ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE CRIM 203 WEB

Transcription

1 ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE CRIM 203 WEB COURSE SYLLABUS Semester: Semester Credits: Meeting Days/Time: Instructor: Office: Office Phone #: Office Hours: Fall 3 Credit Hour Course Online COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course exposes students to the various philosophical approaches for developing appropriate ethical decision-making tools for the criminal justice professional. Ethical decision-making tools are illustrated in actual application in police, courts, corrections, criminal justice policy, and criminal justice research scenarios. Emphasis is placed on professional integrity and leadership skills that support laws, policies, and procedures in criminal justice. Students will learn the significance of ethics and to reflect critically on matters especially pertinent within criminology and criminal justice curricula. REQUIRED TEXT: HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: The following resources provide additional background and supporting information for this course. Online students must have the following to meet the minimum hardware requirements: 64 MB RAM 28.8 kbps modem (56k recommended) Sound card and speakers Screen resolution of 800 x 600 or higher If you have problems viewing the interactive and simulation media, you might need to download Adobe Shockwave ( COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. Explain the importance of studying ethics in the criminal justice field. 2. Explain the various philosophical approaches for constructing ethical decisionmaking tools. 3. Explain the application of ethical decision-making tools to the multiple ethical dilemmas in policing, courts, and corrections. CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 1of 7

2 4. Identify leadership skills significant to the criminal justice professional. 5. Discuss the role of ethical decision making for the future of the criminal justice profession. 6. Use technology and information resources to research ethical issues in criminal justice. INSTRUCTIONAL MODES: Teaching Strategies: Multiple teaching strategies will be used in this course. Each week, students are expected to read the textbook, review learning objectives, review the PowerPoint presentations, listen to audio chapter reviews, participate in the discussion board, and complete any assignments and/or exams for the week. Active learning is encouraged in this learner-centered course. To that end, the professor has provided supplemental materials (e.g., Exercise Your Mind questions and student activities) designed to encourage exploration and further develop weekly course objectives. Announcements: It is important that students read all course announcements; since this is the primary way the professor can communicate with students in this course. There will be an announcement on a weekly basis as well as announcements regarding tests and urgent matters requiring students attention. Ask the Professor: Students should visit this area when they have course-related questions; to benefit from responses to other students questions; or have comments or concerns about the class. As a cautionary note, students should not ask questions of a private nature (e.g. your grades). For such questions, students should send the professor an following the below format. It is equally important that students provide the professor with a current address, so that if the professor needs to contact each student regarding course changes, grades, or any other important matter, they can do so with the assurance that the communication is being received properly. All s directed to the professor should contain name and course number (e.g., John Smith CRIM 203 WEB) in the subject line. All s should be properly addressed and signed (e.g., Dear Professor, and Regards, John Smith). If the professor receives an that does not have a proper salutation and name at the end of the , it may not receive a response. The professor also expects correct grammar and punctuation on all correspondence. Exercise Your Mind: Review and explore the videos and/or activities contained in this weekly section. Think about the information provided to you from the perspective of being a criminal justice professional. Hint: There may be a question from this section on a quiz or two! Supplemental Materials: Students are encouraged to keep abreast of current criminal justice related events and news by reading newspapers, magazines, news feeds, blogs, etc. To that end, there are several web sites currently listed in this section that students should explore at their leisure. Also, students should review this section periodically throughout the semester for new web sites and information. Information on APA writing guidelines is listed. CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 2of 7

