Police Systems and Practices Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

CRIJ-2328-002 Police Systems and Practices

Prerequisites

Course Description

The police profession; organization of law enforcement systems; the police role; police discretion; ethics; police-community interaction; current and future issues.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Walker, Samuel and Katz, Charles M. The Police in America, an Introduction, 7th Edition. (2011).
 

Supplies

Student Performance

1. Discuss the history of policing and the development of recent policing, from the first half of the twentieth century through the present time.
2. Introduce the numerous federal law enforcement agencies that enforce federal laws and regulations and assist local and state police departments.
3. Describe the size, scope, and functions of law enforcement agencies in the public sector.
4. Be familiar with the many changes  made in U.S. public law enforcement following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States.
5. Illustrate the complexities of modern police organizations and how departmetns are organized on the basis of personnel, area, time, and function.
6. Be familiar with the police selection process and the standards that must be met to be accepted for employment as a police officer.
7. Understand the basis for police academy training, field training, community policing training, and probationary periods required in many police departments.
8. Explore the police role and its many interpretations, the goals and objectives of policing, the various operational styles of policing and the concept of police discretion, seeking to undertstand how and why discretion is exercised and the methods that have been used to control it.
9. Be familiar with the research indicating the existence of a distinct police culture or subculture and the studies on police personality, including attempts made to define the police personality.
10. Discuss police officer stress and understand why it occurs, how it is exhibited, and what means can be utilized to deal with it.
11. Describe the history and problems of minorities in policing.
12. Illustrate how discrimination affects minorities in obtaining employment and promotions in policing.
13. Discuss the provisions within the U.S. legal system that enabled minorities to overcome job discrimination.
14. Be acquainted with the various definitions, types, and extent of police corruption.
15. Explore various forms of police misconduct other than police corruption, including drug-related corruption, police deception, sex-related corruption, and domestic violence.
16. Discuss the issue of liability and the effects of lawsuits on police officers and police agencies.
17. Understand the traditional methods of doing police work to include police traffic operations and special operations and examine their effectiveness.
18. Discuss some of the innovative and tactical ways of performing the patrol function.
19. Discuss police automobile pursuits.
20. Illustrate the meaning of police-community relations and their importance to the safety and quality of life in a community.
21. Explore public attitudes regarding the police and efforts undertaken around the nation to improve public perceptions.
22. Describe some innovative community crime prevention programs that focus on crime reduction and improving the quality of life in communities.
23. Discuss the effect of community policing and problem-solving policing on current policing and the implementation of community policing strategies, including the most recent methods, the role of the federal government, and some recent community policing successes.
24. Understand the role of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Supreme Court in regulating the actions of the police.
25. Become aware, through the exploration of case law, of the changing philosophy of the U.S. Supreme Court in areas regarding arrests, search and seizure, custodial interrogation, and identification procedures.

This course will be guided by meeting the above referenced Student Performance objectives. At the end of the semester, students are expected to have a basic understanding of the field of American policing and the essential elements therein.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

 Behavioral Expectations (Rules of the Classroom)
1. Be in class on time, stay until the class is over.
2. All cell phones, or other electronic communications devices, except laptops used solely for class note taking / presentations are to be turned off.
3. All students utilizing tap tops must sit on the front row and are subject to viewing by the instructor.
4. Sleeping in class is unacceptable and will result in a rude awaking as well as loss of participation points.
5. Come to class prepared.
6. Common respect and courtesy toward the instructor and fellow students is required. You are not required to agree with the ideas or opinions of others but you are required to show respect to any person voicing them.
7. Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero, removal from class and referral to the college administration.
8. Most importantly, come prepared to ask questions and offer ideas.
9. Any problems with the material or class should be brought to the instructor’s attention as soon as possible.
 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria
Homework Assignments: Homework assignments will be given at various times during the semester. All instructions for assignments, including the due date, will be discussed in class at the time the assignment is given.
Late assignments will NOT be accepted. If you fail to turn your assignment in on the specified date, you will receive a grade of zero.
All homework assignments will be averaged together for a cumulative grade that will comprise thirty percent (30%) of your final grade for the course.
Chapter Exams: There will be three chapter exams. They will cover assigned reading, lectures, guest speakers, discussions and videos for the specified time period. The exam dates are listed on the class calendar.
All make-up exams will be given on December 1, 2011 between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. If an exam has to be made up, the maximum grade you will be eligible to make is an 85.
Chapter exam grades will be averaged together for a cumulative exam average that will comprise forty percent (40%) of your final grade for the course.
Participation/Attendance: Attendance will be taken each class period. An attendance grade will be given based on the corresponding number of absences:
Perfect Attendance: A+ (100)
1 absence: A (95)
2 absences: B (85)
3 absences: C (75)
4 absences D (65)
5 absences F for the course.
There will be no excused absences. If you arrive to class late, it is your responsibility to make sure I’ve marked you present, otherwise the absence will stand.
While attendance is mandatory, participation is also required. You should come prepared to participate in class discussions and role playing. Lack of participation or obvious lack of preparation will drop your attendance grade by fifteen (15) points.

Attendance/Participation will comprise twenty percent (20%) of your total grade for the course.
Final Exam: The final exam will be administered per the “Final Exam Schedule”, as posted toward the end of the semester. It will be a comprehensive exam and will comprise ten percent (10%) of your total grade for the course.
Grading Scale
A (100-90) B (89-80) C (79-70) D (69-60) F (59-0)
Make-up Policy
See Grading Criteria section of this syllabus.
Required Exams
See Grading Criteria section of this syllabus.
Final Exam
 

Attendance

 The student is responsible for attendance. Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. While the text and associated written material will provide essential information for successful test performance, the majority of the material on the tests will come during classroom lectures / discussions. If conflicts of schedule, lack of interest in the class or other issues arise, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course or withdraw from the college. Your instructor cannot do this for you. Failure to drop the course within the time frames established by the college will result in the student receiving a failing performance grade.
Students with five (5) or more absences will automatically receive a grade of “F” for the course, regardless of the grade average at the time of the fifth absence.
 

Calendar

Additional Information

 Instructor Objectives for Course
At the end of this course you are expected to have a working knowledge regarding policing methodologies in America, as well as the role of the individual officer within those systems. The course is intended to provide the student with both an academic point of view of the issues as well as a working, practical perspective.