John Jay College’s Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System class generally breaks down into three sections: policing, law, and the courts. It is the first course that students should take in the major. Ideally, it should be listed in the catalog and on CUNY First as a prerequisite for the other criminal justice courses offered at your college. Because it requires a good deal of writing, it is also recommended that ENG 101 and 102 are listed as prerequisites.
Below is a sample syllabus used by John Jay College instructors. You don’t have to use this. Indeed, you shouldn’t use this without adopting if to you and your college. But this can help you make your own syllabus, which should cover much of the same material.
Model Syllabus
INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
CJBS 101
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introductory survey of the American criminal justice system with a view to its social and institutional context and its structure and functioning. The course provides an overview of the foundations and components of the criminal justice system, including (substantive and procedural) criminal law, police, courts, and corrections. The main emphasis will be placed on the criminal justice process and how the various institutions of criminal justice interact. Key issues will be addressed as they arise at different stages of the process, such as the conflict between crime control and due process, and conflicts related to, for example, gender, class, and ethnicity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
This course will describe from a historical and systematic perspective the institutions of the American criminal justice system and how they relate to each other. With sufficient study and regular attendance, students are expected to develop the following skills and knowledge base by the conclusion of the course.
Skills
Knowledge
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE:
Regular attendance is important, since good performance on the exams requires knowledge of material presented in classes, which is not always fully covered in the course textbook. Hence, any absence is likely to affect grades. Missing more than four sessions will result in a reduced grade. Missing more than a third of the class (ten sessions or more) will result in a failing grade.
No makeup tests or exams will be given unless proper documentation for medical or other emergencies is produced.
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES:
1. Arrive on time. Late arrival is disruptive to the students and the professor.
2. Please remain in the classroom for the entire period.
3. Pay attention to the lecture or discussion going on in the classroom. Classroom activities are centered on teaching and learning. Any activity that does not contribute to these processes is not allowed.
4. Food may not be brought into or consumed in the classroom.
5. No cell phone calls or texting, unless you have an impending emergency (in which case, please set your ringer to vibrate).
Violating any of the above rules may result in a reduced grade.
THE CUNY POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
I. Academic dishonesty is prohibited at The City University of New York and is punishable by penalties, which may include failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids, devices, or communication during an academic exercise. The following are some examples of cheating, but by no means is the list exhaustive:
II. Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research, or writings as your own. Much research requires paraphrasing and summarizing the ideas or work of others, but when you do so, you should identify the original author and source in a way that the reader can verify that this person actually presented the ideas in question.
The following are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is the list exhaustive:
GRADING:
Final grades will be determined as follows:
Midterm exam (take-home exam) 30%
Final exam (in-class exam) 30%
Term paper 30%
Participation, quizzes 10%
Absence for five or more sessions will result in a lower grade. Absence for ten or more sessions will result in a failing grade.
Grade Scale
93.0–100.0 = A
90.0–92.9 = A-
87.1–89.9 = B+
83.0–87 = B
80.0–82.9 = B-
77.1–79.9 = C+
73.0–77.9 = C
70.0–72.9 = C-
67.1–69.9 = D+
63.0–67.0 = D
60.0–62.9 = D-
below 60 = F
READING:
Regoli, R.M., & Hewitt, J.D. (2008). Exploring criminal justice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
COURSE OUTLINE:
After the first two sessions, which focus on writing, the course is divided into three parts: Criminal Law, Crime, the Criminal Justice Process, and Punishment and Alternatives to Punishment.
Session 1: Course introduction: The structure and process of criminal justice in the U.S.
-- Writing diagnostic given (due in one week)
The writing diagnostic is a short (500 words) writing assignment that will not be graded. It gives the professor a basis for assessing the analytical and writing skills of students at the onset of the course and provides an opportunity for giving individualized feedback on how to overcome existing weaknesses in writing an academic paper.
Session 2: Literature search and APA style workshop
Required reading: Clarke, R.V. & Schultze, P.A. (2005). Researching a problem. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice. Available online at: http://www.popcenter.org/tools/pdfs/ResearchingProblem.pdf
PART I: CRIMINAL LAW
This part of the course introduces students to the historical origins and function of criminal law in society. It also provides an understanding of key concepts of criminal law and how these concepts define criminal behavior and the criminal justice process. Students will gain an understanding of why societies punish certain behavior in the first place, how the law distinguishes between lawful and unlawful behavior, and what legal safeguards have been established in democratic societies against unfair and unreasonable punishment.
