HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRJ-115
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Bergen Community College
Division of Social Science, Business and Public Service
Department of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security
Course Designation, Number, and Title
Date of Most Recent Syllabus Revision: September 21, 2010
Course Typically Offered: Fall____ Spring____ Summer____ Every Semester____ Other_________________
Syllabus last reviewed by: BCC General Education Committee ____ Date:____________
(Most courses need review Ad Hoc Committee on Learning Assessment ____ Date:____________
by only one of the following) Curriculum Committee: ____ Date:____________
A syllabus for this course must include as much of the followi ng information as is applicable. It is
understood that syllabi will vary considerably from department to department, program to program,
and discipline to discipline, contingent upon departmental, program, and discipline policies and
practices. In adopting these guidelines, there is no intention to impose a "one size fits all" syllabus or
course outline format on departments, programs, and disciplines.
Basic Information About Course and Instructor
Semester and Year:
Course and Section Number: CRJ 115
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location: Paramus
Phone: (201) 493-4095
Departmental Secretary: Marguerite MacDonald
Office Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Email Address:
Course Description:
Correctional Law is an overview of the policies and practices that govern correctional institutions. The
course examines current legal issues and many court cases that directly impact on prisons and prisoners.
3 lectures, 3 credits.
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able to
a. Explain decision-making processes affecting correction cases and the impact of law on corrections
personnel.
b. Analyze judges’ rulings that have shaped law and policy in correction.
c. Demonstrate an understanding of how correctional law affects the lives of prisoners and staff.
d. Explain why the US Supreme Court has declined to rule and let lower court decisions stand as the
governing case law.
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Means of Assessment
List means of assessment of student learning in pursuit of goals/objectives/outcomes
(e.g., graded class discussions, objective tests and examinations, essay tests and examinations, student
presentations in class (individual or group), writing assignments [papers, short essays, book reports, etc.])
Course Content
Describe/comment on the nature, purpose, and content of the course,
including required coverage and optional coverage.
If relevant, include departmental policy statements about or guidelines for
the way(s) in which the course should be presented/delivered.
Special Features of the Course (if any)
Recognizing that there is a diversity of learning styles among BCC students, this course will organize the
learning process through appropriate combinations of lecture, group discussions, collaborative learning
process, class presentations, and projects. The class will use BCC Library learning technologies for
research paper purposes as well as for other assignments.
Required Text:
Christopher E. Smith. Law and Contemporary Corrections. Wadsworth Publishing Co., 2000. ISBN 0-
534-56626-6. William C. Collins. Correctional Law for the Correctional Officer. American Correctional
Association, 2001. ISBN 1-56991-132-0.
Recommended Supplement and/or Other Study Materials
Harvey Wallace and Cliff Roberson. Legal Aspects of Corrections. Copperhouse Publishing Co., 2000.
ISBN 0-942728-92-0.
Research, Writing, and/or Examination Requirement(s)
List/describe/comment on course research/writing/presentation/examination requirements.
State departmental policies on research, writing, presentation,
and/or examination assignments [optional].
Include policy statements on student group work (if relevant).
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Grading Policy
The final grade for this course will be based on the number of ”performance points” students
accumulate. Students can earn 100 performance points in this course. If they accumulate 90 or more
performance points, the final course grade will be “A”; 85-89 points =”B+”; 80-84 points = “B”;
75-79 points = “C+”; 70-74 points = “C”; 60-69 points = “D”; and 0-59 points = “F”. They will accumulate
performance points by meeting the following course requirements:
a. Three Field Assignments (25 performance points)
b. Two Quizzes (10 performance points)
c. Attendance and Class Participation (15 performance points)
d. Oral Presentation and Class Diary (10 performance points)
e. Two Exams: Midterm Exam (20 performance points) and Final Exam (20 performance points)
The details on these requirements are set forth in the following paragraphs.
1. Field Assignments (25 performance points): Students are required to conduct three field
assignments. These assignments are: a Understanding Correctional Administration, An
Observation of a Correctional Administration Setting, and an Interview with a Correctional
Administrator. An analytical paper must be submitted using the following format: Introduction
(introduces the subject matter), Findings (the overall understanding the subject matter as it relate
to the assignment), and Conclusion (their opinion or position on the subject matter as it relate to
the assignment).
2. Two Quizzes (10 performance points): Students are required to take quiz number one on week
four and quiz number two or week twelve.
