Course Syllabus

Introduction to Criminal Justice

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Course Description

This course provides an overview of the American criminal justice system, tracing its history and development while assessing its strengths and weaknesses. The roles of the agencies that comprise the criminal justice system (representing law enforcement, courts, and corrections) are examined. Students explore career opportunities in the criminal justice system, including positions as a law enforcement officer, court personnel, attorney, paralegal, corrections, justice advocacy, and victim services.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe the historical development and major components of the American criminal justice system including law enforcement agencies, the courts, rehabilitation, and corrections, as well as victims' rights and services.
2. Identify the major U.S. Constitutional amendments and Supreme Court decisions applicable to the American criminal justice system.
3. Describe various psychological and sociological theories used to understand and explain criminal behavior.
4. Identify the major elements in the American penal system, including probation, parole, corrections, and restorative justice.
5. Describe the objectives and outcomes of various societal responses to criminal behavior including incarceration, restitution, social service intervention, and other alternatives to the criminal justice process.
6. Explain how societal definitions of criminal behavior and responses to that behavior have created disparities based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender expression, and sexuality in the criminal justice system.
7. Critically examine how data on crime, recidivism, crime prevention, and the use of force by law enforcement and corrections are collected, reported, and used in an ethical manner.
8. Evaluate at least one innovative criminal justice intervention practiced locally, nationally, or internationally.
9. Discuss the importance of cultural competence and trauma-informed practice in criminal justice professions and identify skills and strategies for supporting and collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
10. Explore the scope and diversity of career opportunities in the field of criminal justice through assignments such as informational interviews, job shadows, or other career exploration activities.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

This course offers the benefits of an in-person instructed class with the convenience of logging in from your home via Zoom to virtually attend the class for two hours each Wednesday from 6 PM until 8 PM. Many students still like the in-person class but do not want to commute to the college during the winter months. This class allows you to attend an in-person instructed class, ask questions, and get immediate answers while discussing the topics with your class colleagues virtually rather than through discussion board postings.

Methods of Instruction

The following are some methods of instruction typically used to facilitate learning in this course:

• This is a live video course. We meet once a week on Wednesday, from 6 PM until 8 PM, via Zoom for 2 hours, and you have some independent work for the other hour.
• Videos that are provided via hyperlinks in the online learning environment
• Textbooks, handouts, and other materials
• Discussion board postings
• Prerecorded chat sessions

The syllabus provides a general plan for the course and, therefore, a fluid document. Deviations from this plan may be necessary to accommodate current events and other circumstances.

"We are called to be architects of the future, not the victims."

-R. Buckminster Fuller

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria

· Forum Postings and Class Participation - 20% of the final Grade. You are expected to be prepared and ready to participate in the online classroom discussions by reading the assigned material. Your responses add to class dynamics and are important to your and your class colleagues' learning experience. You will complete a discussion board posting at various points during the semester. As we meet weekly and discuss the course content, we will not use discussions to the extent of a solely online class.

· Assignments – 40% of final grade – These will demonstrate your ability to present ideas and express your views on the related topics relating to course content.

· Sage Vantage Exercises – 15% of the Final grade - video exercises, simulations, and/or quizzes.

· Final Assignment and Outline – 20% of the Final Grade. Rather than a final examination, you will write a reflective paper of what you learned this semester or a PowerPoint presentation on an emerging technology in the Justice System.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Participation Expectations

This is a synchronous class; therefore, we will meet online using Zoom every Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM. Attending the Zoom sessions is mandatory as they replace the face-to-face portion of an in-person class. Please ensure you have a reliable internet connection and that your computer can run the free Zoom software.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity