Syllabus

Introduction

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice
Course prefix, number, and section number: CJSA 2334 0381
Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025 2nd 8-week
Semester start and end dates: October 20 – December 13
Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous
Class meeting location, days, and times: Online Canvas
Lab meeting location, days, and times: Online Canvas
Semester credit hours: 3
Course description: A series of lectures and class participation exercises
presenting selected topics currently confronting criminal justice personnel and
the public they serve.
Course prerequisites: None
Required course materials: Okada, D. Maguire, M. Sardina, A. (2018). Critical Issues in Crime
and Justice: Thought, Policy, and Practice. (3rd edition). Sage Publishing. ISBN: 9781544307992
(Sage Publishing).
Name of instructor: JoEllen Brown
Office location: By appointment only at Corinth campus.
Telephone number: Email only
E-mail address: jmbrown@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: Tuesday 5:00pm-7:00pm by Email

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the
best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced
as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments: Globalization paper, Discussion boards, Criminal Justice brief,

Criminal Justice brief follow up, Chapter quizzes, Certificate Exam.

Final grade scale:
A= 765-689
B= 688-610
C= 609-535
D=534-460
F= 459 and below

Late work policy: Neither make-up exams nor assignments will be given
nor will late work be accepted without documented reason and
instructor permission. You have to keep in communication with the
instructor if you are having an emergency/illness. You have a week to
complete your assignments and it is important that you do so. If you have a
problem uploading an assignment and choose to email it to me, it must still
be on time. If something does not work for you in Canvas, email me. It is not
my fault if you wait till the last minute and find out you are having difficulty.
You have a week to complete assignments, give yourself time so that you
can reach out if you need help.

All assignments are important so please do not discount them. A ten (10)
point quiz could be the difference between an A or B or you passing or failing
the class. I cannot stress how important it is for you to complete all
assignments.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF
GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Artificial Intelligence Policy:
Institution-Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or
consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar
technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person,
agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially
complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should
acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to
disclosing such assistance when in doubt. When students use generative AI to
replace the rigorous demands of and personal engagement with their
coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and
undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language
models, and technologies hold promise for
deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new

knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and
to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college, and
consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the
appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the
faculty. Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set
policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including
allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will
set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to
students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are
encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

Course specific-The use of generative AI in this course is encouraged with
certain tasks and with attribution. You can choose to use AI tools to help
brainstorm assignments or projects or revise existing work you have written. It
is NOT PERMITTED to let AI complete assignments for you or to copy and paste
AI work as your own. When you submit your assignment, you must clearly
attribute what text was generated by the AI tool. If you are ever unsure if you
are within this policy, please reach out to me directly for clarification.

Academic Integrity Policy: 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) First offense you will receive a written warning
2) Second offense you will be dropped from the course

Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s
responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is Nov 21, 2025.
Withdrawing from a Course: Students can learn more about
the withdraw policy and procedure by
http://www.nctc.edu/current-students/drop-withdraw- class.html
(Links to an external site.).

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:
1. Identify and explain the various theories of causation of criminal behavior

2. Identify and appraise the avenue of prevention
3. Outline the various research methods/methodology used in criminological research
4. Identify the categories and sources of criminological data utilized and interpreting crime
trends Core Objectives:
REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)
Critical Thinking
Communication
Empirical and Quantitative
Teamwork
Personal Responsibility
Social Responsibility

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with
respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is
the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange
appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student
Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints
specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student
may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the
student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.

Name of Chair/Coordinator: Teresa Laman
Office location: Corinth Campus, suite 170 & 172
Telephone number: 940-498-6263
E-mail address: tlaman@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean: Debbie Huffman
Office location: Gainesville Campus
Telephone number: 940-668-3357
E-mail address: dhuffman@nctc.edu

CJSA 2334 0381 - CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUS

Introduction

Syllabus

Syllabus File(s)