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CJ 300: Crime, Law & Justice

Spring Semester 2014; 3 credits
Section 1, Schedule #20703
Thursday (Hybrid), 4:00 6:40 p.m.
201 Arts & Letters (AL)



Instructor/Course Information:
Instructors: Desir J.M. Anastasia, Ph.D., Nicole L. Bracy, Ph.D., & Stuart Henry Ph.D.
Office Location: 105 Professional Studies and Fine Arts Building (Dr. Henry)
Office Hours: Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. with Dr. Henry OR by appointment via
phone, chat/Skype, etc. with Dr. Anastasia
E-mail Addresses: danastas@mail.sdsu.edu (main contact), nl.bracy@gmail.com &
shenry2@mail.sdsu.edu
Telephones: 619.594.4355 (Dr. Henry)



Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the critical cornerstones of the study of criminal justiceand the interplay
among themdeviance, crime, law, behavior, criminal justice operations, and research methods. The aim is to
give students a fundamental understanding of how crime comes to be defined to include certain behaviors and
exclude others; how the law works to control the behavior of both citizens and justice system professionals; why
some people violate the law and others do not; the mechanisms employed to control crime and deal with
criminal offenders; and the research techniques we use to discover what works, what does not, and what is
happening. As criminal justice majors progress through their program at SDSU, they will be able to specialize in
courses that expand their understanding of each of these critical areas. Non-majors will be able to use the
knowledge and skills obtained in this course to make better sense out of the myriad headlines about crime and
criminal justice that saturate the media.

Course Objectives:
The class is designed (1) to accommodate the need to know, the critical thinking skills, and the imagination of
aspiring criminal justice majors who seek a solid understanding of the fundamentals of crime and criminal justice
and (2) to stimulate the curiosity and interest of non-majors who seek to develop an informed appreciation of
the complex problems of crime and society. No matter what your academic orientation or political philosophy, it
is our hope that the course will, at various times, enthuse, frustrate, annoy, enrage, gratify, depress, and excite
each of you.
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Ultimately, the goal of education is to help one to understand complex realities and relationships and to apply
ones understanding to solve problems both within, and beyond, the particular subject matter at issue.

The goals for the course are that students will:
Understand the complex relationships among deviance, crime, law, human behavior, scientific methods, and
the operation of the criminal justice system
Understand that law is a social instrument whose content is determined by human judgment
Understand that the criminal law is but one instrument among a plethora of social control mechanisms
Understand the operation of the substantive and procedural criminal laws and how they are intended to
control the conduct of both citizens and criminal justice agents
Understand how crime is defined and that criminal is as much a social as a behavioral phenomenon
Appreciate that human behavior, including crime, is a product of a multiplicity of factors
Understand the structure and operation and police, court, and correctional agents and agencies
Understand how the complex interrelationships among police, courts, and corrections can inhibit the work
of each of them
Realize that both the agents and agencies of criminal justice are fallible and often ineffective
Realize that despite its massive problems, the criminal justice is susceptible to improvement
Identify specific ways that practitioners can individually contribute to improving the criminal justice system
Appreciate that every person can play an important role in the effective operation and the reform of the
criminal justice system
Realize that much of what we learn about the criminal justice system can be applied to larger questions that
extend beyond those of criminal justice

Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. * Summarize the relationships among law, crime, and social order.
2. * Analyze the concept of social constructionism and its relevance to law and criminal justice.
3. * Analyze the concept of boundary maintenance and its relationship to punishment.
4. Identify and define the material elements of a crime.
5. Identify and describe the steps in the criminal justice system by which an accused offender is processed
from arrest to release from incarceration.
6. * Identify and describe the strengths and weaknesses of four distinct theories of criminal behavior
7. Define, distinguish, and describe the relevance of concepts of statistical validity and reliability.
8. Explicate the problems of evaluating the effectiveness of criminal justice programs
* Indicates learning outcome that is consistent with GE writing requirement.



