Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | CRJ-2080-VO01 - Correctional Philosophies and Practices

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Duane Tompkins
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Philip Crossman

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

An interdisciplinary study of the historical and contemporary philosophies and practices of sentencing, punishment, and rehabilitation in American corrections. The course examines all facets of institutional and community-based corrections, including facilities, probation, intermediate sanctions, and parole, as well as special issues in the field. Prerequisite: Introduction to Criminal Justice

Essential Objectives

1. Describe the historical evolution of American correctional systems.
2. Apply philosophical approaches and theories to current systemic challenges in corrections using appropriate terminology.
3. Critically examine ethical, legal, and professional standards in the field of corrections with a focus on civil and human rights.
4. Summarize the various elements of contemporary correctional facility management.
5. Evaluate current theory and practice connected to trauma, mental health, and substance use as they relate to individuals and families involved in the criminal-legal system and their families.
6. Critically examine the research concerning correctional privatization, community supervision, rehabilitation, victim services, and reentry programs.
7. Explore statistical research regarding the role of race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in the modern American corrections system.
8. Explore the scope and diversity of career opportunities in the field of corrections and community and restorative 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 computer recommendations Support page.

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

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

There is no textbook for this class; we will use Open Education Resources throughout the semester.

Methods of Instruction

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

• Class discussions and discussion boards;
• Written Assignments;
• Videos that are provided via hyperlinks in the online learning environment.
• Textbooks, handouts, and other materials;

The syllabus provides a general plan for the course and is, 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

· Group Discussions - 40% of the final grade. You are expected to be prepared and ready to participate in the course discussion boards by reading the assigned material. Each week, a class discussion board will be based on the week's assigned readings and/or videos. Your participation adds to class dynamics and is important to your and others' learning experience; therefore, grades are based on the number of substantive replies to peers and your initial discussion.

· Assignments – 25% of final grade – These will demonstrate your ability to present ideas and express your views on the related topics relating to course content.

Your Abstinence Experience – 15% of the final grade - A reflective exercise that will be done during the semester.

Final Assignment/Project – 20% of the Final grade.

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.

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

Apply Now for this semester.