3 STUDENT REQUIREMENTS: Course Preparation, Participation, and Discussions (100 pts./20%) - To succeed in this class you must access Blackboard and be prepared to participate by completely reading all assigned work. There are discussion topics and questions presented during this course that students are required to actively participate in and provide substantive answers. Your opinion is valuable IT COUNTS! (See Evaluation Procedures and Grading below). Student Activities (20 pts./25%) - There are five (5) student activities presented during this course that students will be responsible for completing by their due dates. The student activities correspond to the topics being reviewed during a particular week and will require critical thinking of the current topic. (See Evaluation Procedures and Grading below). Quizzes (50 pts./40%) There will be four (4) quizzes given during this course. Each of the quizzes will be administered on Blackboard. The quizzes will consist of multiplechoice, true/false, short answer and essay questions. Research Paper (50 pts./15%) Students will write a 5+ page paper on ethics and leadership skills for the criminal justice professional. Students analysis should describe the leadership skills that criminal justice professionals should develop and maintain in their professional and personal lives. Discuss the importance of ethics and virtue in criminal justice and good leaders. For more details on this assignment see Research Paper in Blackboard course under the Assignments tab. (See Evaluation Procedures and Grading below). EVALUATION PROCEDURES and GRADING: Assessment Students will be evaluated based on their competency regarding the aforesaid Student Requirements. The instructor will assess the students understanding of course material through our weekly Blackboard discussions and student activities. Students are encouraged to bring any issues/concerns related to the course to the instructor s attention. I will do everything within my power to ensure that you learn and succeed. I expect the same level of effort from you. Discussion Questions - There are ten (10) discussion questions presented during this course that students are expected to actively participate. In order to receive full credit for the discussions, students are required to discuss each topic or answer all questions completely and substantively. Students must post a primary thread and offer comments to at least two other students in class to receive full credit. Students must post their initial (first) response to the question(s) by Wednesday. Relevant external research (can include the textbook), with appropriate citations, and the sharing of personal experiences related to the topic presented is required. Grammar and punctuation must be correct. Discussions are expected to be collegial and professional in nature. Since most discussions have a t least two sides, try to hear the others point of view, and respond in a professional and considerate manner. Any threaded discussion deemed inappropriate by the professor will be removed and a screenshot will be sent to the student, along with an CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 3of 7

4 explanation regarding its removal. All postings to any space in this class are considered confidential. Written Assignments There are five (5) student activities and one (1) research paper that students will be responsible for completing by their due dates. The assignments should be submitted in word document format with your name, a title for the work, the due date, instructor s name, and the name of this course. Written work should be typed and adhere to APA style standards including the following: 12 pt. font, doubledspaced, 1 margins, in-text citation of references, a reference page, and paginated. Students should submit assignments through Blackboard. Assignments will not be accepted after their due dates without prior consent from the instructor. Grading The following grade point scale (A=90-100%, B=80-89%, C=70-79%, D=60-69%, and below 60%=F) will be employed regarding all course work. Course Work Outline and Due Dates Assignment Type Points Value Due Date Discussions points & 2% each) % Student Activities 20 points & 5% each) % Quizzes 50 points & 10% each) % Research Paper 50 15% TOTAL % COURSE OUTLINE: Week #1 Review: Overview of Blackboard Course & Syllabus Lecture: Crime and justice myths Read: Chapter 17 Discussion of Introductions by Students & Professor Student Activity #1 Week #2 Lecture: Ethics, crime, and justice: An introductory note to students Chapter 1 Discussion #1 Week #3 Lecture: Utilitarian and deontological approaches to criminal justice ethics Read: Chapter 2 Discussion #2 Week #4 Lecture: Peacemaking, justice, and ethics Read: Chapter 3 Student Activity #2 CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 4of 7

5 Week #5 Lecture: How police officers learn ethics Read: Chapter 4 Discussion #3 Quiz #1 on Chapters 1-3 & 17 Week #6 Lecture: Using ethical dilemmas in training police Read: Chapter 6 Discussion #4 Week #7 Lecture: Deception in police interrogation Lecture: Police ethics, legal proselytism, and social order: Paving the path to misconduct Read: Chapters 5 & 7 Student Activity #3 Week #8 Lecture: Whatever happened to Atticus Finch? Lawyers as legal advocates and moral agents Lecture: Prosecutor misconduct Read: Chapters 8 & 9 Discussion #5 Quiz #2 on Chapters 4-7 Week #9 Lecture: Criminal sentencing: Goals, practices, and ethics Read: Chapter 10 Discussion #6 Week #10 Lecture: Crime and punishment: Punishment philosophies and ethical dilemmas Read: Chapter 11 Student Activity #4 Week #11 Lecture: To die or not to die: Morality, ethics, and the death penalty Read: Chapter 12 Discussion #7 Quiz #3 on Chapters 8-11 Week #12 Lecture: Restorative justice and the peacemaking ethic CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 5of 7

