Crime in America Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Course Information

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Course

CRIJ-1307-001 Crime in America

Prerequisites

Course Description

American crime problems in historical perspective; social and public policy factors affecting crime; impact and crime trends; social characteristics of specific crimes; prevention of crime.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Criminology, Larry J. Siegel 11th Edition

Supplies

Four (4) scan-trons with essay space booklets are required for exams. Students may either use a pencil or pen to complete the essay assignment, but a pencil must be used on the scan-tron portion. Five (5) scan-trons are required for quizzes.

Student Performance

By the end of the semester the student will be able to satisfactorily complete all of the listed learning objectives with a minimum of 60 percent competency level based on the completion of the course examinations and assignments.

1. Be familiar with the sociological perspective and understand the mutual relevance of sociology and criminology.
2. Understand the relationship between crime, deviance and criminal law.
3. Be familiar with the various types of research methods in criminology.
4. Understand the relationship between public opinion and public policy.
5. Be able to evaluate the accuracy of news media coverage of crime and criminal justice.
6. Be acquainted with recent trends in U.S. crime rates.
7. Be familiar with the major social patterns of criminal behavior: gender, race, immigrant status, class and age.
8. Understand how victims are defined and be familiar with the study and analysis of victimization.
9. Be aware of the historical development of explanations of crime and deviance, from theology to science.
10. Be familiar with various criminological theories including, but not limited to rational choice, deterrence, routine activities, containment and social control theories.
11. Appreciate Emile Durkheim's contributions toward understanding deviance as a normal phenomenon and the influence of structural forces on individual behavior.
12. Be able to define specific types of violent crime and be familiar with their patterning and social dynamics and recent U.S. trends.
13. Be able to define specific types of property crime and be familiar with their patterning and social dynamics and recent U.S. trends.
14. Be able to define rape and battering and understand the social patterning of both, including the implications of social class and race.
15. Be acquainted with the various types of fraud and understand the costs therein.
16. Be able to define white-collar crime, including the conceptual problems involved.
17. Be able to define political crime and be familiar with the major categories involved.
18. Understand the issues surrounding the consensual crime debate.
19. Understand the history of drug use and the prevalence of legal and illegal drug use.
20. Understand the sociological prescription for crime reduction, including the components of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

1. Cell phones, pagers, or any electronic devices must be turned off during the class hours.
2. Students caught cheating will have their examinations confiscated and, at a minimum,
    receive a grade of F for that examination. Additionally, such students may receive a grade of F in the course.

Grading Criteria

Exams:
Each student will be required to take four (4) exams over the semester.  
o The exam will consist of 50True/False, multiple choice and/or matching questions.  Each question will be worth 1 point for a total of 50 points.  In addition to the True/False, multiple choice and/or matching question there will be an essay/short answer section worth 50 points.  
o The final exam will be comprehensive. The exam will consist of 100 True/False, multiple choice and/or matching questions. Each question will be worth 2 points for a total of 200 points. There will be no essay/short answer section on the final exam.

Group Term Paper & Presentations:
Students will be assigned to groups of 3 or 4. The group will research, construct an outline, write a term paper, and present a presentation to the entire class. One outline of the paper/presentation will be submitted per group at the beginning of class on October 14th, 2013. The outline, which will be a percentage of the final group term paper/presentation grade, will give an overview of the topic. The outline must be submitted in an outline format (please see following pages). The group will turn in a 5 -7 page term paper over a specific topic that that the group will sign up for on the first day of class. If the student is not present the first day of class, the student will be placed in a group automatically. The final paper is due October 23rd, 2013 the graded outline must be turned in with the term paper. Group presentations will begin on October 23rd, 2013. See attached guidelines for outline and term paper and outline requirements. 

Participation:
Each student will be required to actively engage in the weekly discussions.  A grade of up to 100 points will be accessed based on the student’s participation, which includes attendance during the semester. You must be present and prepared to actively participate in class discussions.

