Criminal Justice 205 Professor: Burk Foster
"The Corrections Process" Office: Mouton 226
University of Louisiana-Lafayette Telephone: 482-6172
Fall 2003 Office Hours: W 10:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00
Course Syllabus TR 1:00-3:00 e-mail: burk@louisiana.edu
I. Course Objectives
1. To introduce students to the history of corrections.
2. To identify ideologies important to corrections.
3. To review the role of institutional and community-based alternatives in corrections.
4. To consider the prison as both a management problem and a social environment.
5. To compare Louisiana's corrections system with those of other states.
6. To identify important national trends and issues in corrections.
II. Texts
Required Texts:
Harry E. Allen, Clifford E. Simonsen, and Edward Latessa. Corrections in America: An Introduction, 10th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004.
Burk Foster, Wilbert Rideau and Douglas Dennis. The Wall Is Strong: Corrections in Louisiana, 3rd ed. Lafayette, LA: Center for Louisiana Studies, 1995.
Supplementary Texts:
Anne Butler and C. Murray Henderson. Angola: Louisiana State Penitentiary. Lafayette, LA: Center for Louisiana Studies, 1991.
Anne Butler and C. Murray Henderson. Dying to Tell. Lafayette, LA: Center for Louisiana Studies, 1992.
Optional Texts:
Burk Foster. Study Guide to Corrections in America. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2004.
III. Outline (see the detailed "Course Outline")
1. Corrections: History
Allen and Simonsen: 1, 2, 3, 4
Foster et al: Introduction, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
2. Corrections: Systems
Allen and Simonsen: 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Foster et al: 13, 16
3. Corrections: Inmates
Allen and Simonsen: 16, 15, 17, 18
Foster et al: 15, 17, 23, 11, 18, 19, 20, 21
4. Corrections: Alternatives
Allen and Simonsen: 7, 21, 8, 22, 19, 23
Foster et al: 22, 27, 8, 25, 26
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 four blocs of course material.
2. A book project on one of the supplementary texts listed above and described below, also worth 100 points.
3. An additional book project on the other supplementary text, also worth 100 points.
4. A comprehensive multiple choice final exam, also worth 100 points.
The five highest of these seven grades will be averaged to determine the course grade, which will be calculated according to this 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 earned in several ways, as described on the "Extra Points Calculation Sheet" distributed to all students.
Class attendance. Up to 6 points.
Class discussion. By taking an active, informed part in classroom discussions, particularly the lecture questions assigned for each class period, the student can earn up to 6 additional points, as determined by the professor at the end of the semester. Be advised: these points are not awarded automatically for being present and awake.
Criminal Justice Society participation. By joining and attending meetings of the UL Criminal Justice Society, the student can earn up to 10 additional extra credit points.
Other events and activities. Students may sometimes be informed about other points to be awarded for attending extracurricular events and activities. Any such events must be 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. Book Projects
Each student may choose to complete one or two book projects on the supplementary texts listed above. The project basically requires the student to read the book, complete a one-page critique form, and on a specified date late in the semester take in class a multiple choice test on the content of the book. The critique form and the test added together are worth 100 points, the same as a test grade. The grade on this project can be used to replace any one (or two) of the exam grades. All the book tests and critiques will be scheduled for the same class day at the end of the semester.
VI. 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 counted against the extra points credit. Excused absences must be corrected as they occur; do not wait until the end of the semester to try to correct this.
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. Do your own work.
5. 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.
6. 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.