Court Systems and Practices Syllabus for 2015-2016
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

CRIJ-1306-002 Court Systems and Practices

Prerequisites

Course Description

This course is a study of the court system as it applies to the structures, procedures, practices and sources of law in American courts, using federal and Texas statutes and case law.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

America’s Courts and the Criminal Justice System, David W. Neubauer, Henry F. Fradella  11^th  Edition, ISBN# 978-1-285-06194-8

Supplies

Five (5) 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.  

 

 

Student Performance

Student Performance / Learning Objectives

1.Describe the American judicial systems (civil, criminal, and juvenile), their jurisdiction, development, and structure.

2.Analyze the function and dynamics of the courtroom work group.

3.Identify judicial processes from pretrial to appeal.

4 Describe the significant Constitutional Amendments, doctrines, and other sources of law in the American judicial system. 

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.       Sleeping 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 four (4) major exams and a mandatory comprehensive final during the semester.  
The exam will consist of 50 True/False, multiple choice and/or matching questions.  In addition to the True/False, multiple choice and/or matching questions, there will be an essay/short answer section.  
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.

Grading Scheme:

Exams                                     50%

Briefs                                      25%

Participation                            15%

Homework                              10%

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 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. 

 

Briefs:

Each student will turn in three briefs over relevant legal cases. NO LATE BRIEFS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Homework:

Each student will turn in homework assignments at the end of each chapter. Each homework assignment is due at the beginning of class, NO LATE HOMEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. You must be in class to turn in your homework

Participation:

As part of the participation grade for this class, we will be discussing current events that are related to the criminal justice system. You will access the current event topics through Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/675849012545660/

in order to access this page you will need to ask to join the group.

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

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

Briefs	Briefs: Purpose – To learn how to take notes on an appellate judges’ opinions (or “Cases”) in the form of a case brief.  The brief will help you understand cases as you read them by breaking down each assigned case to its key ideas.  Each brief will contain the following four elements that are essential to any useful brief : 1.Facts (name of the case and its parties, what happened factually and procedurally, and the judgment)   2.Issues (what is in dispute)   3.Holding (the applied rule of law)   4.Rationale (reasons for the holding) Length – • Most briefs are 1-2 pages in length. The original opinion will need to be attached to your brief. Specific directions and example will be given on the first day of class.   Opinions from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals can be found at: http://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/
Additional Information	ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED, HANDWRITTEN WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED! Format: •          APA style •          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 New 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 curse 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 Court Systems and Practices                                               Instructor Haskins
Homework Assignments	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.