Course Syllabus

Fall 2024 | CRJ-2160-VO01 - Juvenile Justice

Online Class

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

Faculty

Amy Lear
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Philip Crossman

Course Description

Presents an overview of the history, control, treatment and prevention of juvenile delinquency in the United States. Examines the juvenile justice system, juvenile law, and theories of causation for delinquent behavior. Analyzes influences of the family, peers, school, drugs, mass media, and the criminal justice system on delinquency. Focuses on Vermont juvenile law and procedure, including Children in Need of Supervision (C.H.I.N.S.) cases and relevant case law.

Essential Objectives

1. Identify four major developmental tasks that adolescents face, citing examples of theories related to development, choice, and socialization that help to explain juvenile delinquency.
2. Identify the impact of various influences (i.e. family, schools, peers, drugs) on adolescent development either toward or away from delinquent behavior.
3. Compare the chronic delinquent offender with the conventional delinquent youth in terms of behavior and treatment needs.
4. Define and give examples of status offenses.
5. Define "parens patriae" and "loco parentis," and discuss the importance of these concepts to the development of juvenile law and delinquency in Vermont and nationwide.
6. Identify the landmark State and U.S. Supreme Court decisions (i.e. the Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1899) which affect juvenile rights and appraise their impact on Vermont juvenile law and procedures.
7. Explain the supporting philosophies underlying both community treatment and placement in secure institutions as responses to juvenile delinquency.
8. Formulate a definition of abused or neglected child (Children in Need of Supervision) based on Vermont laws and evaluate the effectiveness of these laws in the protection of children.
9. Identify important ethical considerations pertinent to the arrest, prosecution, and incarceration of juveniles.
10. Describe a variety of delinquency treatment and prevention programs used in Vermont, analyzing their effectiveness.

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

This course uses one or more textbooks/books/simulations.

Fall 2024 textbook details will be available on . On that date a link will be available below that will take you to eCampus, CCV's bookstore. The information provided there will be specific to this class. Please see this page for more information regarding the purchase of textbooks/books.

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

Methods:
	large group discussions readings, writing, and inquiry-based research professional work-based learning experiences interviews service learning

