Correctional Systems and Practices Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Course

CRIJ-2313-002 Correctional Systems and Practices

Prerequisites

Course Description

This course is a survey of institutional and non-institutional corrections. Emphasis will be placed on the organization and operation of correctional systems; treatment and rehabilitation; populations served; Constitutional issues; and 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

 

American Corrections in Brief, 2nd Edition,  Todd R. Clear | George F. Cole | Michael D. Reisig | Carolyn Petrosino

ISBN-13: 9781285458427

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.  

Student Performance

Student Performance / Learning Objectives

1.Define the term "corrections" and know how correctional agencies fulfill their mission of protecting society.

2.Outline the growth of corrections over the past two decades, and describe why the scope of correctional budgets, staffing, and clients makes it important for students to study corrections.

3.Specify the reasons for preventive detention, and describe the forms of release from jail pending trial.

4. List the purposes of the pre-sentence investigation.

5.List and describe the six sentencing options available as criminal sanctions.

6.Explain the use of sentencing guidelines.

7.Describe the historical development of jail design and operations.

8.Discuss the daily operations of a jail.

9.Compare the various jail designs, and explain the positive benefits of direct supervision.

10.Explain the organization and operation of modern probation.

11.Contrast regular, intensive, and special caseloads.

12.Define and give examples of standard, and special conditions of probation.

13.Describe how the role and prevailing philosophies of prison operations have changed significantly over the past century.

14.Explain the mission of a prison.

15.Compare and contrast the federal and state prison systems; specifically understand the make-up of the Texas prison system.

16.Compare and contrast the ways inmates can be released from prison, to include parole, supervised mandatory release, and unconditional mandatory release.

17.Outline the use of parole guidelines using salient factor scores to determine parole readiness.

18.Describe the process of parole revocation, and list the due process rights for offenders during this process.

19.Understand the use of incarceration rates to compare numbers of offenders over various time frames.

20.Describe how offenders are assigned to various security levels of prisons, and how their daily routine operates.

21.Identify the special needs of female inmates, and how correctional agencies have responded to their needs.

22.Compare classification methods for male and female inmates.

23.List and define the three categories of offenders referred to the juvenile justice system.

24.Outline the steps in the juvenile justice process, and compare it with similar steps in the adult criminal justice process.

25.Define "special offenders" and describe how they require special handling under correctional supervision.

26.Understand the special needs of drug offenders, mentally ill inmates, violent inmates, sex offenders and inmates with HIV.

27.Explain how prisons are organized and the role of all staff members, including management staff.

28.Contrast the custody and treatment functions within a prison; list the ways in which the classification of inmates contributes to the management of a prison.

29.Define the concept of "prisonization", and explain its impact on inmates both while serving a prison sentence and as they return to the community.

30.Identify many of the common prison slang terms, and their meaning within a prison setting.

31.List the eight types of activities that contribute to the security and custody functions within a prison.

32.Identify the various types of counts and how they are carried out in a prison.

33.Describe the historical development of the legal rights of inmates, and the creation and then abandonment of the hands-off doctrine by federal courts; explain how the First, Fourth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution create a basis for inmate lawsuits.

34.Compare and contrast public prisons and private prisons and discuss the benefits of correctional accreditation.

35.Identify some of the key questions facing corrections in the next ten years.

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 corrections and the essential elements therein.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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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.

Group Research Paper:
There will be four groups, each consisting of three to four students. Each group member will participate in the research and the production of the paper. Each group will receive a grade based on the content of the paper and the participation of each group member. Each group will turn in a 3 -5 page research paper over a specific topic that the students will sign up for on the first day of class. If a student is not present the first day of class, they will automatically be placed in a group by the instructor. The paper is due at the beginning of class on October 13, 2015. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  

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.

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Grading Scheme:
Exam’s                           40%

Research paper               25%
Participation                   20%
Homework                     15%
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.

 

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 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 Correctional Systems and Practices Instructor Haskins

Purpose – To gain a better knowledge of various issues that plague jails and prisons throughout the United States. The paper will contain at the very least the following information: I.Introduction II.History of the issue you selected III.Consequences resulting from the issue you selected IV.Solutions to the issue you selected V.Conclusion   Subject – The paper can be written over a specific issue that is affecting today’s jails and prisons from a predetermined list which your group will choose from on the first day of class.   Research  Paper Guidelines Length – • Minimum 3 Pages • Maximum 5 Pages • Must include a Bibliography, Title Page, and a Page including group member names and how each contributed to the paper – not included in the paper page count   Grading – The grading rubric for this assignment will be placed on Blackboard.   Sources – Minimum of 5 resources Bibliography –  APA Format (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/) Correction Systems and Practices Topic List: 1.Inmate behavior 2.Negative media attention 3.Staff training 4.Mental health issues 5.Overcrowding 6.Funding   7.Solitary confinement 8.Sexual assault 9.Inmate healthcare

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.

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.