Required Text(s):
Crime, Law & Justice by Desir J.M. Anastasia, Mark M. Lanier & Douglas Klutz. Cognella Academic Publishing,
2013 (ISBN: 978-1-62131-543-8) (NOTE: Referred to in the Schedule of Readings, Lectures, Assignments, Tests &
Exams as CLJ Text)
Directions on how to purchase this text are included on page 5 of this course syllabus

Social Deviance by Stuart Henry. Polity Press, 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-7456-4304-5)



Student Evaluation/Grading:
In order to address different ways of learning and abilities of demonstrating the application of knowledge, a
variety of evaluation methods will be used to assess your performance during this course. A plus/minus grading
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scale is also utilized at San Diego State University.

Activity Points
Discussion Assignments (2) 50 points each (100 points total)
Online Tests (5) 40 points each (200 points total)
Online Midterm Exam 100 points
Online Final Exam 100 points
TOTAL 500 POINTS

Grade as a Percentage Letter Grade
100% to 94% A
93% to 90% A-
89% to 87% B+
86% to 83% B
82% to 80% B-
79% to 77% C+
76% to 73% C
72% to 70% C-
69% to 67% D+
66% to 63% D
62% to 60% D-
59% and Below F

Discussion Assignments (2; worth 50 points [100 points total]):
One component of this course involves (two) online class discussions. Since about half of our classes meet face-to-
face and other half are held online, and our class is LARGE, here is where you demonstrate your grasp of the
materials and share your ideas with others in the class. You will be separated into Discussion Groups and each
chapter's discussion question will be posted by 11 p.m. the week before the initial response is due.

Technically the discussions are supposed to work like this:
Read the chapters in the text.
Look at the discussion question on Blackboard.
Think of a response to the question and post it to the web by 11 p.m. on the day it is due.
Read the postings of all of the other students and the responses to your postings, when they are made (and if
there are any).
You will now have two extra weeks (14 full days) to reply to at least three of the other student's postings and
to at least two of the responses to your posting. If there are no replies to your posting join in some other
discussion for these two other postings. In total you'll need at least five replies.

All of this means that, at a minimum, you need to have six (6) postings for each Discussion Assignment on the
discussion board. You are more than welcome to do more. The use of web links and material from outside of the
chapters is encouraged. Each discussion assignment will be graded on a 50 point scale (30 points for your initial
posting; 20 points for your five responsive posts). PLEASE NOTE: Extra Credit will NOT be given if you go above
and beyond these six postings; it is merely your choice to do so.

Your initial posting should be about 500 words and must include a referenced direct quote from the text. The
reference for all text quotes should be: (p. xx) where "xx" is the page number. It should be in bold. That's all. If
you are referencing another source (text, internet, etc) you need to specify the source in such a way as another
reading it could find your reference (such as a link if an internet site). The initial posting needs to be clearly
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organized, which means that you need to separate ideas into at least paragraphs if possible (it is also usually best
to type your posting on a word processor and copy it into Blackboard). Your replies should be at least 100 words.
They should be substantive replies and not "Right! I agree 100%" or the like. Your post should address the issue at
hand but it should also include your ideas and ideas from the text. Please also phrase your discussion (both initial
posting and replies) linked to some criminological perspective. While other approaches are valid, this is a criminal
justice course and as such you need to be working with the discipline's ideas. Issues of morality, while important,
need to take a secondary place to results of independent research on issues.

Finally, this is an academic class and we will deal with topics about which there are a lot of feelings. Please
remember to keep your postings and replies as respectful and intellectual as possible. Do not attack a fellow
classmate or comment negatively on them in any way. Look at and address the ideas. Also, please refrain from
becoming too familiar in your postings. In other words, if you want to have a personal conversation with another
classmate, please do so outside of the discussion board. Also avoid used of text messaging format; use proper
English throughout.

