NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
Course Prefix & Number:		2334	Section Number:	340	Semester/Year:	Fall 18
Semester Credit Hours:		03	Lecture Hours:	48	Lab Hours:	0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog):  A series of lectures and class participation exercises presenting selected topics currently confronting criminal justice personnel and the public they serve.
Course Prerequisite(s):
Optional Textbook  Criminal Justice Policy.Stacy L. Mallicoat/Christine L. Gardiner (Available in NCTC Bookstore or can be purchased online) Readings will be assigned by instructor.

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Lenn Carter
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth Campus Hours by Appointment Only/ Online M-F 6p-9p
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:	vcarter@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
By Appt	By Appt	By Appt	By Appt	By Appt
6p-9p		6p-9p	6p-9p

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
	Explore an assigned contemporary topic in criminal justice
	List specific problems within the topic and suggest solutions

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
3	Unit Exams @ 100 points each	300
6	Contemporary Issues Squad Meetings  (discussion boards) @ 50 points each	300
6	Brief Unit Quizzes @ 50 points each	300
1	Comprehensive Final Exam	100

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

August 27-September 2	Course Overview and Introduction	Course Overview and Introduction: Complete Field Training   Module. Instructions for course and tips for online learning. Complete introductory squad meeting and course navigation quiz.
September 3– September 16	Homeland Security	An exploration of issues related   to homeland security including homeland security policies, immigrants and   crime, and terrorism. Read 67-100 in textbook. View terrorism video. View immigration video  Unit One Quiz Unit One Squad Meeting
September 17-September 30	Police and Minority Issues	An exploration of issues surrounding police   and minority relations including police excessive force, racial profiling and   disproportionate minority contacts Read 53-65 in text and view videos on police use of force and racial profiling. Read article on racial profiling Unit 2 Quiz Unit 2 Squad Meeting
October 1- October 7	Unit Exam I	Exam covering Unit One and Unit 2
October8- October 14	The Drug War	The history of drug laws and   alternative approaches to the drug problem. Read 121-144 in textbook. View videos on legalizing drugs and read articles  Unit Three Squad Meeting and Unit Three Quiz
October 15-October 28	Juveniles in Adult Courts and Prisons	Issues related to treating juvenile   offenders as adults and sentencing them to adult sanctions including the   consequences and implications of juvenile waiver policies. Read 191-199 and 328-330 in your textbook; View videos on juvenile waivers and sentencing. Unit Four Quiz Unit Four Squad Meeting
October 29 – November 4	Unit Exam II	Exam covering Units 3 and 4
November 5- November 18	Wrongful Convictions	An exploration of how and why innocent   defendants are convicted of crimes and what can be done to prevent it. Read case studies on wrongful convictions View PowerPoint  Unit 5 Squad Meeting Unit 5 Quiz
November 19 – December 2	Capital Punishment	An exploration of issues related to the death penalty including how a defendant becomes eligible for it, its   purpose, and constitutional issues related to capital punishment. Read 203 -300 in textbook View videos on death row and death row facts Unit Six Squad Meeting Unit Six Quiz
December 3 – December 9	Unit Exam III	Covers Units Five and Six
December 10-December 12	Final Exam	Comprehensive Final Exam

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is ____NOV 8^th 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents). 

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify. 

If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321.  Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)________

 

□ Communication

□ Mathematics

□ Life and Physical Science

□ Language, Philosophy & Culture

□ Creative Arts

□ American History

 

□ Government/Political Science

✉ Social and Behavioral Sciences

□ Component Area Option

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

 * Critical Thinking

□ Communication 

□ Empirical and Quantitative

 

□ Teamwork 

□ Personal Responsibility 

□ Social Responsibility

COURSE TYPE

□ Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

✉ Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course 

✉ WECM Course

 

 

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”.  

 

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1. A grade of F entered for the assignment or semester
2. Dismissal from class

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Dr. Cherly Gary-Furdge
Office Location:	Suite 239 Office 234
Telephone Number:	940.498.6238
E-mail Address:	cfurdge@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Dr. Debbie Huffman
Office Location:	Gainesville/Career and Tech Bldg
Telephone Number:	940.668.3357
E-mail Address:	chuffman@nctc.edu