Quizzes:
Each student is responsible for reading and keeping up with the material. To insure students are reading, 5 quizzes will be given at random during the semester. Each quiz will be worth 20 points. There will be no make up quizzes.

Homework:
Each student will turn in 1 homework assignment during the semester. The homework assignment will be worth 50 points. The homework assignment is due at the beginning of class on the day it is assigned. You must be in class to turn in your homework. I will not accept homework via email unless I have approved it before the day the homework is due. No late homework will be accepted.

Grading Scheme:
Exam 1    100 Points
Exam 2    100 Points
Exam 3    100 Points
Final Exam    200 Points
Term Paper/Presentation  200 Points
Paper/Presentation Outline   50 Points
Participation    100 Points
Quizzes     100 Points
Homework      50 Points
Total Points Available          1000 Points

A = Point range between 900 and 1000
B = Point range between 800 and 899
C = Point range between 700 and 799
D = Point range between 600 and 699
F = Point range below 599

Grading for group project:

Makeup Policy:
No  EXAMS or QUIZZES CAN BE MADE UP or RE-TAKEN. 
Extra Credit may be given, if a student’s missed exam warrants the option.
 

Attendance

Attendance and participation are required. A student is allowed one unexcused absence. Each additional absence will result in 5 points being taken off of the participation grade.

Calendar

Additional Information

Term Paper Guidelines

Purpose –
To use critical thinking skills along with group participation to gain a better working knowledge of criminological theory and how theories relate to various topics in Crime in America. Give a history of your topic or subject, give a history of all theories that apply to topic or subject, and any relevant information to explain the correlation between topic/subject and theories. Only use theories that are discussed in this class.

Outline-
 An outline is a working rough draft of how your paper will be written and what areas you would like to highlight with your presentation. Outlines are a working rough draft with a limited amount of detail. The purpose of an outline is to allow you to organize your thoughts and the content of your paper/presentation. A 1 to 2 page outline will be sufficient.

Example of an Outline
I. Introduction
II. History of topic
a. Current state of topic
III. Theory
IV. Causes
V. Laws, research, policing structure, etc.
VI. Conclusion

Subject –
The paper will be written over a Crime in America topic in correlation to a criminological theory
• Minimum 5 Pages
• Maximum 7 Pages
• Must include a Bibliography – not included in the paper page count

Specifics –
• 12 pt. font
• 1 inch margins
• Double-spaced
• Name at top of every paper in the header
• Number all pages at the bottom

Sources –
5 Sources required, no more than 3 internet sources.

Bibliography –  APA Format (see examples)
• Book by single author:
Last name, first name. (Year book published). Title of Book. City Publish, State Publish: Publishing Company.
• Book by multiple authors:
Last name, first name & Last name, first name. (Year book published). Title of Book. City Publish, State Publish: Publishing Company.
• Government Publication:
US Agency Name. (Year published). Title of publication. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

• World Wide Web
Last name, first name. (Year published). Retrieved Insert date, from insert http://address

Presentation –
Each group will present to the class a 7-10 minute presentation over their topic. The group may make use of a video, power point, etc. to aid in their presentation of material. Each student must actively participate in the presentation to receive any credit for the presentation.

Crime in America Topic List

1. Ted Bundy
2. Hell’s Angels
3. John Wayne Gacy
4. The Mexican Mafia / La eMe
5. Gary Ridgway
6. Bandidos
7. Richard Ramirez
8. 18th Street Gang
9. Maury Travis
10.  Almighty Vice Lord Nation

Homework Assignments

September 18th – Due at the Beginning of Class
After reading Policy and Practice in Criminology: Are Sex Offender Registration Laws Effective? (Page 10), write a one - two page typed summary answering the critical thinking section of the article.  Additional research may be necessary to answer the questions. Be sure to site all sources including your text book, and include a bibliography.

Grade Sheet