CRMJ/SOC 103 – Survey of the Criminal Justice System – Tentative Schedule

Date

Topics

Assignments

 

Part I – Introduction

Tuesday – 1/26

Introduction to class and syllabus

None

Thursday  – 1/28

Crime and justice as public policy issues
Defining crime; Types of crime
The crime problem today

Cole & Smith: Chapter 1

   

Tuesday – 2/2

Crime victimization
Causes of crime

Cole & Smith: Chapter 2
Autobiography Due

Thursday  – 2/4

The goals of the criminal justice system
Criminal justice in a federal system
Operations of criminal justice agencies
Decision making in the CJ system
Crime and justice in a multicultural society

Cole & Smith: Chapter 3

   

Tuesday – 2/9

Foundations of criminal law
Substantive and procedural criminal law
The Supreme Court today

Cole & Smith: Chapter 4

Thursday  – 2/11

 

Exam 1 – Part I

   
 

Part II – Police

Tuesday – 2/16

The development of police in the U.S.
Law enforcement agencies
Police functions; Organization of the police
Police policy; Police actions; Police and the community

Cole & Smith: Chapter 5

Thursday  – 2/18

Who are the police? The police subculture
Police response and action; Delivery of police services
Issues in patrolling

Cole & Smith: Chapter 6

   

Tuesday – 2/23

Federal law enforcement – WACO Discussion

Current Issues
Assignment Due

Thursday  – 2/25

Federal law enforcement – WACO Discussion

None

   

Tuesday – 3/2

Police abuse of power; Civic accountability
Policing and new technology; Homeland security
Security management and private policing

Cole & Smith: Chapter 7

Thursday  – 3/4

Legal limitations on police investigations
Plain view doctrine; Warrantless searches
Questioning suspects; The exclusionary rule

Cole & Smith: Chapter 8

   

Tuesday – 3/9

 

Exam 2 – Part II

 

Part III – Courts

Thursday  – 3/11

The structure of American courts
Effective management of the state courts
To be a judge
From arrest to trial or plea
Bail: pretrial release; Pretrial detention

Cole & Smith: Chapter 9

   

Tuesday – 3/16

The prosecutorial system
The defense attorney: image and reality

Cole & Smith: Chapter 10

Thursday  – 3/18

The courtroom: how it functions
Plea bargaining; Trial: the exceptional case; Appeals

Cole & Smith: Chapter 11

   

Tuesday – 3/23

Video: Murder on a Sunday Morning

Current Issues
Assignment Due

Thursday  – 3/25

Video: Murder on a Sunday Morning

None

   

Tuesday – 3/30

Spring Break – No Class

Be safe and responsible

Thursday  – 4/1

Spring Break – No Class

Be safe and responsible

   

Tuesday – 4/6

The goals of punishment
Forms of the criminal sanction
The sentencing process

Cole & Smith: Chapter 12

Thursday  – 4/8

 

Exam 3 – Part III

   
 

Part IV – Corrections

Tuesday – 4/13

Development of corrections
Organization of corrections in the U.S.
Jails: detention and short-term incarceration
The law of corrections; Correctional policy trends

Cole & Smith: Chapter 13

Thursday  – 4/15

Community corrections: assumptions
Probation: correction without incarceration
Intermediate sanctions in the community
The future of community corrections

Cole & Smith: Chapter 14

   

Tuesday – 4/20

The modern prison: legacy of the past
Goals of incarceration; Prison organization
Governing a society of captives
Correctional officers
Who is in prison? The convict world
Women in prison; Prison programs
Violence in prison; Prisoners’ rights

Cole & Smith: Chapter 15

Thursday  – 4/22

Institutional corrections – The Farm

None

   

Tuesday – 4/27

Prisoner reentry; Release and supervision
Release mechanisms
Parole supervision in the community
Future of prisoner reentry
Civil disabilities of ex-felons; Pardon

Cole & Smith: Chapter 16

Thursday  – 4/29

 

Exam 4 – Part IV

     
 

Part V – The Juvenile Justice System

 

Tuesday – 5/4

Youth crime in the United States
The development of juvenile justice
The juvenile justice system
Problems and perspectives

Cole & Smith: Chapter 17

Thursday  – 5/6

The Juvenile Justice Process

None

     

Tuesday – 5/11

The Juvenile Justice Process

None

Thursday  – 5/13

Evaluations; Review for final

None

   

Final Exam

Section 001: Thursday, 5/20, 1:00-2:50
Section 002: Friday, 5/21, 1:00-2:50