Online Tests (5; worth 40 points [200 points total]):
Five 40-question, on-line (Blackboard) tests will be due on five separate occasions (see the Schedule of
Readings, Lectures, Assignments, Tests & Exams for due dates and specific chapter/lecture coverage). These test
questions will include those in both Multiple Choice and True/False format. These tests will be timed (2 hours)
and you will only have one chance to take each of them (so you have to take them in one sitting, with no going
back later). PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP TESTS. PLEASE TAKE THE TEST BY THE DUE DATE. THERE WILL
BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Mid-Term Exam (worth 100 points):
A 50-question multiple choice/true or false Midterm Exam will be given online (on Blackboard) and will be due
by 11 p.m. on Thursday, March 20
th
, 2014. This exam will cover all material from the first half of class (exact
chapters covered are listed in the Schedule of Readings, Lectures, Assignments, Tests & Exams). You will NOT
have to travel to any testing center or classroom to take this exam. Specific instructions for how to complete the
exam online will be provided separately. This Midterm Exam will be timed (2 hours) and you will have only one
chance to take it. PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. PLEASE TAKE THE EXAM BY THE DUE DATE.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Final Exam (worth 100 points):
A 50-question multiple choice/true or false Final Exam will be given online (on Blackboard) on and will be due
by 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 15
th
, 2014. This exam will cover all material from the first half of class (exact
chapters covered are listed in the Schedule of Readings, Lectures, Assignments, Tests & Exams). You will NOT
have to travel to any testing center or classroom to take this exam. Specific instructions for how to complete the
exam online will be provided separately. This Midterm Exam will be timed (2 hours) and you will have only one
chance to take it. PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS. PLEASE TAKE THE EXAM BY THE DUE DATE.
THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

MORE INFORMATION:

Course Grades:
Your grade is YOUR GRADE, and your responsibility. Once I have completed grading your tests, exams,
assignments, etc., grades will immediately (as possible!) be posted on Blackboard; you will always be informed
of your progress. It is your responsibility to contact Dr. Anastasia or meet with her during her three scheduled
visits to SDSU about any concerns regarding your grade(s) before the second week of December. EXTRA CREDIT
WILL NOT BE GIVEN IN ANY CASE(S)

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Lectures/Attendance:
Regular attendance is required. Class discussion and participation are very important for learning course
material. You should be aware that material presented during in-person lectures will appear on the quizzes,
tests and exams but may not appear anywhere else (lecture slides, textbook, etc.). If you miss class, you are still
responsible for all announcements made during class, and all material covered in that class session. Please make
contact with a fellow member of your class to obtain a copy of their class notes. Also, a student wanting to
leave class early should clear it with us before the start of that class session.

Course Withdrawals and Incompletes:
Incompletes will only be given in the cases of medical or other VERIFIABLE emergencies. If students are not
doing well in this course, they have the responsibility of formally withdrawing from this course. Students who do
not formally withdraw from the course but stop attending class and do not take scheduled exams will receive a
failing grade.

Purchasing the Course Textbook:
The required book for our CJ 300 course, Crime, Law, and Justice (First Edition), is published and distributed by
Cognella, Inc. The book is now available for purchase in both print and digital formats through their student e-
commerce store (https://students.universityreaders.com/store/). The print price for this text is $92.95. The
digital price is slightly lower at $83.95. The book includes readings that we will use in class daily, so you should
purchase your own copy. Also, please keep in mind that our institution adheres to copyright law, so any
copyrighted material should not be copied or duplicated in any manner. We strongly encourage you to buy this
textbook directly from the publisher. This will ensure you receive the following benefits:

Best price available. The publisher offers a 20% discount off of the books list price and there are no third-
party price markups applied.
Most updated edition. Only the current, most recent edition is available, unlike other vendors who may carry
older editions.
Immediate access to your own full or partial (FREE 30% PDF) e-book from within your student account. Full e-
books work with various mobile devices.

To purchase the textbook, please follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Log on to https://students.universityreaders.com/store/.
Step 2: Create an account or log in if you have an existing account to purchase.
Step 3: Easy-to-follow instructions guide you through the rest of the ordering process. Payment can be made
by all major credit cards.
Step 4: After purchasing, you can access your full or partial e-book by logging into your account and clicking
My Digital Materials to get started on your readings right away.