3. Attendance and Class Participation (15 performance points): Absences, lateness, and early
departures can diminish student’s overall class participation points. Obviously, students cannot
participate in class if they are not there. The expectation is for students to attend every scheduled
class meeting in this course on time and for the full class period. The instructor will take
attendance each time the class meets. The instructor recommends that students find study
partners and exchange telephone numbers so that they communicate with each other outside the
class. Absence of more than four times will reflect a loss of 10 points, as well as, lateness of
more than four times will reflect a loss of five points.
4. Oral Presentation and Class Diary (10 performance points): Students are required to make a
class presentation based on Assignment Three, Interview with interview; such as his/her views of
being a Correctional Administrator and students’ perspectives on the outcome. Additionally, they
are to maintain a Class Diary regarding new learned areas from each class.
5. Two Exams (40 performance points): Exams contain two parts, the Midterm and the Final. The
Midterm exam covers the first half of the course; and the Final exam covers the second half of the
course. Students are required to take both of these exams. The exams contains two part; part
one is a take-home analysis type exam and part two is an in-class multiple choice/true-false
exam. The administration of make-up exams will be contingent upon a legitimate excuse: i.e.
illness, family death, unexpected emergency situation, presented prior to the test period. The
make-up will be given during the week of the regularly scheduled exam and will be substantially
different from the original. The grade will reflect a loss of a 10 point penalty.
Attendance Policy
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
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Departmental Attendance Addendum Policy:
Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. Failure to attend class is usually reflected
in a student’s overall course performance. A student who is absent from class frequently is unable to do
his/her best and may not be able to complete the course with passing a grade.
Other College, Divisional, and/or Departmental Policy Statements [optional but recommended]
1. Cheating or Plagiarizing: If plagiarism occurs on any required paper, it will result in a grade of
F. If students engage in test cheating, i.e. cheat sheets, copying from another student, etc., a
grade of F will be assigned.
2. Special Accommodations: Students with disabilities who need special accommodations for this
class are encouraged to meet with the instructor or the appropriate disability service provider on
campus as soon as possible. In order to receive accommodations, students must be registered
with the appropriate disability service provider on campus as set forth in the student handbook
and must follow the College procedure for self-disclosure, which is stated in the College Guide.
Students will not be afforded any special accommodation for academic work completed prior to
disclosure of the disability and completion of the registration process w ith the appropriate
disability service provider on campus.
Student and Faculty Support Services [optional but recommended]
List support services, e.g., the Writing Center, the Math Lab, the Tutorial Center, Online Writing Lab (OWL), Office
of Specialized Services, etc.
Include a statement on the BCC Library.
Include a Course Outline and Calendar
Week Date(s) Topic/Activity Assignments/Events Required Reading
1 Law and Corrections. a. Law and the Context of
Corrections.
b. The Forms of Law.
c. Legal Actions and the
Courts.
d. Correctional
Organizations Today.
e. Issues Facing
Correctional
Administration.
( (Seiter) Chapter 1
Correctional
Administration: Past to
Present. (Duffee) Chapter
1 The Importance of
Management to
Corrections.
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Week Date(s) Topic/Activity Assignments/Events Required Reading
2 Leadership and Management
of Corrections.
a. Leadership and Management
in Corrections
b. Traditional Correctional
Administration.
c. What Correctional
Administrators Manage?
d. A Changing View of
Correctional Leadership
e. Challenges for the Future.
(Seiter) Chapter 2
Leadership and
Management of
Corrections. (Duffee)
Chapter 2 Correctional
History and the
Development of
Correctional
Management.
3 Creating a Vision, Mission
Statement, and Strategic
Plan.
a. Distinguishing Vision and
Mission.
b. Leadership and the Vision
c. Mission, Objectives, and
Goals.
d. The Planning Process.
e. Strategic Management and
Leadership.
(Seiter) Chapter 3
Creating a Vision,
Mission Statement, and
Strategic Plan. (Duffee)
Chapter 3 Organizational
Structure and Basic
Management Functions.
4 Punishment and Other
Correctional Goals.
Assignment #1 is due.
a. Punishment and Other
Correctional Goals.
b. Correctional Goals and
Criminal Sanctions.
(Seiter) Chapter 4
Punishment and Other
Correctional Goals.
(Duffee) Chapter 4
Formulating Correctional
Goals: The Interaction of
Environment, Belief, and
Organizational Structure.
5 Programs and Services a. Rehabilitative Programs
b. Public Support for
Rehabilitation.
c. Existing Correctional
Programs.
d. Prison Work Programs.
e. Does Correctional Treatment
Work?
(Seiter) Chapter 5
Programs and Services.
(Duffee) Chapter 6
Social Climate in
Correctional
Organizations.
