I. Course Objectives:

1. To introduce students to basic concepts of crime and criminal justice in America.

2. To describe the crime problem in America and assess its impact on society.

3. To focus on the main elements of criminal justice--police, courts and corrections--in considering how criminal justice operates as a system and a process.

4. To identify important national trends and issues in criminal justice.

II. Texts:

Frank Schmalleger, Criminal Justice Today, 8th ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005. 

Burk Foster, Paula Broussard, and Christopher DeLay, Criminal Justice in Louisiana, 4th ed., Lafayette, LA: Center for Louisiana Studies, 2002.

III. Outline:

1. Crime and Criminal Justice

Schmalleger: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 16

Foster: Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
 

2. Policing

Schmalleger: Chapters 5, 6, 8, 7

Foster: Articles 10, 17, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
 

3. Criminal Courts

Schmalleger: Chapters 4, 9, 10, 15

Foster: Articles 18, 19 20, 21, 22, 23 
 

4. Corrections

Schmalleger: Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14

Foster: 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 28, 29, 30
 

IV. Grading

The course grade will be made up of:

1. Four objective unit exams (true/false, multiple choice, matching), worth 100 points each, at the end of each of the first four blocs of course material. 

2. A comprehensive multiple choice final exam, also worth 100 points.
 

Of these five grades, the four highest will be averaged to determine the course grade according to the following scale:

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = Below 60
 

Extra credit points. At the end of the semester, extra credit points (if earned) will be added to each student's grade. These points are described on the "Extra Points Calculation Sheet" distributed to all students. All extra point assignments are open to all students, and some record must be kept of attendance or participation. Do not ask about individual projects that you might do that would not be open to other students. Any extra credit points earned will be added on to the student's highest unit test score in advance of the final exam.

V. Class Policies

1. Students are expected to attend class regularly. Roll will be taken each class day.

2. For class attendance, an excused absence is one of two types:

a. University business. Taking part in a University-sponsored event, such as a field trip, athletic event, or some other kind of scheduled activity beneficial to students.

b. Personal business. Sickness, family emergency, work, or other personal problem that prevents class attendance.

For either type of absence to be excused, the student must present the professor with written documentation signed by higher authority (coach, employer, doctor, professor, dean of students office, etc.) verifying the reason for the absence. Any absence without documentation is considered unexcused. For this class, no more than two absences can be fully excused; any beyond two will be taken into consideration in calculating the class participation grade.

3. If you come to class, arrive on time and plan to stay for the whole period. Avoid being late for class, and do not plan to leave early, unless by prior arrangement with the professor.

4. If you have a cell phone, observe good manners in its use. Set it on silent during class. If you forget and it rings in class, turn it off. Do not answer or talk on your cell phone in the classroom. If you leave class to talk on your cell phone, do not come back into class that class period.

5. Do your own work.

6. No make-up exams will be given except when the professor was notified of the absence by the day of the missed exam. Make-ups must be taken before exams are returned and discussed in class. No one will be allowed to take more than one make-up exam.

7. Emergency evacuation procedures. Any students who anticipate needing emergency assistance of any sort, including assistance in evacuating the building, should identify themselves to the professor.