I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

    A review of current procedures, theory, innovation and research in Criminal Justice. Student research into selected areas. Prerequisite: Criminal Justice major, senior standing, final semester.

II.  COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

    After completing Criminal Justice 4233, the student will be able to:

        1. Describe the system of Criminal Justice.

        2. Discuss current Criminal Justice theories.

        3. Conduct descriptive research on a Criminal Justice topic.

        4. Produce a Professional resume.

        5. Describe the procedures for conducting a job search.

        6. Make a formal Presentation.

        7. Describe the myths within the Criminal Justice System.

III. COURSE PURPOSE:

    This is a required course in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with the Administration of Justice and the Law Enforcement options.

IV. COURSE TEXTS:

    The texts for this course are Sense and Nonsense about Crime: A Policy Guide, 4th edition, by Samuel Walker, Seeking Employment in Law Enforcement, Private Security, and Related Fields 2nd edition, by Harr, J. Scott and Hess, Karen M., and Criminal Justice Research Sources, 3rd edition, by O'Block, Robert L.  The student is expected to have read and be ready to discuss the assigned material during the appropriate class meeting (see schedule).

V. COURSE QUIZZES:

    There will be eleven (11) quizzes given in this course.  The eight (8) best scores will count towards the final grade.  The quizzes will be given during the classes indicated on the schedule. There are NO make-up quizzes.

VI.  COURSE EXAMINATIONS:

    There will be two (2) major examinations in this course.  See the schedule for the dates.  Make-up exams will NOT normally be given.  It is the student's responsibility to be at and to take the examinations at the appropriate times.

VII.  COURSE PAPER:

    Each student will write a term paper. The subject and requirements will be provided to the class in a separate handout. A draft of the paper will be prepared using WordPerfect (5.0. 5.1 or 6.0 for DOS or 5.1, 5.2, 6.0, 6.1, 7.0 or 8.0 for Windows) and turned in on a High Density, 3 ½" diskette. Failure to do so will result in getting failing grade for the paper. You are required to make sure that the file with the draft is on the proper diskette, formatted properly and in the proper WordPerfect edition.  This is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!  See the schedule for the draft and final paper due dates.

VIII.  COURSE PRESENTATION:

    Each student will present their term paper to the class in a formal oral presentation. An evaluation form for the grading of the presentation will be given out in class. The schedule of these presentations may be given out in class or by electronic mail.

IX. COURSE ASSIGNMENT:

    A number of small assignments will be given during the term. Assignments are pass/fail and are to be redone untill passed.  Failure to complete the assignments part of the course will result in the failure of the course. All assignments will be typewritten or computer printed and in proper form. Requirements and due dates will be given with the assignments.

X. COURSE PARTICIPATION:

    A maximum of 10 percent will by awarded for class participation. Students will be evaluated on their contribution to class discussion particularly on their performance during the short review period preceding most lectures aand in the student presentations. All students including those absent should carefully review material discussed before the next class meeting.

XI. COURSE GRADING:

    The student should understand that assignments, papers and presentations are to be turned in on or completed before the class indicated. Papers and assignments that are not turned in by the class period indicated will have a penalty of letter grade per each weekday (Monday-Friday) assigned. Those student not doing a presentation during the assigned time without prior approval will have a penalty of two letter grades assigned per occurrence. Failure to complete a major part of the course (turn papers, take major exams or make presentations) can result in the failure of the course.

    The following is a breakdown of the value of each element of the students work as it pertains to the final grade:

        Each examination will count 20%                                             20 x 2 = 40%
        Quizzes will count 10%                                                           10 x 1 = 10%
        Outcome Assessment exam will count 10%                               10 x 1 = 10%
        Term paper will count 20%                                                      20 x 1 = 20%
        Oral Presentation will count 10%                                              10 x 1 = 10%
        Class participation will count 10%                                            10 x 1 = 10%
                                                                                                       Total =100%
 

Grading System:

    90-100 = A
    80- 89 = B
    70- 79 = C
    60- 69 = D
    0- 59 = F

XII. COURSE FINAL GRADE:

    If you would like to know your final grade at end of the semester before the University sends it to you, bring a self addressed, stamped, business sized envelope to the final examination and your final grade and final examination grade will be sent to you.

XIII. COURSE ETHICS:

    A student found to be acting unethically (cheating on tests, quizzes, papers or assignments, etc.) will be failed in this course.

    All work submitted to the instructor must be the result of the student's own effort. If it is not it is PLAGIARISM. Any instances of plagiarism in any class assignment or test will result in a grade of zero for the assignment or test. The assignment or test will have to be redone as well. To plagiarize is to represent as one's own work the words or ideas of another. Examples of plagiarism include:

    a. Failure to give credit to the person whose words or ideas have been borrowed;
    b. Failure to place quotation marks (or other proper citation forms) around passages that are cited
        verbatim;
    c. and Minor changes of someone else's sentences and words that do not alter the essential style or
        meaning of the passage.

    The above paragraph is copied from a professional colleague with his permission.

XIV. COURSE DECORUM:

    The University regulations prohibit the use of tobacco (both smoking and chewing), drinking and eating in the classroom. These regulations will be observed. Tape recorders are NOT allowed in this course. Students who disrupt class (talking, pagers, cell phones, watch alarms, ect.) or fail to follow instructions will be warned once without penalty. Subsequent infractions will result in a deduction of points from the student's final grade. Additional guidelines regarding classroom behavior will be announced in class.

