Dr. Brad Tripp

Office: Kinard 339

Office Phone: EXT 4602

Office Hours: Tuesdays 11-3; and by appointment

E-mail: trippb@winthrop.edu

Web site: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/trippb/

 

 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS

 

SOCL 227, Section 001

CRN: 21019

3 Credit Hours

Spring 2013

Kinard 315

Monday and Wednesday 3:30-4:45

 

COURSE GOALS
 
The goal of this course is to offer students an overview of one of the most important and powerful institutions in the United States: the criminal justice system. One facet of this goal is to examine the history and functioning of some of the criminal justice system’s major components, such as law enforcement, courts and corrections.  Another contribution to the core goal of this class is to examine trends in crime, and incarceration, as well as the social theories that attempt to provide a deeper understanding of criminals and crime. Additionally, as we will examine crime cross culturally and through different eras, this course participates in the Global Learning Initiative.

 

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS

 

This course supports our departmental mission statement as students will develop the analytical tools to understand and ever-expanding body of knowledge about the dynamics of social relationships, the nature of power and influence in complex societies, and the roles of age, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other social phenomena that affect viewpoints and life chances.

 

http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/sociologyanthropology/default.aspx?id=10128

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES IN SOCL 227

           

The successful student in SOCL 227 will:

 

 

SOCL 227 AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL COMPETENCIES ADDRESSED IN THE TOUCHSTONE PROGRAM

 

SOCL 227 helps students make progress towards the following University Level Competencies:

 

Competency 1: Winthrop graduates think critically and solve problems. 

Winthrop University graduates reason logically, evaluate and use evidence, and solve problems.  They seek out and assess relevant information from multiple viewpoints to form well-reasoned conclusions.  Winthrop graduates consider the full context and consequences of their decisions and continually reexamine their own critical thinking process, including the strengths and weaknesses of their arguments. 

Through lectures, readings, and a series of award winning documentaries, SOCL 227 students will learn about the power and operations of the American criminal justice system.  Students will be asked to examine, assess, and critique both the successes and failures of the American criminal justice system during class discussions and writing assignments.

Competency 3: Winthrop graduates understand the interconnected nature of the world and the time in which they live. 

Winthrop University graduates comprehend the historical, social, and global contexts of their disciplines and their lives. They also recognize how their chosen area of study is inextricably linked to other fields.  Winthrop graduates collaborate with members of diverse academic, professional, and cultural communities as informed and engaged citizens. 

As a part of SOCL 227 students will learn about criminal justice systems in a broad array of nations, as well as the historical changes in the American criminal justice system, as well as how these changes are linked to a number of sociological variables (race, age, gender, socioeconomic class, etc.).

 

http://www.winthrop.edu/academic-affairs/secondary.aspx?id=15731

 

 

 

 

REQUIRED TEXT

 

TEXT BOOK: Introduction to Criminal Justice (12th Edition)

            Authors: Siegel

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

EXAMS: There will be two non-cumulative exams, and one final cumulative exam based on class lecture, class discussions, and assigned readings.  The exams in this course will be multiple choice, 50 question tests based on the readings and lecture material.  Approximately 50% of the test questions will come from the lecture material, so students will need to keep up with the readings and attend class in order to do well on the exams.  All exams are property of this course.  Students are not permitted to remove exams from the classroom.  Taking an exam out of the class, along with cheating or copying during a test will result in an “F.”

           

            NEWS REVIEWS: Students will also be responsible for turning in 3 papers reviewing recent news about crime.  Each paper will be one page, double-spaced and typed.  An in depth description of the requirements for these papers will be on my web page.  Papers will only be accepted on three set dates: 2/6, 3/20, and 4/22. No papers will be accepted by email.  Additionally, papers that ARE NOT STAPLED will not be accepted.  Papers that are not stapled or are not in the correct format will receive grades of ZERO.

           

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN PRACTICE:  Throughout the semester we will be examining the three braches of the American criminal justice system.  Students will have the opportunity to examine one of these three branches up close.  Students will need to choose between law enforcement, the courts, or corrections.  A sign up sheet will be made available in class from January 28TH through January 30TH.  There will be a maximum of 20 people allowed on each list, so those who choose quickly will be more likely to get their first choice.  Students who choose law enforcement will engage in a ride-along with police officers.  Students who choose the courts will be required to sit in on three cases at the county court house.  Students who choose corrections will be required to go on a tour of a local correctional facility. 

THE FIELD TRIP TO THE PRISON WILL LIKELY BE ON A THURSDAY MORNING APPROXIAMTELY FROM 8:30am TILL NOON.  THE COURT SESSION WILL ALSO BE ON A THURSDAY MORNING APPROXIAMTELY FROM 8:30am TILL NOON.  IF YOU HAVE CLASSES DURING THIS TIME THAT YOU CANNOT MISS, YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN UP FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPTION THAT YOU MAY SCHEDULE AT YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE.  All students will be required to turn in a three-page report examining their own experience within the context of the issues addressed in class and within the textbook.  An in depth description of this assignment is available on my web page.

