COURSE SYLLABUS

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title: 

Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

Course Prefix & Number:  

2334

Section Number:  

0381

Semester/Year: 

Fall 2020 2nd 8 Weeks

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): 

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

Online Availability:

Contact me using your NCTC email.  I will schedule an online session via email, telephone or within the module on the following days and hours M, W, TH between 6p and 9p.

Telephone Number:

CONTACT ME VIA YOUR NCTC EMAIL

E-mail Address:

vcarter@nctc.edu

 

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR: Contact me using NCTC email If you need to schedule time to speak via phone OR within the module. I will work with you to schedule time during the hours below.

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

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

3 Unit Exams @ 100 points each 300 points

6 Squad Meetings (discussion boards) @ 50 points each 300 points

6 Brief Unit Quizzes @ 50 points each 300 points

1 Comprehensive Final Exam 100 points

Total  Available Points 1000 points

Points Course Grade

1000 - 900 A

899 - 800 B

799 - 700 C

699- 600 D

Below 600 F

Assignments and Due Dates

October 19-October 21

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.

October 21– November 1

Homeland Security

An exploration of issues related   to homeland security including homeland security policies, immigrants and   crime, and terrorism.

Read excerpt from textbook. View terrorism video. View immigration video 

Unit One Quiz

Unit One Squad Meeting

Police and Minority Issues

An exploration of issues surrounding police   and minority relations including police excessive force, racial profiling and   disproportionate minority contacts

Read excerpt from textbook and view videos on police use of force and racial profiling. Read article on racial profiling and police use of force

Unit 2 Quiz

Unit 2 Squad Meeting

Unit Exam I

Exam covering Unit One and Unit 2

November 2- November 15

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

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 excerpt from textbook; View videos on juvenile waivers and sentencing.

Unit Four Quiz

Unit Four Squad Meeting

Unit Exam II

Exam covering Units 3 and 4

November 16- November 30

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

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 excerpt from textbook

View videos on death row and death row facts

Unit Six Squad Meeting

Unit Six Quiz

December 1 – 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 ____NOVEMBER 23rd 

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