6 Read: Chapter 14 Discussion #8 Week #13 Lecture: Keeping an eye on the keeper: Prison corruption and its control Read: Chapter 15 Student Activity #5 Week #14 Lecture: Ethics and prison: Selected issues Read: Chapter 16 Discussion #9 Research Paper Assignment Week #15 Wrap-up Discussion #10 Quiz #4 on Chapters 12, LAST WEEK OF CLASS CLASSROOM POLICIES & IMPORTANT NOTES Academic Code of Conduct - Any conduct or activity by a student intended to earn or improve a grade or receive any form of credit by fraudulent or dishonest means is considered a violation of Student Academic Code of Conduct. Students who witness a violation of the Academic Code of Conduct should report such violations to the instructor of the course in which the violation occurred. In addition, incidents involving students engaged in any dishonest conduct will be investigated, and can result in penalties such as expulsion from the class as well as the program. Cheating and Plagiarism According to the ACM Student Handbook, Cheating is defined as an act of conscious deception in order to obtain an undeserved grade; or the aiding or abetting of deception in order to obtain an undeserved grade. Cheating will not be tolerated in this course and incidents of cheating will be dealt with under the Student Handbook policy. Regarding any incidents of cheating, the instructor will consult with the appropriate Program Coordinator and/or Division Chair regarding the appropriate penalty (the student may be penalized and suffer consequences beyond this course). Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. The professor will be submitting students work to SafeAssign in order to verify its authenticity. Any work that has more than 30% copied material will be returned to the student with a 0 score, and the student will be asked to re-do the assignment regarding their first offense. After the student s initial offense of plagiarism, the instructor will consult with the appropriate Program Coordinator and/or Division Chair regarding the appropriate penalty (the student may be penalized and suffer consequences beyond this course). CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 6of 7

7 Communication It is the student s responsibility to communicate emergency and other situations in a timely manner to the instructor. Communicating your whereabouts is important. If students plan to the instructor with questions or leave a message on the instructor s voice mail, students should identify themselves and the class they are referring to before beginning the message or question. Students should make sure they provide the instructor a return address or telephone number. Supporting Materials Students are encouraged to keep abreast of current criminal justice events and news by reading newspapers, magazines, news feeds, blogs, etc., as well as visiting the web sites of criminal justice organizations. Review the various web sites listed in the Supplemental Materials tab on Blackboard. Student Services and Activities Allegany College of Maryland provides opportunities for students to make responsible choices contributing to a total educational experience. Through the student affairs and services programs, students plan their extracurricular activities and can receive professional assistance and support in dealing with personal or academic problems. The Writing Center is part of the Student Success Center s mission to help students succeed in school. During free, drop-in consultations, they can offer advice on a variety of writing subjects. Their objectives are to help students become independent collegiate writers with improved mastery of grammar and mechanics through the use of a variety of resources and tools. Stop by the Writing Center, located in Humanities Building room H57, to see a list of this semester's hours. Accommodating Disabilities - In compliance with federal 504/ADA requirements, Allegany College of Maryland supports the belief that all otherwise qualified citizens should have access to higher education and that individuals should not be excluded from this pursuit solely by reason of handicap. The college is committed to the integration of students with disabilities into all areas of college life. Therefore, support services are intended to maximize the independence and participation of disabled students. Further, the College complies with applicable state and federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in the admission and treatment of students. Any student who has a disability should contact the Director of Learning Support and Disability Services at , TDD , jbracken@allegany.edu or to obtain information and assistance. *Please Note - Under extenuating circumstances, the instructor has the right to change any course provisions or requirements during the semester. Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right. Martin Luther King, Jr. CRIM 203 WEB Course Syllabus Page 7of 7