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria:
	Final grades are determined based on your performance in the following areas: Final Exam (20% of your grade) Final Paper (25% of your grade) Weekly Assignments (25% of your grade Weekly Discussion Forums/ Participation/ Attendance (30% of your grade) Final Exam: Exam will include testing on information read from your textbook, supplementary readings, and weekly discussion forums. This test will be comprised of 5 Essay questions, each will be worth 20 points. You may use your text, or any other resources needed. This is not a timed exam. There is no preparation necessary prior to taking the exam. Final Project: DUE WEEK TWELVE OF CLASS- You have the option of doing one of the two projects noted below. YOU ONLY HAVE TO CHOSE ONE. Project #1: Throughout the semester, you will gain a better understanding of JJ. You should select a topic that relates to this course. It could be something from your text, it could be something we discussed, or it could be a topic you have personal experience with (e.g. you are currently working with at risk youth). The paper will be due during week twelve of this course. It should be 7 pages in length and must include a title page, abstract, and a reference page. The 7 pages does not include the title page etc. My suggestion is you chose a subject that interests you. Project #2: The Service-Learning Project: The Service Learning Project is a chance to learn by doing. You would be required to choose an organization to contribute one to three hours of volunteer time to. In preparation for your contribution of time and service, you would need to do some background research on the organization, the population it serves, and the work it does for those people. Your research should lead you to the creation of ten questions about the organization that you would like to get answers to. I will expect your final report to contain these questions, but you will only need to provide answers to five of them in the report. Subsequent to your research, you will be required to conduct an interview (it can be formal or informal) and to record your thoughts and impressions about that interview. The general content must be related to CRJ. An example of an organization that you may be able to complete this project with would be a Court Diversion Program. As part of your report, you will be asked to donate some of your time to a service (direct or indirect) this organization needs to perform and to reflect on your experience. What do you learn about people, about this organization, or about yourself from being involved? Your final report should include the following elements: 1. A one-to-two-page introduction to the organization and its mission in the community. 2. A list of potential questions that you constructed before your interview/service-learning experience. 3. One 1–3-page summary of the answers that you got to the questions you asked (at least five) and/or the summary of what you learned from your interview. You must include the name and contact information, including email address, of the person or person’s you interviewed. 4. A 1–2-page reflection on what you learned from the time you took to contribute (I think an hour is appropriate, but this does not have to be a hard and fast rule). Weekly Assignments: All your homework assignments are listed in the weekly modules. It is your responsibility to locate your assignment each week and submit it on time. Late work is not accepted. Note: All weekly homework assignments are due by Sunday night at Midnight. Note: All course work will only be accepted the day it is due. I will not accept late work unless a special condition exists to permit late submission and only after my approval. Note: There will be no make-up tests unless emergency or extenuating circumstances exist. Note: All assignments that are submitted must be typed, handwritten assignments will not be accepted. Discussion Forums: Here is where you will contribute your answer to one of the writing options you have been given in the discussion forum provided in the module above. Please note that in addition to the submission of your response to your chosen question, at least two thoughtful responses to classmates is required. Discussion Forums (25% of the final grade):. . . In your original post, I will expect to see: Demonstrative critical thinking. Specific references to readings. Specific references to your personal experience. Specific references to at least one independently acquired outside source Proper English written in complete coherent sentences. These discussion posts will be due by Wednesday night at midnight, the week a subject is covered, but are encouraged to be posted as early as possible in the week so that you can get maximum benefit from feedback. Please do not wait to the last moment every week as that creates a less-than-ideal learning experience when everyone does it. If you wait until the last moment to post, you will not receive full credit. If your post is late or you don't meet the requirements outlined above, you will not receive any credit. The discussion forum will serve as your weekly class lecture. We will have in depth conversations about the discussion topics we are covering. It is my role to facilitate these conversations, however it is your role to be actively engaged and sign on to the discussion forum at least 3 times per week. NOTE: You cannot make up discussion forum assignments. If you miss a weekly discussion forum you will not receive any credit. Explanation of Letter Grades A+ through A-: For any work to receive an "A," it must clearly be exceptional or outstanding work. It must demonstrate keen insight and original thinking. It must not only demonstrate full understanding of the topic or issues addressed, but it must also provide a critical analysis of these. In addition, an "A" grade reflects a student's ability to clearly and thoughtfully articulate his or her learning. B+ through B-: For any work to receive a "B," it must be good to excellent work. It must demonstrate strong originality, comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail. In addition, a "B" grade reflects a student's ability to clearly articulate his or her learning. C+ through C-: For any work to receive a "C," it must meet the expectations of the assignment. It must demonstrate solid comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail. In addition, a "C" grade reflects a student's ability to adequately articulate his or her learning. D+ through D-: For any work to receive a "D," it must marginally meet the expectations of the assignment. It demonstrates minimal comprehension, critical thinking, and attention to detail. In addition, a "D" grade may reflect a student's difficulty in articulating his or her learning. F: Work that receives an "F" grade does not meet the expectations or objectives of the assignment. It demonstrates consistent problems with comprehension, organization, critical thinking, and supporting details. In addition, an "F" grade reflects a student's inability to articulate his or her learning. Students are strongly urged to discuss this grade with their instructor and advisor. P: Equivalent to D (+/-) or better and therefore course will not count as credit for specific program requirements or competence area requirements. NP: indicates failure to meet course objectives and/or failure to meet grading criteria for successful completion as described in the instructor's course description. Additional note to students with learning and/or academic challenges: You are urged to contact the Academic Support Center, where trained staff is available to review eligibility documentation, provide academic support and/or counseling, and work with the faculty on assisting with appropriate accommodations.

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

Discussion Forums:

Here is where you will contribute your answer to one of the writing options you have been given in the discussion forum provided in the module above. Please note that in addition to the submission of your response to your chosen question, at least two thoughtful responses to classmates by Weds at midnight each week is required.

Discussion Forums (25% of the final grade):. . . In your original post, I will expect to see:

1. Demonstrative critical thinking.
2. Specific references to readings.
3. Specific references to your personal experience.
4. Specific references to at least one independently acquired outside source
5. Proper English written in complete coherent sentences.

These discussion posts will be due by Weds night at midnight, the week a subject is covered, but are encouraged to be posted as early as possible in the week so that you can get maximum benefit from feedback. Please do not wait to the last moment every week as that creates a less-than-ideal learning experience when everyone does it. If you wait until the last moment to post, you will not receive full credit. If your post is late or you don't meet the requirements outlined above, you will not receive any credit.

The discussion forum will serve as your weekly class lecture. We will have in depth conversations about the discussion topics we are covering. It is my role to facilitate these conversations, however it is your role to be actively engaged and sign on to the discussion forum at least 3 times per week.

NOTE: You cannot make up discussion forum assignments. If you miss a weekly discussion forum you will not receive any credit.

Missing & Late Work Policy

All your homework assignments are listed in the weekly modules. It is your responsibility to locate your assignment each week and submit it on time. Late work is not accepted.

Note: All discussion forum posts are due by Weds at midnight each week

Note: All weekly homework assignments are due by Sunday night at Midnight.

Note: All course work will only be accepted the day it is due. I will not accept late work unless a special condition exists to permit late submission and only after my approval.

Note: There will be no make-up tests unless emergency or extenuating circumstances exist.

Note: All assignments that are submitted must be typed, handwritten assignments will not be accepted.

Note: If you do not participate in the discussion forum weekly or submit your homework assignment it counts as an absence.

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