Crime in America Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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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, Steven E. Barkan 6^th Edition, ISBN# 978-0-13-345899-2

Supplies

Four (4) Scantrons 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 Scantron portion.  Also, one (1) three ring binder and dividers. <

Student Performance

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

Student 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

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.

4.       Texting and web browsing in class is unacceptable and will result in 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

Exams:
Each student will be required to take three (3) major exams and a mandatory comprehensive final during the semester.  
The exam will consist of 50 True/False, multiple choice and/or matching questions, and/or essay/short answer.  
The final exam will be comprehensive. The exam will consist of 100 True/False, multiple choice and/or matching questions. There will be no essay/short answer section on the final exam.

 Students will not be permitted to leave the classroom once testing has begun.  If the student leaves the room, then their test will be taken up and graded based on the questions they have answered up to that point.

Participation:

• All About Me Paper:

Each student will turn in a 1-2 page paper giving a brief overview of their life and what they hope to accomplish with their degree. The paper is due January 26, 2015. See attached guidelines for paper requirements.

 

• Each student will turn in homework assignments at the end of each chapter. Homework must be completed, turned in, and kept in your notebook in order to complete each quiz. Each homework assignment is due at the beginning of class. You must be in class to turn in your homework

 

• Each student will be required to actively engage in the weekly discussions.  You must be present and prepared to actively participate in class discussions.

 

• Notebook:
  Each student is responsible for maintaining a notebook, you will use this notebook when you take a quiz. In the notebook you will have the syllabus, calendar, notes, homework, and handouts. This is part of your participation grade, I will be checking the notebook after each quiz. You must properly maintain a notebook in order to complete each quiz.  

Quizzes:

There will be 4 quizzes given throughout the year. You must be present at the beginning of class when the quiz is handed out, if you come into class after the quiz is handed out you will not be permitted to take the quiz. The questions will be taken from information kept in your notebook, this can includes the syllabus, notes, handouts, and homework. You will be allowed to use your notebook during each quiz.

Grading Scheme:
Exam’s                           40%
Participation                   35%
Quizzes                          25%
Total                               100%

A = 100%-89.5%

B = 89.4%-79.5%
C = 79.4%-69.5%
D = 69.4%-59.5%

F = 59.4% and below
 

Makeup Policy:
NO EXAMS or QUIZZES CAN BE MADE UP or RE-TAKEN. If an exam is missed, the grade will be replaced with the score you make on the final exam. This policy applies to one exam only. If you miss more than one exam, a grade of zero will be averaged for the other missed exams. If you do not miss any exam during the semester, the grade on the mandatory final exam, will replace the lowest major exam grade.

 

Extra Credit:

Extra credit is not mandatory and will only be given at the discretion of the instructor. 

Attendance

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

A student is allowed to be late to class three (3) times. After the third time, any additional late entries to class will be counted as an absence. Late to class means entering class 10 minutes after class has started. An example would be if class starts at 9:00am and you arrive at 9:11 you would be counted late; however, if you arrived to class at 9:10 you would be counted present.

 

It is the student’s responsibility to drop a course or withdraw from the college. Failure to drop the course within a timely manner will result in the student receiving a performance grade, usually an “F”.

Calendar

Additional Information

	ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED, HANDWRITTEN WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! APA style Format: Use 8.5” x 11” paper Type double-spaced with 1” margins on all edges. Page number should be in the top right corner. Indent each new paragraph Use Times Roman 12 pt. font.     Conversations: Do not use contractions in academic papers (can’t, don’t, didn’t, etc...) Do not write one-sentence paragraphs. Do not use slang or cuss words. Works cited page: Begin on a new page Center the title, Works Cited,  at the top of the page List all entries in alphabetical order by the author’s last name. Use the title of the work if the author’s name is not known Double-space entries. Bibliography –  APA Format (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/)   Every assignment must have the following cover page attached. Title of paper Your name Introduction to Criminal Justice Instructor Haskins
Homework Assignments	All About Me paper: January 26, 2015 – Due at the Beginning of Class All About Me Paper guidelines   Purpose- To introduce yourself to the instructor.   Topics- The paper needs to include information about your background, experiences, career goals, and anything in your life that may affect your performance in this class.    Length – • Minimum 1 Page • Maximum 2 Pages   Grading: The grading rubric for this assignment will be placed on Blackboard.     Chapter homework: There will be homework for each chapter covered. Each assignment will consist of a vocabulary section and a question and answer section. Homework assignments will be given at the end of each class period. The following format is required when completing homework assignments. Vocabulary: 1.           2.           3.           Questions: 1.           2.
Blackboard	Grading rubrics will be posted to Blackboard. Please look at these when completing an assignment so that you will know what is expected and how I will grade the assignment. Examples of previous students work will be available for you to view. This will give you examples to reference. Outlines of my Power Point presentations will be made available. However, having access to them is not intended to replace attending class. Students will be responsible for printing off any material that is posted to Blackboard.