CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
Syllabus
INSTRUCTOR
Susette M. Talarico, PhD
Department of Political Science, School of Public and International Affairs
221A Baldwin Hall - 542-2057 or 542-7079
OFFICE HOURS
PURPOSE OF COURSE
This course offers a survey of criminal justice administration in the United States and a study of related public policy. Attention is directed to the historical, political, and legal dimensions of the criminal justice system with particular consideration of law enforcement, criminal courts, and corrections. There are three central objectives for students in this course (1) to study the agencies and offices of government involved in the administration of criminal law; (2) to become well acquainted with the organization and operations of law enforcement, criminal courts, and correctional institutions and programs in the United States; and (3) to refine the necessary analytical skills to evaluate public policy related to government's response to the problem of crime in our society.
Many of the topics covered in this course are controversial and raise questions about the values that individual citizens, lawmakers, criminal justice authorities, and the public hold toward crime and related public policies. The course assignments are designed, in part, to stimulate you to think critically about these policies and even the underlying assumptions and values.
REQUIRED BOOKS
George F. Cole and Christopher E. Smith, Criminal Justice in America 4th edition. Wadsworth, 2005. ISBN#0-534-62964-4. This text comes with an interactive CD-ROM and a subscription to InfoTrac College Edition, an online library.
George F. Cole, Marc G. Gertz, and Amy Bunger, Eds., The Criminal Justice System: Politics and Policies 9th edition. Wadsworth, 2005. ISBN# 0-534-62874-5.
All books are published in paperback editions and are available at the UGA Bookstore. You may also purchase these texts at other bookstores or online. If you do not purchase your texts at the UGA Bookstore, please make sure that you order the correct edition.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
There will be four tests, a report, and a paper required of each student. Each of the four tests will be based on specific sections of the course (class material and readings) and will consist of short-answer and essay questions. The three highest test grades will be used in the calculation of final grades with each carrying 25%. The short report (1-3 pages) will be based on a police ride-along or interview with someone who works in criminal justice and constitute 5% weight in final grading. The paper (10 pages) will be based on readings in the Cole, Gertz, and Bunger anthology and additional research. This paper will constitute 20% in final grading. Additional information and directions will be provided at the first class.
CLASS ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP POLICY
It is expected that students will attend all classes. Attendance will be taken at each class meeting during the semester. How attendance can affect your final grade will be explained at the first class meeting. Students are expected to be present on all testing days. If a previously scheduled and important event (e.g. wedding of a brother or sister) coincides with a testing date, a written request to take a make-up will be considered. This must be submitted at the beginning of the term. If a serious illness or family emergency occurs on a testing date, documentation is required and make-ups administered at the discretion of the instructor.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
All students are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase of their academic careers. Also, all students are assumed to know what is involved in cheating and what constitutes plagiarism. Cheating or assisting someone who cheats is serious, penalties are severe, and ignorance is not an excuse. For related university policy, consult “A Culture of Honesty at the University of Georgia” distributed by the Office of the Vice President for Instruction and available at <www,uga.edu/ovpi>.
READINGS
COURSE OUTLINE (subject to modification)
Section I: The Problem of Crime
1. the problem and definition of crime
2. the extensiveness and measurement of crime
readings: Cole and Smith - Chapter 2
Cole, Gertz and Bunger - Chapter 3
Section II: Crime, Criminal Justice, and Public Policy
1. crime as a public policy question
2. theories of criminality and punishment
3. overview of criminal law, criminal procedure, and the criminal justice system
readings: Cole and Smith - Chapters 1, 3, 10 (pages 222-226)
Cole, Gertz and Bunger: - Chapters 1, 2, 4
Section
III: Law Enforcement
1. history of policing in Anglo-American legal systems
2. development of formal law enforcement
3. police organization and operations
4. discretion
5. issues in contemporary law enforcement
readings: Cole and Smith - Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7
Cole, Gertz, and Bunger - Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Section IV: Criminal Courts: Pre-Trial and Adjudication
1. structure and organization of courts
2. key players (prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges)
3. pre-trial processes (including plea bargaining)
4. criminal trials
readings: Cole and Smith - Chapters - 8 and 9
Cole, Gertz and Bunger - Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Section
V: Criminal Courts: Post-Conviction
1. criminal sentencing
2. theories of criminal punishment and the objectives of criminal sentencing
3. appellate review
readings: Cole and Smith - Chapter 10 (page 227 - end)
Cole, Gertz and Bunger - Chapters 16 and 17
Section VI: Corrections
1. institutional corrections (prisons and jails)
2. community corrections (probation and parole)
3. intermediate and other sanctions
4. issues in contemporary corrections
readings: Cole and Smith - 11, 12, 13, 14
Cole, Gertz and Bunger - Chapters 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
SCHEDULE
Parts I and II: January 11- 27
Test Parts I and II: February 1
Report on Ride-Along or Interview due by 2:00 pm: February 10
Test Part III: March 1
Paper Due (by 2:00 pm): March 24
Parts IV and V: March 3 - April 5
Test Parts IV and V: April 7
Part VI: April 12 - 28
Test Part VI: May 10 (earlier if entire class agrees)