Correctional Systems and Practices Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Amarillo College Writer’s Corner

The Writer’s Corner is an excellent resource available to you for assistance in the writing needs of the course. You can access additional information at https://www.actx.edu/english/writerscorner.

EMAIL ADDRESS:  writerscorner@actx.edu 

Phone: 345 5580   

LOCATION:  Ordway Hall, Room 102

Fall & Spring Semesters

Monday – Thursday

8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Friday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Summer Sessions

Monday - Thursday

8:00 am to 1:00 pm

Closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Course Requirements

Class structure, important announcements, and participation

SIMPLE RULES FOR CLASS BEHAVIOR

There are certain requirements that will be necessary for the successful completion of this class.  The requirements are mandatory and are explained fully in this syllabus.

1. Read the chapters; take good notes
2. Be on time and stay until the end
3. Study for the exams

You are responsible for keeping up with the assigned readings. The textbook readings are intended to provide background information to my lecture.  If for some reason I am unable to lecture on a particular topic in the book you are still responsible for knowing that particular section of the assigned reading. So, please be aware that you will be tested on what the book covers as well as my lectures.  The readings will be from the textbook listed above. Bring you textbook to every lecture.  In order to be successful in this class, you will need to devote equal study time to course lecture as well as the readings; therefore, class participation is expected.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS:

• This is a three hour course. An estimate of study time outside of class is 3 hours for every 1 hour in class. Therefore, you need to plan on spending at least 9 hours per week studying for this class, outside of class.
• Read each chapter and take notes in class
• Study the vocabulary words for each chapter.  You can use Kahoot to create flashcards
• Form study groups with your fellow classmates

Behavior policy. 

In this class, students are expected to behave in a manner befitting adult, college students, with the proper respect displayed for their fellow students, the instructor, and the college. A student will receive one verbal warning only. Verbal warnings may include dismissal from class for the remainder of the class period. A second incident results in permanent expulsion with no chance for reinstatement.

Prohibited behavior includes, but are not limited to the following:

• Arriving late or leaving early from class
• Having a cell phone in class. (please refer to the separate cell phone policy page)
• Carrying on side conversations with classmates. Being loud, laughing, cussing, etc...
• Sleeping
• Doing other coursework, or reading the newspaper or other materials not related to the course
• Complaining during class about your dissatisfaction with the class or the material being taught. THESE BEHAVIORS WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATICALLY BEING DISMISSED FROM THE CLASS.  If you have issues with anything regarding the class you need to see me during my office hours.
• Speaking rudely or forcefully to classmates
• Speaking rudely or forcefully to the instructor, questioning the instructor’s authority, expressing anger about a grade, or generally disrupting the instructor’s ability to teach. THESE BEHAVIORS WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATICALLY BEING DISMISSED FROM THE CLASS.
• Dominating the class discussion by not allowing other students to speak
• YELLING AT THE INSTRUCTOR, AT ANYTIME, WILL RESULT IN PERMANENT EXPULSION FROM THE CLASS.

PLEASE BE IN CLASS ON TIME! Class starts at 9:00 a.m.  

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic honesty is not only assumed, but required, of all students in all coursework and exams as they relate to this course. This instructor maintains a zero-tolerance policy with regards to occurrences of scholastic dishonesty. Occurrences of scholastic dishonesty will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and will result in a grade of zero for the applicable assignment and/or removal from the course. Scholastic dishonesty is defined in the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct as “…shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.” Determinations of scholastic dishonesty may be substantiated if a student engages in any of the following behaviors:

• Function as a substitute for another student in any assignment or exam, or utilizes a substitute in any assignment or exam
• Utilizes the assistance of others, including other students, or engages in “collusion” in relation to any assignment or exam to the extent the work is not characteristic of the student's capabilities. Collusion is defined in the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct as: “… the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.”
•  Affords excessive assistance to another student in relation to any assignment or exam, including the unauthorized use of camera phones, text messages, photocopies, notes or other means to copy or photograph materials used or intended for academic submission.
• Commits plagiarism; refer to the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct which defines plagiarism as: “…the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.”
• Uses information and/or materials from the Internet or any other source without citing full and applicable credit
• Knowingly permits his or her work to be submitted by another student in connection with any assignment or exam
• Claims credit for or submits work done by another student

Exam procedures

Essays

Exams:
Each student will be required to take six chapter exams and a mandatory comprehensive final during the semester. Your lowest test grade on the chapter exams will be dropped.

The chapter exams will consist of multiple choice questions. The final exam will be comprehensive and will consist of multiple choice questions.  