Session 3: Criminal Law 1 (Historical Origins and Purpose of Criminal Law)
-- Writing diagnostic due
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 2, pp. 30–37
Session 4: Criminal Law 2 (Key Concepts of Criminal Law: Elements of Crime, Responsibility)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 2, pp. 37–50
Session 5: Criminal Law 3 (Criminal Procedure and the Constitutional Framework: Due Process)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 2, pp. 50–58, and Appendix
PART II: CRIME
This part of the course introduces students to the nature and extent of crime in American society. Particular emphasis is placed on issues of gender and ethnicity with regard to offending and victimization. The starting point is the assumption that crime is the result of motivated offenders exploiting opportunities. Following an examination of the mechanics of criminal behavior, common classifications of crime and the main theories of crime causation will be reviewed.
Students will gain an understanding of how and why crimes are committed, and what this means for individual victims and for society.
Session 6: Crime 1 (Offenders and Opportunities)
Required reading: Lamm-Weisel, D. (2007). Bank robbery. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice. Available online at: http://www.popcenter.org/problems/pdfs/bank_robbery.pdf
Session 7: Crime 2 (Classifications and Measurement of Crimes, Offenders and Victims)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 3Additional source material
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=245
Session 8: Crime 3 (Theories of Crime: Individual-Level Explanations)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 3
Session 9: Crime 4 (Theories of Crime: Societal-Level Explanations)Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 4
Session 10: How to Write a Criminal Justice Essay
-- Midterm essay questions handed out (choose one topic and answer in 800–1,200 words; deadline: one week)
Required reading: http://www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers/home.htm
PART III: THE PROCESS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
This part of the course introduces students to the criminal justice process. Students will gain an understanding of the sequence of events that leads to the determination of guilt or innocence of an individual alleged to have committed a crime. Students will also learn about the various criminal justice institutions, including police, courts, and corrections and how they interact at the various stages of the criminal justice process.
Session 11: Overview of Criminal Justice Institutions
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 1, 5
Session 12: Overview of the Criminal Justice Process
-- Midterm exam is due
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 1
Session 13: Investigative Phase 1 (Investigation and Evidence Collection, Discretion, Biases in Reporting, Detecting and Investigating Crimes)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 6, 7
Session 14: Investigative Phase 2 (Court-approved measures – electronic surveillance, arrest)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 11
Session 15: The Public Prosecutor
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 9, 10
Session 16: The Defense Attorney
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 9, 10
Session 17: How to Write a Criminal Justice Research Paper
Required reading: Writing Center (John Jay)
http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~writing/resources.htm
The Writing Center @ University of Wisconsin – Madison
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/PlanResearchPaper.html
Session 18: Pre-Trial Proceedings 1 (Grand Jury, Preliminary Hearing, Arraignment, Bail, Plea Bargaining)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 10
Session 19: Pre-Trial Proceedings 2 (Pre-Trial Motions, Right to Speedy Trial, Jury Selection, Bench Trial vs. Jury Trial)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 11
Session 20: Trial 1 (The Roles of Prosecutor, Defense Counsel and Judge, Trial Strategies, Courtroom Workgroup,)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 11
Session 21: Trial 2 (Presentation of Evidence, Reliability of Evidence – especially witness testimony, Expert Testimony)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 11
Session 22: Trial 3 (Verdict, Sentencing Process, Appeal)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 11, 12
PART IV: PUNISHMENT/ALTERNATIVES TO PUNISHMENT
This part of the course will introduce students to the different philosophies and forms of punishment, as well as alternatives to punishment. Special emphasis will be placed on issues of age, gender, and ethnicity. Students will gain an understanding of why and how offenders are punished, and what the individual and social consequences of punishment are.
Session 23: Types of Sentences (Determinate/Indeterminate, Mandatory, Concurrent vs. Consecutive, etc., Disparities in Sentencing), Philosophies and Forms of Punishment (Overview)
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 12, 13
Session 24: Custodial Sentences, Death Penalty
Required reading: Textbook: Chapters 12, 13, 14
Session 25: Non-Custodial Sentences, Community-Based Corrections, Restorative Justice
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 15
Session 26: The Juvenile Justice System
Required reading: Textbook: Chapter 16
Session 27: Catch-Uup Day, Review for Final Exam
Session 28: Final Exam
-- Final paper due (www.turnitin.com)