Orders are typically processed within 24 hours and the shipping time will depend on the selected shipping
method and day it is shipped (orders are not shipped on Sundays or holidays). If you experience any difficulties,
please email orders@cognella.com or call 800.200.3908 ext. 503.

OUR CJ 300 BLACKBOARD GUIDE

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Anything important pertaining to the class lectures, assignments,
exams, etc. will be posted under Announcements

FACULTY INFORMATION: Our names, e-mail addresses, office telephones, and office addresses
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can be found under Faculty Information

SYLLABUS: Your CJ 300 Syllabus is posted under Syllabus

COURSE DOCUMENTS: Any handouts or pieces of information we would like you to have/read/
etc. will be posted under Course Documents. If its not listed in your
Schedule, we will bring your attention to these documents via e-mail,
Blackboard announcement, and/or in-class announcement

LECTURES: All online lectures will be posted under Lectures (NOTE: In-class
lectures/PowerPoint slides will NOT be posted online)

TESTS: All Tests and instructions will be posted under Tests
EXAMS: Both your Midterm and Final Exam will be posted under Exams
DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS: Both Discussion Assignment #1 and Discussion Assignment #2 will be
posted under Discussion Assignments

DISCUSSION GROUPS: Students will be randomly assigned to groups on Blackboard. The first
person listed in each group is the group leader. Questions about course
material, content, or exams etc., should be first asked of your group
members (after you have checked the syllabus, of course!); if no one has
the answer, group leader should ask the other group leaders; and if that
fails, then ask the instructor (Dr. Anastasia). This will help to ensure the
instructor is available to answer critical questions about the course and
is not bogged down by questions whose answers are available
elsewhere.

QUESTION GROUPS: This is your go-to group when you have questions about the course.
Please note: This is not your discussion group for your discussion group
assignments.

STANDARDS FOR STUDENT CONDUCT
*


The following behavior is subject to disciplinary sanctions:
Dishonesty, including:
o Cheating that is intended to gain unfair academic advantage.
o Plagiarism that is intended to gain unfair academic advantage.
o Other forms of academic dishonesty intended to gain unfair academic advantage.
Disorderly, lewd, indecent, or obscene behavior at a University related activity, or directed toward a
member of the University community.
Conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person within or related to the
University community, including
o physical abuse, threats, intimidation, or harassment.
o sexual misconduct.
*
These Standards for Student Conduct are adapted from the full version of SDSUs Standards for Student Conduct, Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/conduct1.html.
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SCHEDULE OF READINGS, LECTURES, ASSIGNMENTS, TESTS, & EXAMS

Week Date Reading / Lecture / Assignment / Test / Exam
1
Thursday,
January 23
rd

WHAT IS CRIME & DEVIANCE?
Introduction to the Course; Introduction to the CLJ Textbook
Chapter 1 in Social Deviance: What is deviance?
Chapter 2 in Social Deviance: Why people ban behavior
Section 1; Chapter 1 in CLJ Text: What is Crime?
In-class introduction/lecture by Drs. Stuart Henry and Nicole Bracy
2
Thursday,
January 30
th

WHY ARE CRIMES COMMITTED?
Section 1; Chapter 2 in CLJ Text: The Definition and Theories of Crime
Section 1; Chapter 3 in CLJ Text: Crime in Society
Section 1; Chapter 4 in CLJ Text: Why Do People Commit Crime?
In-class lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia




3 Thursday,
February 6
th

WHY DO PEOPLE COMMIT DEVIANT ACTS?
Chapter 3 in Social Deviance: Why some people break rules
Chapter 4 in Social Deviance: Neutralizing morality and deviant motivations
Chapter 5 in Social Deviance: How people become deviants
Chapter 6 in Social Deviance: Responding to deviant designations and coping with
stigma
Online lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia
TEST ONE (on material from 1/23 1/30) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD
4
Thursday,
February 13
th

