Tracie Wheeler, J.D.
Phone: 410-730-8167          
Email:   twheeler@howardcc.edu
Office Hours:  (By Appointment Only)

Online Course Description

Criminal Justice 101 is survey of the history, philosophy and social development of police, courts and corrections in a democratic society.  Identification and operations of local, state and federal agencies will be covered with criminal justice career orientation.

The text is: George F. Cole and Christopher E Smith, Criminal Justice in America (5th Ed.)
                    The Maryland Criminal Justice System, Super Supplement, by Patrick J. O’Guinn Sr., JD, MPA

This course will require additional outside assignments and readings not included in the text, and will require students to visit a court room criminal trial, interview a criminal justice professional, and conduct at least one library research project at Howard Community College. Each individual assignment will be provided with separate instructions. Check the due dates for each assignment frequently.  

Students will be responsible for working independently, reviewing all assigned materials and should not rely solely upon brief email exchanges with the instructor, or “discussion questions” to provide them with a complete understanding of the course materials. This online course has a participation requirement that will be determined by student completion of web based “Discussion Questions” and other activities that may be periodically assigned throughout the semester. 

A liberal education prepares students to lead ethical, productive, and creative lives and to understand how the pursuit of lifelong learning and critical thinking fosters good citizenship. General education courses form the core of a liberal education within the higher education curriculum and provide a coherent intellectual experience for all students by introducing the fundamental concepts and methods of inquiry in the areas of mathematics, the physical and natural sciences, the social sciences, the arts and the humanities, and composition. This course is part of the general education core experience at Howard Community College.

Objectives

Upon successfully completing this course, the student should be able to:

1.        Define crime and understand its elements according to legal definition.

2.         Examine crime statistics through the use of UCR, NCS and self report surveys and specifica analyze the crime statistics of Maryland and Howard County.

3.         Identify methods of research and the limitations of each method.

4.         Examine crime control versus due process both theoretically and as it relates to public policy.

5.         Describe the major crime causation theories and the public policy responses to each of these.

6.         Distinguish between substantive and procedural criminal law and elements of each.

7.         Identify the criminal defenses and their relation to mens rea.

8.         Identify the 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th amendments and major court cases related to each.

9.         Analyze "search and seizure", exclusionary ruling, and warrantless searches.

10.      Describe the administration of justice through stages of investigation, arrest, booking, initial appearance, preliminary hearing, indictment, arraignment trial, and sentencing.

11.       Examine the history and functions of police.

12.       Examine and evaluate policing issues and trends.

13.       Describe the roles played by prosecuting and defense attorneys.

14.       Examine the court proceedings, the trial process, and the post-trial procedures.

15.       Examine and evaluate standardized and alternative sentences including fines, probation, incarceration, death, community service, electronic monitoring, etc.

16.       Analyze the criminal justice system as it relates to politics, the media, and the community in general.

17.       Identify employment opportunities and requirements in the criminal justice field.

Course Format

Once you have registered please, introduce yourself to me [the instructor] by webct Email so that I will know you are enrolled in my course. Also, let me know if you are taking multiple online courses at HCC.  The communication in this class will take place through e-mails and scheduled posted threaded discussions (Discussion Questions). The posting dates of the (Discussion Questions) will be listed in the Syllabus. 

Orientation

The HCC Schedule of Classes or email notices to you will have the date, time, and location of any optional orientation meeting scheduled for online students.  However, I will provide you with a webct email message and orientation about the specific Criminal Justice 101 course requirements, assignment dates, discussion dates, and examinations. Do not worry if we have a slight delay in the first few days while I am acquiring proper email addresses for all enrolled students, you will not miss anything that will be detrimental to your performance in the course.

Course Requirements

Review the "Characteristics of Successful Online Students" and the "Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements" to be sure that you should be enrolling in this course. 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS: 

All assignments will have specific points assigned to them when handed out or assigned.

GRADING 

Grades are calculated as follows:

Exam #1                                           100pts

Exam #2                                            100pts

Exam #3                                             100pts

* Paper #1 Interview 50pts                100pts

*Paper #2 Court Observation 50pts
Both must be completed to receive assignment credit.

Reflective Paper                                       25pts

Targeted Study Questions                       25pts

Liberty Research Project                           25pts

Discussion Questions                                25pts

*Note: Students must compete both the interview & Court Observation assignments to receive credit for either assignment.

Total Points                                             500  
                                                                 500 divided by 5 = Final Course Grade

If you fail to take an examination as scheduled , you will receive a zero (0) score for the exam. No makeup exams will be given.  Exams will consist of a combination of Multiple Choice, True False, or Short Answer Questions that will be taken at scheduled intervals (ON CAMPUS) in HCC TEST CENTER (See Course Assignment Dates)  All tests are closed book (50) Questions.

All Written Assignments will be evaluated for completeness, accuracy, ability to follow requirements of the assignment, and integration of course material. Only Assignments posted on webct email will be counted for credit.

The final course grade will be determined by the average of the student’s scores on the midterm and final exams, and the assigned material based on a 100 point scale. The reflective paper, interview and court observation, library research, targeted questions, and discussion questions are strongly considered as part of your participation grade. It is important that all papers are turned in on the due dates. I will strive to return papers to you within one week of the turn in date.

You are expected to participate in the course activities throughout the semester by frequently checking the Course Assignment page to check for updates, determine which assignments are due, and to review the scheduled readings or discussion assignments.

There will be mandatory Chat sessions throughout the semester:  Dates to follow, check the course calendar.

Increase Your Success 

It is important to recognize that students will not be able to sufficiently learn criminal principles justice if you fail to read the course text, and provide unsupported conclusory generalizations in your written assignments, or try to get by with just reading the materials two hours prior to the scheduled exam dates. Do not wait until the last minute to begin or complete your assignments. Your inability to contact me just hours before the assignment due date, will not constitute a sufficient reason for delay in completing your required assignments. 

Your constant diligence in accessing the course materials on a weekly basis, and reviewing as scheduled, will ensure that you have a positive and successful learning experience in this online course.  You review the course schedule weekly to check for changes or updates.

Online Conduct

Students should avoid online inappropriate personal comments or behavior directed toward fellow students or anyone else in answering the chat “questions of the week”. Any violations will be addressed when brought to my attention.

Other Course Information

Meets College definition for:  Cultural Diversity

This course is a Social Science elective and an Arts and Science elective.

If you have questions about this class, or have any technical difficulties please send a message to Tracie Wheeler on webct6 email. If webct6 is down, send email your question to me at mailto:twheeler@howardcc.edu

Academic honesty, as defined in the Student Handbook, is required of all students.