24 hours so if you do not hear from me be sure to check back with me.
• Completing weekly reading assignments.
• Completing Weekly Discussion Questions.
• Completing on line legal research as assigned.
• Completing other assignments as assigned.

In the box below type I understand and agree to abide by the grading policies listed above.

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GRADES:

The grades will consist of a mid-term exam, a final exam, quizzes, and other assignments as assigned plus on line class participation through the weekly conferences.

In the box below type what the grades will consist of in this course.

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VI. Required Text and Email Updates

Criminal Justice:  Brief Introduction, 9th Edition:
Author: Frank Schmalleger

In the box below type I will have the textbook for ADJU 1 by the end of the first week of class.

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VII. Course Schedule

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9

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Week 1:  Overview of American Criminal, multiculturalism, UCR, NCVS and special categories of crime

·       Readings:

·       Read Chapters 1 and 2.

        Assignments:  Complete the WK 1 discussion

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Week 2: Criminal Law

·       Reading:

·       Read Chapters 3.

·       Assignments:  Complete Qz#1, WK 2 Discussion

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Week 3: Policing:  Purpose and Organization

·       Readings:

·       Chapter 4.

·       Assignments:  Complete Qz#2 and WK 3 Discussion.       

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Week 4:  Legal Aspects of Policing and Policing Issues and Challenges (MID-TERM Due NLT midnight Saturday of week 5)

 (MID-TERM Due to the Instructor by NLT midnight Saturday of Week 5)

·       Readings:

·       Chapters 5 to 6.

·       Assignments:  Complete Midterm and the WK 4 Discussion.

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Week 5:  Courts:  Structure and Participants, Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial

·       Readings:

·       Chapters 7 & 8.

·       Assignments:  Complete Qz#3 and the WK 5 Discussion.

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Week 6: Sentencing

·       Readings:

·       Chapter 9

·       Assignments:  Complete Qz#4, WK 6 Discussion.

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Week 7: Probation, Parole and Community Corrections and Prison and Jails.

 ·       Readings:

·       Read chapters 10 & 11

·       Assignments:  Complete Qz#5 and the WK 7 Discussion.

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Week 8: Prison Life and Juvenile Justice  The Online Final Exam

FINAL EXAM THIS WEEK

Readings:

• Chapters 12 & 13
• Assignments:  Complete Final Exam and WK 8 Discussion.
• Complete Barstow College’s Student Survey

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In the box below type I understand and agree to abide by the course schedule listed below.

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VII. Internet Reference Sites

Visit the HOT LIST PAGE

http://www.findlaw.com  

http://www.state.mo.us  

http://www.usscplus.com  

http://www.legalonline.com  

http://www.law.cornell.edu  

http://www.ncjrs.org  

http://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/cj.html

Visit the Cybrary (http://talkjustice.com/files/cybrary.htm) in order to find links to both the Uniform Crime Reports and the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. This site is offered in your text.

In the box below type I understand that accessing the sites listed above will greatly enhance my learning experience in ADJU 1 and use of these sites is STRONGLY encouraged by my instructor.

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IMPORTANT NOTE:

An APPROVED, "PROCTOR" will give the final exam during week 8 at the main campus computer building or at the Fort Irwin Education Center (Barstow Office). No exceptions will be made to this Barstow Community College policy. The proctor will be required to check the students picture identification prior to administering the final examination. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they make arrangements to take exams via an approved proctor at the main campus. Information for the final exam will NOT be sent to anyone other than the approved proctor. Alternate proctors must have computer capabilities, as this is an online exam.   

In the box below type I understand that I must have an instructor approved proctor for this course and that I must fill out the proctor form by the end of the second week of class.

Syllabus Disclaimer: 

A syllabus is not a contract between instructor and student, but rather a guide to course procedures on attendance, requirements, grading, and objectives. The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus when emergency circumstances dictate. Students will be duly notified.

In the box below, I understand a syllabus is a general guideline for students to use in planning their time for a particular class. The instructor reserves the right to make modifications to the syllabus with reasonable time allowances for students to adjust to the changes.

Disability Statement: 

After filling out this form, copy the confirmation page and send it via email to msbeshears@bcconline.com.