Introduction to Criminal Justice Syllabus for 2017-2018
Return to Syllabus List

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 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

 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, true/false, and/or essay 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

Scheme:
Chapter exams                           25%

Final                                           20%

Common assessment                  15%

Discussion posts                         20%

Attendance                                 20%

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.  Students determine what their final grades are going to be, not professors. Please take responsibility for your work and make every effort to do your best. 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.   DO NOT ASK FOR EXTRA CREDIT

Attendance and participation are required.  A role sheet will be handed out at the beginning of class and at the end, you will sign acknowledging you are present, both at the beginning of class and at the end. If you do not stay for the entire class you will be counted absent that day, no excuses.  If you come in after the sign in sheet has been passed around, you will not be allowed to sign in and will be counted absent for that day.  A student is allowed (2) two absences. Each additional absence will result in 10 points, per additional absence, being taken off of the attendance grade.  STUDENTS HAVE FAILED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ATTEND CLASS!

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 May 1, 2018, you must have my permission to drop.  

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

• print out the Administrative Withdrawal Request form and complete it. The form requires the instructor’s signature.
• consult with their instructor to obtain instructors signature on the withdrawal request form
• consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
• 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.

Format for all assignments.

Title Page 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.

Length requirements:

• If the length requirements for a paper is 3 pages that means 3 full pages, not 2 full pages and a ½ page that is not 3 pages that is 2 ½ pages.
• Title pages and work cited pages are not include in the word count or the length requirement of any paper.

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

Introduction to Criminal Justice

Instructor Haskins

All About Me paper:

Due March 26, 2018 by 11:59 p.m. – You will upload this assignment into blackboard. Log into Blackboard, click on content, click on all about me folder.  

All About Me Paper guidelines

Purpose- To introduce yourself to the instructor.

Topic-

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. 

Format-

This will be a five(5) paragraph essay with the following sections;

I-Introduction (what is your paper about)

II- Your history (family, educational history, etc...)

III- Your current situation (your current family situation, current work situation, hobbies, etc...)

IV- Your future (your major, what you plan to do with your degree, what you want to do when you grow up, etc...)

V- conclusion(summarize what your paper was about)

SEE ABOVE BOX FOR ADDITIONAL FORMAT REQUIRMENTS.

Length –
• Minimum 2 Page
• Maximum 4 Pages

Make sure to follow the format listed in the format for all assignments section.

Common

Assessment

Instructions will be provided on the first day of class. Instructions will also be available in Blackboard under the Common Assessment tab.

Discussion Forms

There is an online component to this class. There will be four discussion posts throughout the semester, they will be completed through Blackboard. Discussion topics will cover each of the topics we will be covering in class; crime, law, court, and corrections.  The discussion may deal with a current issue facing the criminal justice system today or a topic from the required weekly reading. Each discussion will be available from midnight the first Monday, of week the discussion is due, until 11:59 PM Thursday of the same week. There will be no makeup discussion assignments, if you miss a discussion assignment you will receive a zero for that assignment. To receive credit for each assignment, all criteria listed below must be met.

• Discussion Forums are a way for you to engage with each other about the course content.  In order to get full credit for each discussion, you will need to post a thoughtful, well-written response to the question and respond to two of your classmates’ answers. You will access the discussions by clicking on Discussions (on the Home Page for the course), and then click on the specific Chapter Discussion Assignment you are working on.  You will then post your response into the appropriate Discussion Assignment.  

• You will have to post your initial response before you will be able to respond to your classmates.

• Your initial response to the discussion question needs to be at least 150 words. Your response needs to have correct spelling and grammar. No credit will be given if your response does not meet these minimum requirements. Please do not limit yourself, I encourage you to go beyond the basic requirements.

• You will respond to four of your peers.  Each response must be a minimum of 50 words.  No credit is given for a peer response that does not meet the minimum requirement of 50 words. Your word processor should give you a word count for your discussion papers. Again don’t limit yourself.

• It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their response for a Discussion Assignment is posted. You should post directly into the Discussion for the specific assignment. Do not post your response as an attachment. After the response is posted, it is the student’s responsibility to check to make sure that their discussion was posted.

• I recommend that you write your response in Word, and then paste your response into the Discussion. To paste your document into Blackboard you will need to use CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste. You should save a copy of your paper in your files. If there is a problem with the online course, then you will have a backup copy. You also need to run spell check, grammar check, and then post it into the course. Do NOT post your paper as an attachment.  I cannot grade your paper inside the Blackboard system unless it is posted into the Discussion.

• Students are expected to engage in appropriate "netiquette" in the ONLINE PORTIONS of this class AT ALL TIMES.  Inappropriate online behaviors, such as name calling, accusations, verbal attacks, sarcasm, and other negative exchanges such as swearing, discussion of inappropriate issues NOT related to the course room material, or any type of intolerance or rudeness to other learners will not be tolerated and may result in having to drop this course, failing the class, or dismissal from Amarillo College. Treat others as you like to be treated and everything should be fine! Keep the discussion and comments on the topic, not on the individual. Don't personalize the dialogue. Rather than personalizing the dialogue, please direct challenging comments or questions to the instructor or the entire class. Remember that it is OK to disagree with each other. Let's agree to disagree. The purpose of dialogue and discussion is not to reach a consensus, nor to convince each other of different viewpoints. Rather, the purpose of dialogue in the classroom is to reach higher levels of learning by examining different viewpoints and opinions.

• Now, having said that, please remember that this is a COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE, and we will be discussing controversial issues in an ADULT MANNER!  You are expected to act like an adult in these discussions and realize that others may think and feel differently than you on a host of issues related to criminal justice.  If you find something offensive that is said by another student OR your instructor, please don't hesitate to contact me and discuss this with me.  However, it's important to remember that this course is not designed to CONFIRM YOUR OWN POLITICAL or RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, but rather to get you to think about issues in criminal justice and how society handles it.  YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF UNCOMFORTABLE AT TIMES, AS YOU ARE BEING REQUIRED TO STRETCH OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! This is a part of what it means to get an education! You are encouraged to debate others, and your instructor, in a polite BUT WELL INFORMED manner!  If you want to debate a point made, all this instructor asks, is that you bring your sources and do a good job of backing up your ideas.  

A discussion rubric will be posted on Blackboard.

Blackboard

• Check Blackboard DAILY
• Examples of previous students work will be available for you to view. This will give you examples to reference.
• 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.