XV. COURSE WITHDRAWAL:

    Students may withdraw with a "W" grade until the last day allowed by the University (February
19, 1999 this semester) regardless of their grade in the course. Students who withdraw after the last day to withdraw with a "W" will receive a "W" grade if they are passing at the time of their withdrawal and have less than ten absences (calculated on the basis of a fifty-minute class period). Students who want to withdraw and have a "F" average and less than ten absences should see the instructor. Students with ten or more absences (calculated on the basis of a fifty-minute class period) who withdraw will receive a "F" grade.

XVI. COURSE ATTENDANCE:

    Each student should recognize that one of the most vital aspects of a college experience is attendance and participation in classes and that the value of this academic experience cannot be fully measured by testing procedures alone. The members of this class are considered sufficiently mature to appreciate the necessity of regular attendances, to accept this as a personal responsibility and to demonstrate the kind of self-discipline essential for such performance.

    As a student, one should remember that they are responsible for all material covered in class. If a class should be missed, it is the student's task to find and make-up the missed material. Leaving an electronic mail message, voice mail message, or written message does NOT fulfill this responsibility.

    Attendance will count towards the computation of the student's final grade. Students who came to class late or leave early will be counted absent.

XVII. COURSE INFORMATION:

    The class will meet from 19:20-22:00 on Wednesdays in room 246 of the North Building.

XVIII. COURSE INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Charles Dreveskracht
303 Seminary Hall
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464
Telephone (voice): (918) 456-5511 ext. 3505
Telephone (fax): (918) 458-2193
E-Mail(Internet): dreveskr@cherokee.nsuok.edu
URL: http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~dreveskr

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday: 11:00-12:00 & 13:30-15:30
Tuesday: 13:30-14:30 & 18:00-19:00 at OSU-T
Wednesday: 18:00-19:00 at OSU-T
Thursday: 13:30-14:30 & 16:00-17:00 at RSU
Friday: 11:00-12:00
    or by appointment

CLASS HOURS:

Tuesday: 11:00-12:15 & 19:20-22:00 at OSU-T
Wednesday: 19:20-22:00 at OSU-T
Thursday: 11:00-12:15 & 17:20-20:00 at RSU
 

XVIX. COURSE ACCOMMODATIONS:

    If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.

XX. COURSE EXCEPTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS:

    Under EXTREMELY compelling circumstances, exceptions can be made to some policies in this syllabus. If you have a problem, inform me as soon as possible, preferably beforehand and in person. If I am alerted early, it may be possible to work out a mutually satisfactory solution to the situation. Delay almost always makes resolution more difficult. I prefer to discuss problems in my office rather than in front of the class and find that the students are usually happier about the decisions made there. All exceptions to class policies in this syllabus must be requested in writing and, if approved, will be granted in writing. The instructor, not the students, determines class policy or policies in any instance in which the syllabus does not seem to be clear.

XXI. COURSE GENERAL OUTLINE:

A. Finding a Job

    1. Strategies
    2. Resumes
    3. Cover letter

B. The Crime Problem

    1. Models of Criminal Justice
    2. Criminal Process
    3. Career Criminals

C. Detention

    1. Preventive Detention
    2. Incapacitation
    3. Mandatory Sentences

D. Deterrence

    1. Death Penalty
    2. Drunk Drivers

E. Enforcement

    1. Exclusionary Rule
    2. More Police
    3. Criminal Investigation
    4. Targeting Career Criminals

F. Prosecution

    1. Insanity Defense
    2. Plea Bargaining
    3. Appeals
    4. Victim's Rights

G. Gun Control

H. Rehabilitation

    1. Diversion
    2. Probation
    3. Prison Reform
    4. Parole

I. Law Reform

    1. Decriminalization
    2. Victimless Crimes

J. Reform of the System

K. Reform of Society

    1. Social Policy
    2. Social Theory
    3. Unemployment
    4. Underclass
    5. Economic Reconstruction

XXII. COURSE SCHEDULE:

      WEEK               DATE                     SUBJECT                  PAGES                     NOTES

        1                 January 13                 Job Searches              SEM 1-104
                                                                                            CJR 1-40

        2                January 20                 Resumes                    SEM 105-196
                                                                                            CJR 41-96

        3                January 27                 Interviews                  SEM 197-260
                                                                                            CJR 97-140

        4                February 3                 Crime Control            SEM 261-292          Quiz # 1
                                                                                            SNC 1-39
                                                                                            CJR 141-186

        5                February 10               Crime Rate                 SNC 40-72              Quiz # 2

        6                February 17               Police                        SNC 73-95              Quiz # 3

        7                February 24               Deterrence                 SNC 96-116            Quiz # 4

        8                March 3                    Incapacition               SNC 117-143           Quiz # 5

        9                March 10                 Exam # 1                  (SNC 1-143)

        10              March 24                  Prosecution                SNC 144-162            Quiz # 6
                                                                                                                          Draft Due

        11              March 31                  Victims                      SNC 163-179            Quiz # 7

        12              April 7                      Gun Control               SNC 180-200            Quiz # 8

        13              April 14                    Rehabilitation              SNC 201-229           Quiz # 9

        14              April 21                    Decriminalization        SNC 230-240            Quiz # 10
                                                           and System Reform

        15              April 28                    Drugs & The Future   SNC 241-279              Quiz # 11
                                                                                                                        Paper Due
                                                                                                                         Outcome
                                                                                                                         Assessment
                                                                                                                         Examination

        16              May 5                     Exam # 2        (SNC 144-279)
 

NOTE:

    SEM = The Seeking Employment in Law Enforcement, Private Security, and Related Fields Text.
    SNC = The Sense and Nonsense about Crime: A Policy Guide Text.
    CJR = The Criminal Justice Research Sources Text.
 

    "PLEASE BE PLANNING WELL AHEAD SO THAT YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS ON THE ABOVE DATES"

Last Modified on Thursday April 22 1999
Maintained by Charles L. Dreveskracht