WHAT IS CRIMINOLOGY?
Section 2; Chapter 5 in CLJ Text: Defining Criminology
Section 2; Chapter 6 in CLJ Text: The Criminal Man
Section 2; Chapter 7 in CLJ Text: What is Criminology: The Study of Crime, Criminals,
and Victims in a Global Context
In-class lecture by Dr. Nicole Bracy
DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT #1 DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD
5
Thursday,
February 20
th

WHAT IS CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND HOW IS IT DONE?
Section 3; Chapter 9 in CLJ Text: Understanding Criminals and Crime Theory and
Research
Section 3; Chapter 10 in CLJ Text: Ethics in Criminal Justice Research
Section 3; Chapter 12 in CLJ Text: Ethical Issues in Crime Control Policy and Research
Online lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia
TEST TWO (on material from 2/6 2/13) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD
6
Thursday,
February 27
th

WHAT ABOUT THE VICTIMS?
Section 2; Chapter 8 in CLJ Text: The Scope of Victimology
Handout on Blackboard: What is Victimology?
In-class lecture by Dr. Nicole Bracy

7
Thursday,
March 6
th

WHAT ABOUT THE VICTIMS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM?
Section 3; Chapter 11 in CLJ Text: Diversity and the Policy Agenda in Criminal
Justice
Handout on Blackboard: Secondary Victimization of Crime Victims
by Criminal Proceedings
Online lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia
TEST THREE (on material from 2/20 2/27) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD
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Week Date Reading / Lecture / Assignment / Test / Exam
8
Thursday,
March 13
th

LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTERS
Section 4; Chapter 13 in CLJ Text: Overview of Policing and Law Enforcement in the
United States
Section 4; Chapter 14 in CLJ Text: The Idea of Community Policing
In-class lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia and guest lecture by the ALICE Program

9
Thursday,
March 20
th

MIDTERM EXAM (on material from 1/23 3/13) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA
BLACKBOARD
10
Thursday,
March 27
th

ISSUES IN POLICING
Section 4; Chapter 15 in CLJ Text: The Police: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Section 4; Chapter 16 in CLJ Text: Ethics and Police in a Time of Change
Guest lecture by Roulette Armstead (Ret. Assistant Chief of Police,
San Diego Police Department)

11
Thursday,
April 3
rd

SPRING BREAK
12
Thursday,
April 10
th

COURTS IN CONTEXT
Section 5; Chapter 17 in CLJ Text: Overview of Courts and Judicial Process in the
United States
Section 5; Chapter 18 in CLJ Text: Due Process of Law
In-class lecture by Dr. Nicole Bracy
DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT #2 DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD
13
Thursday,
April 17
th

LAW ON TRIAL
Handout on Blackboard: Criminal Courts (21
st
Century Criminology: A Reference
Handbook)
Section 5; Chapter 19 in CLJ Text: Justice Delayed or Justice Denied? A Contemporary
Review of Capital Habeus Corpus
On-line lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia
TEST FOUR (on material from 3/27 4/10) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD
14
Thursday,
April 24
th

WHY DO WE PUNISH?
Section 6; Chapter 20: Overview of Corrections in the United States
Section 6; Chapter 22: Prison
Guest lecture by Mike Semanchik (Attorney with the California Innocence
Project)



15
Thursday,
May 1
st

PRISONS IN CRISIS
Section 6; Chapter 21: The Scale of Imprisonment in the United States: Twentieth
Century Patterns and Twenty-First Century Prospects
Online lecture with Dr. Desir Anastasia
TEST FIVE (on material from 4/17 4/24) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD

16
Thursday,
May 8
th

TRENDS IN CRIME REDUCTION AND PREVENTION
Section 6; Chapter 23: Community Corrections
Handout on Blackboard: Intelligence-Led Policing
In-class lecture by Dr. Desir Anastasia and Jeff Vandersip (Criminal
Intelligence Analyst, SD County Sheriffs Department)
17
Thursday,
May 15
th


FINAL EXAM (on material from 3/27 5/8) DUE AT 11 P.M. VIA BLACKBOARD

Note: This syllabus and schedule is subject to change as circumstances may change. We have the right to change this syllabus, if
necessary, but such changes will be discussed with plenty of notice to students.