Introduction to Criminal Justice

Criminology 1301
Spring 2008

Tuesday/Thursday 1-2:15 pm in GC 1.208b

Professor James W. Marquart

Office: GR 2.531
Office Hours: Mon/Wed/Thursday 8:00am—11am. (or by appointment)
Office Telephone: 972-883-4948
e-mail address: marquart@utdallas.edu

Course Description:
• CJ 1301 is an introductory-level course designed to provide students with
an overview of the American criminal justice system. The goal of this
course is to provide you with the knowledge to evaluate and discuss
crime and justice related issues.

Course Objectives:
• To help students understand the structure and functions or the various
components of the criminal justice system.
• Analyze how policy changes and legal rulings affect the components of the
criminal justice system.
• Compare and contrast the rationales for punishing law breakers.

Special Note Regarding this Semester:

• Taking collegiate level course work is demanding. Please make a regular
effort to keep up with the assigned reading, etc. I will place material on
Web-CT when and where possible.

Required Textbook
• Text: Criminal Justice in Action (Third Edition), Larry Gaines & Roger
Miller, 2005, Wadsworth Publishing (or most recent edition if available)

Attendance:
• Please show respect to the instructor and your fellow students by being
on time! Class will begin promptly at 1 pm, and attendance will be taken
each day. Attendance is not required, but class participation will make up
10% of your grade. Simply put, if you are not here, you will not be able
to participate and this will negatively affect your grade in this course.
Excused absences are limited to ONLY documented illnesses or family
emergencies that students notify me of in advance via email or during
class time. Those students not present when their name is called will be
counted absent for that day. Once the doors to the class are closed,
please do not enter and disrupt the class or leave the classroom! Before
class starts please turn off your cell phones and do not leave the
classroom once we have started. Plan to attend class the entire
scheduled time as per your course calendar.

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 • Classroom Citizenship. I strongly encourage you to be an active
participant in the classroom. I encourage critical thinking and welcome
open discussions of the material we will review. You may participate via
email correspondence to me, visiting with me during office hours, bringing
in news articles or stories that relate to our course material, or by asking
questions or making comments during lectures. Students who are
actively engaged with learn more, earn better grades, are better
informed citizens of their university and communities, and are
prepared for future courses within the Criminology major.

Requirements:

• Examinations: There will be four multiple choice exams in this course,

and one optional cumulative final.
• The exams for this course will consist of multiple choice and short
answer questions. Failure to take an exam will result in a zero
grade (unless you have been granted permission from the
instructor prior to the exam or have documented evidence of
illness, etc.).
• Please avoid make-up exams. Exams are scheduled well in
advance and you should make plans accordingly.
• All grades will be posted on Web CT. If you have taken all four
exams, and are satisfied with your course grade, do NOT take the
final. If, however, you are not satisfied with your grade, you may
take a cumulative, or “special” final, and substitute one of your
other test grades. Remember, THE FINAL CAN RAISE YOUR
COURSE GRADE.
• Once you sit for any exam, you will receive a grade for that exam
(including the optional cumulative final).
• Please, bring picture identification to each exam.
• Exam questions will be taken from lecture and the text. You will
find daily attendance and note-taking to help in exam preparation.
• In-Class Writing Assignments: These writings will be conducted on
various unannounced days during the course, and will reflect the reading
materials for that day. There will be NO make-up writing assignments.
• Extra Credit: I like to assign extra credit assignments. In order to be fair,
extra credit will be available to the entire class.

Evaluation:
ƒ Exam 1: 100 points
ƒ Exam 2: 100 points
ƒ Exam 3: 100 points
ƒ Exam 4: 100 points
ƒ Exam 5 100 points (optional final)
ƒ In-class writing assignments, Internet and extra credit assignments, etc. (as
assigned) will count extra.
ƒ Class participation will count for 40 points
440 total points in class

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Final grades will be awarded according to the following percentage scale:
A: 94 and above A-: 90-93 B+: 87-89 B: 84-86 B-: 80-83
C+: 77-79 C: 74-76 C-: 70-73 D: 60-69 F: 59 and below

Academic Integrity:
• Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and
deception and is an educational objective of this institution.
• For rules and information about Academic Dishonesty see the
following websites:
• www.utdallas/edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html

Academic Dishonesty:
• This includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarizing (including the
failure to properly cite sources), fabrication of information or citations,
facilitating acts of academic dishonest of others, having unauthorized
possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work
previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the
academic work of other students. Please do your own work.
• ALL violations of academic integrity will be reported to the Dean of
Students.

Disability Services:
• UTD is committed to providing educational opportunities for all persons.
If you anticipate needing accommodations for learning differences, please
let me know. If you require accommodations, please make sure that you
are properly registered with the Disabilities Services Office (972)883-
2070.
• If you have a condition that requires accommodation in this course,
please see the Instructor after class or in office hours during the first week
of class. I will appropriate accommodations provided timely notice is
received and the arrangement is consistent with any recommendations
from Disability Services, when applicable.

Course Announcements:
• Course announcements will be made via WebCT. You are responsible for
keeping up with all announcements (e.g., schedule changes, cancellations, etc.).

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 Class Schedule:
Changes may be made to this schedule. I will also announce changes in class.
YOU are responsible for all changes (e.g., reading assignments, assignment
deadlines, etc.).

DATE TOPIC CHAPTER

ASSIGNED
READ ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE CLASS!!!!

Jan 8 Orientation to Course and Syllabi

Jan 10 Criminal Justice Today 1
Jan 15 Causes of Crime 2
Jan 17 Defining and Measuring Crime 3
Jan 22 Inside Criminal Law 4
Jan 24 Presentation on Crime of Interest
Jan 29 EXAM #1

Jan 31 Law Enforcement Today 5

Feb 5 Challenges to Effective Policing 6
Feb 7 Police and the Constitution 7
Feb 12 Issues in Policing 7
Feb 14 Presentation on Policing issue of Interest
Feb 19 EXAM #2
Feb 21 Movie – 12 Angry Men
Feb 26 Movie – 12 Angry Men/Courts and the Quest for Justice 8
Feb 28 Pretrial Procedures: The Adversary System in Action 9
Mar 5 Murder Trial - Voir Dire
March 10---15 Spring Break
Mar 18 The Criminal Trial 10
Mar 20 Punishment and Sentencing 11
Mar 25 Capital Punishment & Technology
Mar 27 Presentation on Trial of Interest
Apr 1 EXAM #3
Apr 3 Extra Credit Day at the Library--
Apr 8 The History of Corrections and Texas
Apr 10 Probation and Community Corrections 12
Apr 15 Prisons and Jails 13
Apr 17 Prison Community 14
Apr 22 Presentation on Corrections Issue of Interest
Apr 24 EXAM #4

TBA Final Comprehensive Exam #5 (Make-Up Exam for Students)