NO TABLETS ARE ALLOWED IN CLASS ON THE DAY OF EXAMS! If a student has one of these devices on the day of the test, the student will be asked to leave and will not be allowed to take the test.

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

All tests will begin at 9:00, if a student enters the class after 9:10 they will not be allowed to take the test.  If you arrive after 9:10 you will see this sign on the DOOR , DO NOT ENTER THE CLASSROOM IF THE ABOVE SIGN IS ON THE DOOR.

YOU will have one hour and 15 minutes to complete each chapter exam, you will have two hours to complete the final exam.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF A REVIEW SHEET OR AN IN CLASS REVIEW. PLEASE DO NOT ASK, IF A REVIEW IS TO BE GIVEN, I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

After Chapters 4(Jail), 5(probation), 7(Prison), and 15(parole) you will construct an essay dealing with the topic of each of those chapters.  This will be a five (5) paragraph paper, it will contain the following information;

I. introduction

II.  history of topic at hand

III. history of the institution

IV. the institution today

V. conclusion

All essays will be submitted through Black Board, no paper copies will be accepted. Due dates for each assignment are located in the calendar located in this syllabus, no late work will be accepted for any reason.

Grading Scheme:
Exams                      35%                       
Attendance               20% 

Tours                        20%

Essays                       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
 

You get the grade you earn.  At the end of the semester, if you have a final grade of an 89.5 you will receive an A, if you have a final grade of 89.4 you will receive a B.

Makeup Policy:

Because the lowest chapter exam score is dropped, there will be no make-up exams.  If you miss a scheduled exam for any reason, that exam will be the exam score that will be dropped. The purpose for the drop grade is so that you can miss an exam for any reason, such as death in the family, illness, vacation, having a baby, not able to get your books on time, not having access to a computer, having to work, forgetting to take an exam, etc… DO NOT ASK TO MAKE UP A TEST

Extra Credit:

There is not an “extra credit” option.  I want you to learn how to do college level work and do well in your class as opposed to passing a class based on extra credit.  I want you to learn the study skills necessary to be successful as you continue taking courses in college.   

Withdraw procedures

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”. The last day to drop is February 27, 2018, you must have my permission to drop.  

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

1. print out the Administrative Withdrawal Request form and complete it. The form requires the instructor’s signature.
2. consult with their instructor to obtain instructors signature on the withdrawal request form
3. consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
4. consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
5. consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters

NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.

Tours

Our class will be taking two tours this semester, one to a local jail and the other to our local prison.  Each tour will take approximately two (2) hours.  **It is extremely important that you be on time, as the group cannot proceed without everyone there.  If you arrive after the tour begins you will not be able to participate in the tour.** Participation in each tour is mandatory. Students will receive a grade based on attendance and a grade for writing a 1 page reflective paper detailing their experience at each place.  You will write a total of two (2) papers, one for each facility we visit.

You must have your driver’s license or another photo ID with you.  You will not be allowed in without a photo ID.

1. The following items are not allowed with you on the tours:

• • Purses or bags
  • Guns, pocket knives, etc.
  • Personal pepper spray
  • Cell phones or any other electronic devices
  • Drugs or tobacco…of any kind.  It is a felony offense to bring tobacco into a state prison.

1. The following guidelines must be adhered to, or you will not be allowed access into the facility:

1. • No open-toed or open-back shoes (slip-ons or mules) Tennis shoes only
   • Clothing with pictures or language that may be considered profane or offensive by current public standards shall not be allowed.
   • Pants only! No shorts or capris.
   • Clothing that is tight fitting, revealing, or made with see-through fabrics shall not be allowed.
   • It is a maximum security prison…use common sense.
   • The deputy/warden shall make the final decision whether the visit should be denied based on clothing. 
     
     
1. If you have a relative incarcerated at either facility, you need to let me know.
1. If you have a felony charge on your criminal history please let me know.

Tour Essays

After each facility tour, you will be required to write a reflection paper.  The content of the paper will be as follows:

1. Summary 
   1. Briefly and in your own words, provide a brief overview of what facility was visited
   2. Three (3) sentence minimum.
2. Reaction  
   1. Take a position on the issue of incarceration, is mass incarceration a solution or a problem.
   2. How do you feel about what you saw?
   3. How did this event affect you? What stood out to you?
   4. Five (5) sentence minimum.
3. Impact on society  
   1. How does incarceration impact society as a whole?
   2. Three (3) sentence minimum.