6 Offender Classification and
Risk Assessment.
a. Current Uses of Classification.
b. History of Risk Assessment in
Classifying Offenders.
c. The Classification Process.
d. Issues in Risk Assessment
and Classification.
(Seiter) Chapter 6
Offender Classification
and Risk Assessment.
(Duffee) Chapter 7
Organizational Structure
and Decisions About
Offenders.
7 Staff Organization and
Functions.
a. Correctional Organizations
b. Principles of Organization
c. Central Headquarters
Organization.
d. The Organization of Prisons.
e. Volunteers and Contractor
Services.
(Seiter) Chapter 7 Staff
Organization and
Functions. (Duffee)
Chapter 8 Developing
Relevant Data for a
Correctional
Organizational
Development Program.
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Week Date(s) Topic/Activity Assignments/Events Required Reading
8 Creating a Safe and Secure
Environment.
Assignment #2 is due.
a. Classification of Inmates.
b. Physical Security of Prisons.
c. Security Policy and
Procedure.
d. Inmate Accountability.
e. Control of Contraband.
f. The Role of Professional
Staff.
(Seiter) Chapter 8 Creating
a Safe and Secure
Environment. (Duffee)
Chapter 9 Breaking the
Barriers to Change: The
Reutilization of Front-line
Staff.
9 Managing Violent and
Disruptive Inmates.
a. Inmate Disciplinary Systems
b. Supermax Prisons
c. Managing Prison Gangs
d. Preparing for Prison
Emergencies.
(Seiter) Chapter 9
Managing Violent and
Disruptive Inmates.
(Duffee) Chapter 10
Fundamental Change in
Corrections: Is It Really
Happening.
10 The Basics: Food, Housing,
and Medical Care.
a. The Design of Prisons.
b. Medical Care for Inmates.
c. Food Service Programs in
Prisons.
(Seiter) Chapter 10 The
Basics: Food, Housing, and
Medical Care. (Duffee)
Chapter 12
Interorganizational
Behavior and Correctional
Programming.
11 Human Resource
Management for Corrections.
a. Overview of the Growth in
Correctional Staff.
b. Recruitment, Hiring, and
Retention of Correctional
Staff.
c. Training and Developing
Correctional Staff.
d. Performance Appraisal and
Recognition Systems
e. Collective Bargaining in
Correctional Agencies.
f. The Importance of Diversity in
Corrections.
(Seiter) Chapter 11 Human
Resource Management for
Corrections. (Duffee)
Chapter 11
Interorganizational Conflict
in Corrections.
12 Supervising and Empowering
Employees.
Assignment #3 is due.
a. The Supervisory Role.
b. Key Elements in Supervision.
c. Empowering Employees: The
Wave of the Future.
d. Preparing for Supervision.
(Seiter) Chapter 12
Supervising and
Empowering Employees.
(Duffee) Chapter 15
Bureaucracy, Equity, and
Change in Correctional
Organization.
13 The Role of Staff in
Corrections.
a. The Importance of
Correctional Staff.
b. The Correctional Officer.
c. The Counselor or
Caseworker.
d. The Probation or Parole
Officer.
e. The Community Residential
Staff.
f. Gender and Race Issues in
Correctional Staffing.
(Seiter) Chapter 14 Critical
Issues for Correctional
Administration.
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Week Date(s) Topic/Activity Assignments/Events Required Reading
14 Critical Issues for
Correctional
Administration
a. Sentencing Issues.
b. Aging Offenders.
c. Juvenile Offenders Tried and
Sentenced as Adults.
d. Women Offenders.
e. Mentally Ill Offenders.
f. The Use of Technology.
g. Prison Reentry.
(Seiter) Chapter 14
Critical Issues for
Correctional
Administration.
15 Confronting the
Increasing Costs of
Corrections.
a. Increases in Correctional
Budget.
b. Budgetary and Public Policy
Challenges.
c. Reducing Offender and Inmate
Populations.
d. Reducing the Cost Correctional
Operations.
e. Development of Community
Alternatives to Prison.
f. Reducing the Cost of Prison
Construction
g. Privatizing Corrections.
(Seiter) Chapter 15
Confronting the
Increasing Costs of
Corrections.
16 The Future and
Correctional
Administration.
a. Where Are We Today?
b. Where Are We Going in the
Future?
c. Restorative Justice.
d. A Renewal in the Rehabilitative
Ideology.
(Seiter) Chapter 16 The
Future and Correctional
Administration. (Duffee)
Chapter 14 Public
Opinion and the
Formulation of
Correctional Policy.