CRIJ 1301:
In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be necessary for Panola College to move to altered operations. During this time, Panola College may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system (CANVAS), online conferencing, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Panola College's website (www.panola.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely, CANVAS for each class for course-specific communication, and Panola College email for important general information.
Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.
Attendance in online courses is determined by submission of an assignment or participation in an activity. According to federal guidelines, simply logging into a distance learning course without participating in an academic assignment does not constitute attendance. Distance learning is defined as when a majority (more than 50%) of instruction occurs when the instructor and students are in separate physical locations. Students must engage in an academic activity prior to the course census date.
When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences:
Fall or spring semesters:
3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences
2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences
1 class meeting per week - 2 absences
The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.
Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.
Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including ChatGPT, is permitted in this course for students that wish to use it for Discussions ONLY. However, you may not complete more than 20% of an assignment using AI. Students must also cite AI-generated material that informs the reader which part of their assignment was AI generated work. The use of AI is not permissible on the final semester writing assignment or any subsequent assignment associated with it. Using an AI tool to generate content without proper attribution qualifies as academic dishonesty.
Use of generated AI Permitted under some classroom circumstances with permission AND PROPER CITATIONS.
This course provides a historical and philosophical overview of the American criminal justice system, including the nature, extent, and impact of crime; criminal law; and justice agencies and processes.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Describe the history and philosophy of the American criminal justice system.
2. Explain the nature and extent of crime in America.
3. Analyze the impact and consequences of crime.
4. Evaluate the development, concepts, and functions of law in the criminal justice system.
5. Describe the structure of contemporary federal, state, and local justice agencies and processes.
A general description of lecture/discussion topics included in this course is listed in the Learning Objectives section of this syllabus.
Students in all sections of this course will learn the following content:
1. What is Criminal Justice?
2. The Crime Picture
3. The Search for Causes
4. Criminal Law
5. Policing: History & Structure
6. Policing: Purpose & Organization
7. Policing: Legal Aspects
8. Policing: Issues & Challenges
9. The Courts: Structure & Participants
10. Pretrial Activities and the Criminal Trial
11. Sentencing
12. Probation, Parole, and Reentry
13. Prisons and Jails
14. Prison Life
Assessments
Assignment(s): 4 Unit Reflections/Critical Thinking Questions (Discussion)
Assignment: Semester Project
Assignment: Crime Rate Analysis (Discussion)
Assignment: Criminal Justice Across Borders (Discussion)
This is the breakdown of how your final grade will be calculated for this course.
Comprehensive Final Exam: 25%
Your Final Exam will cover material from the entire semester, and will be administered in week 15-16. This includes: items covered in quizzes, discussions, videos, and lectures. THIS IS A REMOTELY PROCTORED EXAM. Missing an exam is unacceptable. There will be no make-up exam. Exams will be administered by the instructor, the testing center or through the online proctoring system (requires a webcam/microphone). It will only be available the days posted, and cannot be given early. The final can be taken online or in person at an approved testing center. If a student has had suspicious activity during the midterm exam, the final will be required to be taken in person and not be available for online proctoring.
Midterm Exam: 25%
Your Midterm Exam will cover material from the first 7 weeks of the semester, and will be administered in week 8. This includes: items covered in quizzes, discussions, videos, and lectures. THIS IS A REMOTELY PROCTORED EXAM. Missing an exam is unacceptable. There will be no make-up exam. Exams will be administered by the instructor, the testing center or through the online proctoring system (requires a webcam/microphone).
Weekly Class Participation/Assignments: 25%
Weekly you will have a video/presentation lecture and quiz, chapter quiz, and a discussion question assigned. Depending on topics covered, there may be more assigned in a given week. All of those grades combined will make up your “Class Participation/Assignments” grade. Participation in lectures, discussions and other activities as assigned will not be accepted after the posted due date but will be available for student learning. Weekly quizzes will be 10 questions, with a 20-minute time limit; these will be open book and open notes.
Semester Paper/Project: 15%
For this course, students who qualify will perform ride alongs with municipal and county law enforcement that has been approved by the instructor. Students will be responsible for completing the requirements for each department and scheduling their ride along. Students will ask the officer that they are riding with specific questions and draft a set of reflections (that will be due throughout the semester), then submit a final paper/project at the end of the semester. Students who are not eligible due to one or more reasons, will complete the alternate assignment. There will be assignments throughout the semester to correlate with the final submission. Each of these items will count as an individual grade for the assignment; and will give you constructive feedback on things to correct on your paper/project to improve your overall grade on the paper/project at the end of the semester.
Unit Assignments: 10%
For this course, you will have 5 units of study: Foundations, A Career in Policing, On the Job, Legal Issues, and Challenges. At the end of each unit, you will have a Unit Quiz that will cover the chapters within that unit. These unit quizzes will be remotely proctored.
Criminal Justice Today, 17th ed., Schmalleger, Pearson
- Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional purposes by the instructor.
- For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings: https://www.panolacollegestore.com.
- For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/studentsupport/academic-testing-center.
- If any student in this class has special classroom or testing needs because of a physical learning or emotional condition, please contact the ADA Student Coordinator in Support Services located in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/studentservices/student-support/disability-support-services for more information.
- Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
- Student Handbook: https://www.panola.edu/ (located on at the bottom under student)