Criminal Justice 404 Office: Mouton 226

"Comparative Criminal Justice Systems" Telephone: 482-6172

University of Louisiana-Lafayette Office Hours: T/W 1:00-3:00 and R 2:00-3:00

Spring 2005 e-mail: burk@burkfoster.com
 

I. Course Objectives

This course will examine crime and criminal justice as international concerns, with an emphasis on:

1. Similarities and differences between American and major foreign criminal justice systems.

2. Characteristics of criminal law and legal systems prevalent in the world today.

3. How culture and politics affect crime control in other countries.

4. How policies and practices in other countries would affect crime and criminal justice in the United States.
 

II. Texts
 

One text is required for this course:

Erika Fairchild and Harry R. Dammer. Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, 2nd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2001.
 

In addition to the required text, the course will also use handouts discussed in class and several videos.
 

III. Outline/Reading Assignments (see detailed "Course Outline")
 

Part I. Crime, Law, and Policing

Fairchild and Dammer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
 

Part II. Courts and Corrections

Fairchild and Dammer: 7, 8, 9, 6, 10, 11
 

Part III. Current Issues

Fairchild and Dammer: 12, 13, 14
 

IV. Grading
 

The course grade will be made up of the following components:

1. Unit exams. There will be three 100-point unit exams, at the end of each unit. Each unit exam will cover the assigned readings, handouts, articles discussed, videos--in effect everything presented in class during that unit. Each unit exam will consist of multiple choice, true/false, and brief discussion questions.

2. Final exam. A two-part final exam, with each part worth 100 points. The first part is an objective exam, consisting of multiple choice and fill in the blank questions. The second part is an essay exam.

3. Annotated bibliography. Using the form provided, students are to seek out ten references related to a specific topic of their choice within three general areas of international concern--terrorism, organized crime and drugs, or criminal justice issues or reforms. The premise is that these references would be used in a term paper on this topic; as a term paper would have a central theme, it is highly desirable that the ten references would also share this common theme (rather than just being a random collection of unrelated materials). These references must deal with international countries only, unless they deal in some way with one or more foreign countries and some practice or feature that also affects the United States; do not use artices solely about the U.S. The sources can be newspapers, magazines, journals, books, reports, or Internet sources (though you should be cautious about the credibility of sources taken from the Internet). At least five of the references must be from print sources that could be found in the UL library. The annotated bibliography topics will be discussed in the last block of the course material. The bibliography is due in class on Tuesday, March 8. It is worth 100 points.

4. New York Times notebook. Students are required to read the New York Times daily (either on-line atnytimes.com or in old-fashioned paper format through the Political Science Department office), through Friday, April 1. Using the form provided, keep a notebook of commentaries on articles in the Times that deal with aspects of international crime and criminal justice. Do not include articles about the United States, unless they deal with international crime and justice as they effect the United States in some way. The notebook, consisting of 20 commentaries (no extras please) arranged in chronological order, is due in class on Tuesday, April 12. It is worth 100 points.

5. Class participation. The class participation grade is worth 100 points, the same as a test. Fifty points of each grade come from class attendance. Roll will be taken every day. For every day you miss, you lose ten points. The other 50 points are discretionary with the professor. These points are earned by taking an active part in class discussions, by answering lecture questions assigned as homework, and, particularly, by discussing the annotated bibliography topics in the last part of the course. These points are not earned automatically by being alive and being present in the classroom. The professor also has the discretion to take away up to 25 points for disruptive classroom conduct--particularly coming to class late, talking to other people while class is going on, sleeping, leaving class early, or cell phone annoyance. The rule is: if it is discourteous and disrespectful, your professor notices it and may take points away. To earn an "A" (90+) for class participation, you would need to be in class just about every day, on time, answer the lecture questions competently, frequently take part in class discussions, and avoid inappropriate behaviors.

6. Quizzes. During the semester, seven (or eight) quizzes-taken from the assigned reading for that class day and the contents of the past week of the New York Times-will be given at the beginning of class. The five highest of these quiz grades will be counted, at 20 points each, for a total of 100 points.

7. 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.
 

To determine the course grade, the seven highest of the nine 100-point grades will be averaged according to this scale:

A = 90-100

B = 80-90

C = 70-80

D = 60-70

F = Below 60
 

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 one absences can be fully excused; any beyond one will be taken into consideration in calculating the class participation grade. 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.