Write your paper in paragraph form, using good sentence structure with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.  Be observant during the tours, ask questions of staff. You need to understand what programs are offered to inmates to understand if incarceration works. Does incarceration work for every type of offence?  These papers are to get you to think about the consequences of incarceration and the impact it has on society.

The paper should be one page in length, double-spaced, one inch margins and 12-point font.

These essays will be submitted through a “drop box” in Black Board, no paper copies will be accepted.  Due dates for each assignment are located in the calendar. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Essay assignments

After Chapters 4(Jail), 5(probation), 7(Prison), and 15(parole) you will construct an essay dealing with the topic of each of those chapters.  This will be a five (5) paragraph paper, it will contain the following information;

I. introduction

II.  history of topic at hand

III. history of the institution

IV. the institution today

V. conclusion

Topics for each of the above chapters will be given out by the instructor. 

All essays will be submitted through a “drop box” in Black Board, no paper copies will be accepted.  Due dates for each assignment are located in the calendar. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Each essay will be 2-3 pages in length, title page and work sited page are not included in the length count. Please see “format for all assignments” for addition requirements for each paper

Format for all assignments. 

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.
• Indent each new paragraph
• Use Times Roman 12 pt. font.

Every assignment you turn in must have the following cover page attached. If the cover page is missing, 10 points will be deducted from your grade.

Title of paper

Your name

Correctional Systems and Practices

Instructor Haskins

ALL ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE TURNED IN THROUGH BLACK BOARD.   

Blackboard

• Check Blackboard DAILY.  I will post announcements and will use email to contact you.
• Students will be responsible for printing off any material that is posted to Blackboard.

Additional Information

Reproduction of Course Materials

Students are prohibited from reproducing any portion of this class without written permission from the instructor of record or authorization through Disability Services. This includes, but is not limited to, lecture notes, class discussion boards or any other class materials. For purposes of the policy herein, “reproducing” applies to photographic reproduction, audio, video, or any other type of reproduction of course materials.

Students who create and/or share an unauthorized reproduction of course materials via any means, including social media, are violating an instructor's intellectual property rights and could potentially be subjected to disciplinary actions under the Student Code of Conduct. Additionally, should any footage be shown of proprietary materials, the student who created or shared the unauthorized video may also be subject to copyright laws.

This policy has been adopted by all instructors in the Criminal Justice Department. Questions or concerns should be directed to Sarah Uselding, Program Coordinator and/or Eric Wallace, Director: 

Recordings in Class

Students are prohibited from recording any portion of this class without written permission from the instructor of record or authorization through Disability Services. This includes, but is not limited to, lectures, class discussions or other class activities. For purposes of the policy herein, “recording” applies to audio, video, or any other type of digital recording.

Students who create and/or share an unauthorized recording via any means, including social media, are violating an instructor's intellectual property rights and could potentially be subjected to disciplinary actions under the Student Code of Conduct. Additionally, should any footage be shown of proprietary materials, the student who created or shared the unauthorized video may also be subject to copyright law.

This policy has been adopted by all instructors in the Criminal Justice Department. Questions or concerns should be directed to Sarah Uselding, Program Coordinator and/or Eric Wallace, Director. 

Extra-Credit Opportunities

Determinations regarding whether or not extra-credit opportunities will be afforded to students is at the discretion of the instructor. In the event an option for extra-credit is offered by the instructor, comprehensive guidelines and information will be provided to the student. Students are not required to participate in extra-credit opportunities.

This policy has been adopted by all instructors in the Criminal Justice Department. Questions or concerns should be directed to Sarah Uselding, Program Coordinator and/or Eric Wallace, Director.

Student Complaints

A complaint is an allegation of improper, unfair, arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by college personnel. Students should attempt to resolve concerns informally with the instructor before filing a formal complaint. Any student or group of students may file a complaint concerning any campus issue. The Amarillo College Student Complaint Policy is described in detail in the Student Rights and Responsibilities document.

If you have a complaint regarding the instructor or some aspect of the course, you should first contact your instructor immediately in person or via email and attempt to resolve the situation. If the situation can’t be resolved to your satisfaction, you should then contact Sarah E. Uselding, Assistant Professor/Program Coordinator at seuselding@actx.edu or Eric Wallace, Director of Criminal Justice Programs at ecwallace@actx.edu.

Questions, advice, etc…

Please note; I am more than happy to talk to you about whatever may be on your mind. If you need someone to talk to, need resources for food/gas, or if you just have questions about criminal justice, I will be more than happy to sit down and visit with you. However, those conversations will need to take place outside of class, just catch me after class and we can talk.  Please reserve all in class questions to only the material we are currently covering.

THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, WITHOUT NOTICE, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR.