Grading and Assignments: Participation: 10.0% Discussion Boards: 10.0% Midterm Exam: 22.5% Final Exam: 22.5% Policy Paper: 35.0%

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1 Senior Seminar: Criminal Justice/Public Policy Department of Criminal Justice, College of Public Affairs and Community Service, University of North Texas Spring 2013: 3 Credit Hours CJUS Instructor: Daniel Lytle Office: Chilton Hall 273F Phone: daniel.lytle@unt.edu Office Hours: Monday: 9AM-12PM, Tuesday: 10AM-12PM, and by appointment Course Location: WH 212, Wednesday: 2-4:50PM Course Description: This course examines the issues and problems of the criminal justice system. Special attention is paid to an evidence based approach to evaluating the effectiveness of policy and programs. Discussion will focus on both macro and micro approaches to the crime problem and examine the role of political ideology on the promotion of various policies. Course Objectives: After completion of this course a student is expected to be able to: Understand effectiveness and how it applies to criminal justice policies and programs Have a better understanding of the criminal justice system and criminal justice policy Have a better understanding of criminal justice research Conduct a policy analysis Course Materials: Cole, G. and Gertz, M. (2013). The Criminal Justice System: Politics and Policies (10 th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Walker, S. (2011). Sense and Nonsense About Crime, Drugs, and Communities (7 th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Other readings available on Blackboard Grading and Assignments: Participation: 10.0% Discussion Boards: 10.0% Midterm Exam: 22.5% Final Exam: 22.5% Policy Paper: 35.0% Course Schedule: The course schedule for this class is fluid because I adjust the course to fit the class. Exams listed in the lecture schedule are estimates. You will be given enough advance notice for any changes to the exam/lecture schedule. 1

2 Attendance: Attendance is required. Since this class meets 1 day per week you are allowed to miss 2 class periods for any reason. After 2 absences are used, you lose one point from your final course grade per absence. Texting during class will cause you to be counted absent. Students will be allowed excused absences only for an authorized absence. In order for any absence to be excused the professor MUST be contacted PRIOR to the missed class. Failure to do so will result in work not being able to be made up. Participation: Students are expected to arrive to class prepared for class in order to participate. That means that you have paper to take notes, and something to use for note taking (i.e. pen or pencil). Being prepared for class also requires that students have completed the readings. The instructor may ask you to leave if you are not prepared for class. Also, showing up to class is not the same as participation. Students will be expected to make intelligent comments regarding class discussion. You must make at least 10 comments over the course of the term in order to receive full credit. Discussion Boards: Throughout the course of the term you will be asked to make posts to discussion boards. In order to receive full credit for a discussion board post you must post two original ideas (one post per question) and reply to other student s post. Exams: There will be 2 exams in this course. Each exam is worth 22.5% of your overall grade. Each exam can consist of multiple-choice, true/false, and short answer questions. Exams are not cumulative, and a study guide will be handed out one week before the exam. Policy Paper: The policy paper is a page paper that will require you to assess a particular policy or program in the criminal justice system. Students will be required to submit an outline of their paper with at least 3 scholarly sources they plan to use in the larger paper. Students will have to select their topic by the end of the third week of class. Only 3 students will be allowed to write on one topic. Topics are approved on a first come first served basis. Specific instructions for the paper will be made available on blackboard and handed out in class. Extra-Credit: There is no extra-credit available in this course with the exception of a possible bonus question on a test. Course Grades: A: B: C: D: F:

3 Incompletes will not be given unless a student actually has a major assignment to complete. If you have taken all tests you get the grade you earn. Major assignments consist of the midterm exam, final exam and papers. Any in-class assignment missed will be graded as a zero. Failure to turn an assignment in at the start of class on the due date will result in a zero for that assignment. Late assignments are not accepted. Any assignment turned in late will receive a grade of zero for that assignment. Final grades will be curved using a traditional curve. If you have questions regarding your grades, you must come see me during office hours. I cannot discuss or give out grades over the phone or via . Grades are not negotiable. Special Needs Policy: The University of North Texas seeks to fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students requesting accommodations based on a covered disability must go to the Office of Disability Accommodation, located in the University Union Bldg. Suite 321, to verify the disability before any accommodations can occur. The telephone number is (940) [ If you have a disability that requires accommodations your disability must be documented with disability services before any accommodations will be made. Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is something the instructor takes extremely seriously. Academic integrity is expected of every University of North Texas student. Academic honor is the responsibility of the students and faculty of the University of North Texas. Consult the UNT website for questions, guidelines, appeals, and other information: Academically violating UNT policy consists of the following: A. Cheating. The use of unauthorized assistance in an academic exercise, including but not limited to: 1. use of any unauthorized assistance to take exams, tests, quizzes or other assessments; 2. dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments; 3. acquisition, without permission, of tests, notes or other academic materials belonging to a faculty or staff member of the University; 4. dual submission of a paper or project, or re-submission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor; 5. any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage on an academic assignment. 3

4 B. Plagiarism. Use of another s thoughts or words without proper attribution in any academic exercise, regardless of the student s intent, including but not limited to: 1. the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement or citation. 2. the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or by an agency engaged in selling term papers or other academic materials. C. Forgery. Altering a score, grade or official academic university record or forging the signature of an instructor or other student. D. Fabrication. Falsifying or inventing any information, data or research as part of an academic exercise. E. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty. Helping or assisting another in the commission of academic dishonesty. F. Sabotage. Acting to prevent others from completing their work or willfully disrupting the academic work of others. Each instance of a violation of academic integrity will be handled on a case-by-case basis. At the minimum you will receive a zero on the assignment in question, but the instructor will not hesitate to assign a grade of F for the entire course for particularly egregious violations. If you have questions about citation or other academic integrity please contact the instructor. Disruptive Behavior: Behavior that disrupts or interferes with the progression of the class will not be tolerated. Students engaging in such behavior will be asked to leave the class. Additionally, the instructor will refer those students to the Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether or not the student s actions violated the Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at Electronic Device Policy: Please turn off and remove from the top of your desk all electronic devices that make noise this includes but is not limited to: cell phones, smart phones, pda s and pagers. These devices can be a large distraction to other students. Regarding laptop computers, they are generally not permitted. If you have a situation that requires you to use a laptop please see the instructor. Students that fail to comply with this policy will be asked to leave the classroom. If you have a personal emergency that requires you to keep a cell phone active, do not come to class. If you have a university authorized issue or situation which requires the use of a laptop for note taking purposes or if you are note taking for another student as part of a disability accommodation you will be allowed to use a laptop during class under the condition that you sit at the very front of the class. 4

5 Other Course Policies: The course schedule is not set in stone. It is ink on paper. The instructor reserves the right to adjust the syllabus as necessary. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class. Being absent from class does not excuse a student from knowing due date changes and he/she is still responsible for turning in assignments at the newly revised times. Make-up Exams o Make up exams are given only for the midterm exam and the final exam. o In order for any make-up exam to be given, the instructor MUST be contacted BEFORE the exam. o Students must provide a DOCUMENTABLE extreme circumstance. These include but are not limited to: severe illness of yourself or a dependent, death of immediate family member, or military commitments o Make up exams will be a different format from the original exam and it is in your best interest to not miss the exam. o Make up exams are given at the instructors convenience. After a completed exam or quiz is turned in, no exams will be handed out to late students; there are no exceptions to this policy. If extra-credit is given, it will be made available for the entire class to do. Extra credit opportunities will NOT be given to a single individual. Comments that are racist or sexist in nature or that otherwise denigrate and/or insult members of the classroom are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Students making such remarks will be asked to leave class. A study guide the week before every exam. This guide will give the topics that will be covered on that test. You will be responsible for all material on the study guide. The study guide is meant to be just that, a guide. Some lecture materials MAY be available on blackboard for your review. Every student is responsible for reading The Code of Student Conduct, which can be found at the following website: nduct.pdf. The two best ways to contact the instructor is to come to office hours or send an . The instructor s will not be checked after 7 PM. If you the instructor after this time you may not get a response until the morning. Please give the instructor up to 24 hours to respond to an . 5

6 Policy: o The instructor s will not be checked after 7 PM. If you the instructor after this time you may not get a response until the morning. o Please give the instructor up to 24 hours to respond to an . o All s to the instructor must 1) have a topic, 2) include a greeting, 3) ask a question, and 4) be signed. o Failure to comply with these requirements will result in your being ignored. If you want to appeal your grade you must follow the procedures listed in UNT policy Additionally, if you wish to discuss your grade it must be done in person in order to comply with FERPA. Blackboard will be used as the primary way to communicate on a mass level with students. It is your responsibility to make sure that you receive s via blackboard. You are still responsible for any information you may have missed if you do not have blackboard set up properly. If you have not already done so please activate your blackboard account and add an address THAT YOU CHECK REGULARLY and preferably your through UNT. o To change where the s are sent do the following: 1) Log into learn.unt.edu 2) Click on Personal Information located in the tools box on the main blackboard log in page 3) Click Edit Personal Information 4) Type your desired address in the box for 5) Click Submit button This course fully complies with the UNT policy regarding religious observation. Please let me know in advance if you will miss class due to religious observation so that accommodations may be made. SETE Policy: You are encouraged to take the student evaluation of teaching effectiveness survey at the end of the term. The instructor uses this information to improve the class and it is your primary way to make comments regarding the quality of the course. Also, I would especially encourage you to fill out open comment sections. 6

7 Lecture topics: Week Topic Reading/Assignment Due 1 (1/16/13) Introduction to the course and everything you could want to know about APA and more None 2 (1/23/13) Criminal Justice System Citation Quiz Readings: Walker 1 and 2; C and G 1, 4, and 5 3 (1/30/13) Going Rate, Prediction Problem, and Crime Policy Overview Paper Topic Due Readings: Walker 3 and 4; C and G 2, 3, and 32 4 (2/6/13) Library Day 5 (2/13/13) Police Paper Outline Due Readings: Walker 5, p ; C and G 6, 7, 13 and 26 6 (2/20/13) Racial Profiling Readings: C and G 9; Brown and Frank, (2006), Engel and Calnon (2004), Smith et al. (2005) 7 (2/27/13) Exam Review None 8 (3/6/13) Midterm Exam None 9 (3/13/13) Spring Break No Class None 10 (3/20/13) Deterrence, and Courts Readings: Walker 6, 7, 8 11 (3/27/13) Courts continued Readings: C and G: 14, 15; Steffensmeier et al. (1998), Spohn and Holleran, (2002); 12 (4/3/13) Victim s Rights and Gun Control Readings: Walker 9 and 10; C and G 29; Makarios and Pratt (2012) 13 (4/10/13) Corrections Readings: Walker 11; C and G 19, 20, (4/17/13) Drug Policy and Mental Illness Readings: Walker 13; Wilson BB readings, Engel et al. (2012), Beckett (2012); C and G 23; 15 (4/24/13) Communities and Other policies/programs Readings: Walker14; C and G 28, 32, and 31 Paper Due 16 (5/1/13) Final Exam Review None 17 (5/8/13) Final Exam None Important Dates: 3/13- Spring Break, No Class 1/23, 1/30, 2/13, 4/24- Paper deadlines 3/6, 5/8- Exams 7