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. 

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.

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

Court Systems and Procedures

Instructor Haskins

Supreme Court Case Presentations:

• Students will complete a paper and a brief presentation using Power Point
• Cases will be selected on the first day of class along with detailed instructions on how to complete this assignment. 
• No late presentations or papers will be allowed

Our class will be taking a tour of the Randall County Justice Center and talk with two assistant district attorneys. This 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 the tour is mandatory. Students will receive a grade based on attendance and a grade for writing a 1 page reflective paper detailing their experience.

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 tour:

• • Purses or bags
  • Guns, pocket knives, etc.
  • Personal pepper spray
  • Cell phones or any other electronic devices
  • Drugs or tobacco…of any kind

1. You will go through a security check, therefore the following guidelines must be adhered to, or you will not be allowed access into the facility:

1. • No jewelry, this will set of the metal detector.
   • Clothing with pictures or language that may be considered profane or offensive by current public standards shall not be allowed.
   • Only pants, hole free jeans, long dressed/skirts, or capris will be allowed.
   • Clothing that is tight fitting, revealing, or made with see-through fabrics shall not be allowed.
   • The deputy shall make the final decision whether the visit should be denied based on clothing. 
     
     
1. If you have a warrant out for your arrest please let me know.

PLEASE DRESS AND ACT APPROPRIATELY, YOU MAY WANT TO WORK HERE SOMEDAY!

After the tour, you will be required to write a reflection paper.  This will be a five (5) paragraph paper and will contain the following information:

1. Summary 
   1. Briefly and in your own words, provide a brief overview of what district attorneys do
   2. five (5) sentence minimum.
2. Reaction  
   1. How do you feel about what you saw and heard?
   2. Did this change your views on district attorneys? What stood out to you?
   3. Five (5) sentence minimum.
3. Impact on society  
   1. How do district attorneys impact society?
   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 tour, ask questions of the attorneys. Why are so many cases pled out? What is the hardest part about being a DA?   These papers are to get you to think about what the job of a DA entails and the impact they have on society.

The paper should be 1-2 page in length, double-spaced, one inch margins and 12-point font. See “format for assignments” for more requirements.

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

We will watch two separate documentaries (defense attorneys and plea deals) in class this semester.  You will be required to write a reflection paper on each of the documentaries.  Each essay will be a five (5) paragraph paper and will contain the following information:

1. Summary 

a. Briefly and in your own words, provide a brief overview of what defense attorneys do/ what plea deals are

b. five (5) sentence minimum.

2. Reaction 

a. How do you feel about what you saw and heard?

b. Did this change your views on defense attorneys/ plea deals? What stood out to you?

1. 3. Five (5) sentence minimum.

3. Impact on society 

a. How do defense attorneys/ plea deals impact society?

b. Three (3) sentence minimum.

Write your paper in paragraph form, using good sentence structure with proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.   These papers are to get you to think about what the job of a defense attorney entails and how plea deals impact they have on society.

The paper should be 1-2 page in length, double-spaced, one inch margins and 12-point font. See “format for assignments” for more requirements.

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

• 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.

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.

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.