 

 

GRADING

Test 1 = 100 pts

Test 2 = 100 pts

Test 3 = 100 pts

News Reviews = 30 pts

CJ in Practice: 70 pts

Total Points Available = 400

 

 

Grade               Points

 

A                     400 - 360

B+                   359 - 350

B                     349 - 320

C+                   319 - 310

C                     309 - 280

D+                   279 - 270

D                     269 – 240

F                239 or lower

 

 

GRADING POLICIES: I expect students to take the exams on the dates scheduled and during the allotted time period.  Make-up exams are available under dire circumstances (EX: student is hospitalized.)  If you will not be at the exam during its scheduled time you must notify me in advance, we will then determine an appropriate course of action.  I reserve the right to give a make-up exam that is different from the original exam. ALL MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN ON STUDY DAY (APRIL 23RD ).

 

GRADES ARE AVAILABLE WHEN TESTS AND PAPERS ARE RETURNED TO STUDENTS.  IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS ON THESE DAYS, THEN YOU MUST COME TO OFFICE HOURS TO GET YOUR GRADES.  DUE TO FEDERAL STUDENT PRIVACY LAWS, NO GRADES WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS VIA PHONE OR EMAIL.

 

All dates given, and material covered can be changed at the instructor’s discretion, therefore it is your job to keep informed via attendance, and getting make up material from friends in class.

           

Take pride in your own work and personal preparation for exams.  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. Any student caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing their paper will receive a final course grade of “F.”

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

1/7: INTRODUCTION

 

1/9-1/14:

·         CH 1: Crime and Criminal Justice

 

1/16-1/23:

·         CH 2: The Nature and Extent of Crime

 

1/21: NO CLASSES – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

1/28-1/30:

·         CH 4: Criminal Law: Substance and Procedure

 

2/4-2/6:

·         CH7: The Police: Organization, Role, and Function

·         REVIEW MADE AVAILABLE (2/6)

·         UNIT 1 NEWS REVIEWS DUE (2/6)

 

2/11: TEST 1

 

2/13:

·         CH 8: Issues in Policing

 

2/18:

·         CH 9: Police and the Rule of Law

 

2/20-2/25:

·         CH 10: Courts and the Judiciary

 

2/27-3/4:

·         CH 11: The Prosecution and Defense

 

3/6-3/18:

·         CH 12: Pretrial Procedures

·         REVIEW MADE AVAILABLE (3/6)

 

3/11-3/15: SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES

 

 

3/20:

·         CH 13: The Criminal Trial

·         UNIT 2 NEWS REVIEWS DUE

 

3/25: TEST 2

 

3/27-4/1:

·         CH 14: Punishment and Sentencing

 

4/1-4/10:

·         CH 16: Corrections: History, Institutions, and Populations

 

4/15:

·         CH 15: Community Sentences: Probation, Intermediate Sanctions, and Restorative Justice

 

4/17:

·         CH 18: Juvenile Justice

 

4/22:

·         CH17: Prison Life: Living in and Leaving Prisons

 

4/22:

 

FINAL EXAM:  FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH, 3:30 PM

 

Students with Disabilities

 

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 323-3290.  Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

 

Phone and Texting Policy

 

There will be absolutely no usage of phones or mp3 players in this class.  If your phone rings, do not answer it.  Everyone forgets every now and then so, first time offenders will not be penalized.  Multiple time offenders will be asked to leave the class.  Students who answer phone calls will be asked to leave class for the day.  Likewise, students caught texting during class will also be asked to leave.  If a person is caught texting a second time they will have 10 points taken off of their FINAL GRADE.  Failure to comply with these regulations will result in failure in the class.  Should you have a personal/family emergency and need your phone to remain active, talk with me before class and we will come to an arrangement.

 

Student code of conduct

 

As noted in the Student Conduct Code:  “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” Additionally my attendance policy is the same as is listed in the student handbook.  Both the attendance policy and the policy on student academic misconduct are outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook:

 

http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf

 

 

Attendance Policy

 

The attendance policy is for this class is the same as the University policy: If a student’s absences in a course total 25 percent or more of the class meetings for the course, the student will receive a grade of N if the student withdraws from the course before the withdrawal deadline; after that date, unless warranted by documented extenuating circumstances as described in the previous section, a grade of F or U shall be assigned.

 

http://www.winthrop.edu/majors/default.aspx?id=9242&ekmensel=db97ad6c_546_548_9242_1

 

 

Winthrop’s Academic Success Center

 

Winthrop’s Academic Success Center is a free resource for all undergraduate students seeking to perform their best academically.  The ASC offers a variety of personalized and structured resources that help students become effective and efficient learners. The services available to students are as follows: peer tutoring, academic skill development (test taking strategies, time management counseling, and study techniques), group and individual study spaces, and academic coaching.  The ASC is located in University College on the first floor of Dinkins Hall, Suite 106.  Please contact the ASC at 803-323-3929 or success@winthrop.edu.  For more information on ASC services, please visit www.winthrop.edu/success

 

 

 

 

 

The Office of Victims Assistance Syllabus Statement

 

The Office of Victims Assistance (OVA) provides services to survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking as well as educational programming to prevent these crimes from occurring. The staff assists all survivors, regardless of when they were victimized in obtaining counseling, medical care, housing options, legal prosecution, and more.  In addition, the OVA helps students access support services for academic problems resulting from victimization.  The OVA is located in 204 Crawford and can be reached at (803) 323-2206.  In the case of an after-hours emergency, please call Campus Police at (803)323-3333, or the local rape crisis center, Safe Passage, at their 24-hour hot-line, (803)329-2800.

 

For more information please visit: http://www.winthrop.edu/victimsassistance/