LOUIS SAINT UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOC 356-01 INTRODUCTION TO CORRECTIONS Spring 2008 Fitzgerald Hall 121 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00am 9:15am Instructor: Noelle E. Fearn, Ph.D. Office: 211 Fitzgerald Hall Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am 10:30am (& by appointment) Office Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] COURSE DESCRIPTION This course serves to introduce students to major contemporary issues in the areas of punishment philosophies, community corrections, and, especially, institutional corrections. You will gain an understanding of how corrections operates in the United States and be presented with various issues pertaining to corrections as a whole. You will also be introduced to issues related to "how" and "why" we punish individuals for engaging in various criminal behaviors. More specifically, this course covers the gamut of contemporary punishments from the most lenient to the most severe. Particular punishments such as probation, intermediate sanctions, and community and institutional corrections are examined in detail. In this course, students are provided with a strong foundation from which to broaden their knowledge and advance their interests in American punishment policies and strategies. The class lectures and discussions are the primary source of information for the course: make sure you attend each class and are prepared! PREREQUISITES The course is open to all undergraduate students and has no prerequisites. There is no expectation of prior learning about corrections beyond what you learned in Introduction to Criminal Justice courses. Bring a bit of enthusiasm, a lot of good humor, do the assigned readings, participate in the discussions--and this class will be lively, interesting, and we will all learn a lot! COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES Students successfully completing this course will end the semester with a comprehensive understanding of corrections and a solid foundation on which to build in future criminal justice and corrections studies. This understanding and foundation can be described by the following course goals and learning objectives: 1. Understand the purpose of corrections (basic goals and practice) 2. Be familiar with the various processes and organization of past and contemporary correctional systems
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Understand and be able to discuss the key issues in corrections today Be able to identify and discuss historical and modern methods, goals, and philosophies of punishment 5. Understand and discuss trends/patterns in corrections, the death penalty, and other types of sanctions (punishments) available in the corrections component of the criminal justice system
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READING MATERIALS The following book is required and assigned readings should be completed before the class period in which we are scheduled to discuss the material: Clear, T.R., Cole, G.F., and M.D. Reisig (2006). American Corrections (7th Edition), Thomson Learning, Inc. (ISBN: 0-534-64652-2) Additionally, the instructor may periodically assign supplemental reading (usually in the form of various examples of current research or scholarship about corrections). Students are also responsible for the complete reading of any/all such supplements. COURSE REQUIREMENTS, METHODS OF EVALUATION, AND GRADING I have high expectations for students in this course and strongly encourage students to actively participate in their educational experience (in this and all other courses). As such, students who earn a final grade of "A" in this course will be very knowledgeable of the material covered and will have performed very well to excellent(ly) on all methods of evaluation utilized in the course. Related, students who earn "C"s will have an adequate understanding of the material and will have performed competently on all course requirements. What students gain from this course will be directly related the level of effort they put into the course. Students' final grades are based on the following methods of evaluation: Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Writing Assignment Attendance/Participation Total possible: 75 points 75 points 75 points 75 points 100 points 50 points 450 points
Test/Writing Assignment Schedule Test 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19; Test 2 is scheduled for Thursday, March 27; Test 3 is scheduled for Thursday, April 17; Test 4 is scheduled for Monday, May 12 (during our final exam period, 8-9:50am, in our regularly scheduled classroom); and your writing assignment is due, in class (no exceptions), on Tuesday, March 25. All tests will be given during the regularly scheduled class period in the regularly scheduled classroom (121 Fitzgerald Hall)--except for the fourth and final test which will be given during our scheduled final exam period in our regular classroom. None of the four tests are cumulative in nature (i.e., each test
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will cover only the material presented/discussed since the prior test). As there are four tests and a writing assignment required for completion of this course, your final course grade (as presented above) will be the total number of points you earn on the tests, the writing assignment, and your attendance/participation points--students must complete all tests and assignments in order to complete this course (more specific information regarding the focus and expectations of writing assignment is attached at the end of the syllabus). The grading formula in this class as follows (although I reserve the right to "bump" students' grades up for particularly outstanding attendance, participation, discussion, motivation, etc.): A AB+ B B93-100 90-92 87-89 83-86 80-82 C+ C CD+ D 77-79 73-76 70-72 67-69 60-66 F 0-59
OTHER COURSE POLICIES Academic Integrity and Honesty Academic integrity is violated by any dishonesty in submitting assignments, tests, research reports, etc., required to validate the student's learning. Examples of academic dishonesty would be copying from another student, copying from a book or class notes during a closed book exam, submitting materials authored by another person but represented as the student's own work, copying a passage or text directly from a published source without appropriately citing/recognizing that source, taking a test or doing an assignment or other academic work for another student, or securing or supplying in advance a copy of an examination without the knowledge or consent of the instructor. Any clear violation of academic integrity will be met with sanctions. Possible sanctions for violation of academic integrity may include, but are not limited to, assignment of a failing grade in the course, disciplinary probation, suspension, and dismissal from the University. In a case of dishonesty within a course, the instructor may assign an appropriate grade and will refer the matter to the Department Chair, who will determine whether additional sanctions are warranted. If the Department Chair determines that additional sanctions are warranted, the Department Chair will refer the matter to the College Committee on Academic Honesty, which will deal with the matter under the provisions of the Policy of Academic Honesty. Students are referred to the Arts and Sciences Policy Binder for a complete presentation of the Academic Integrity and Honesty policy of the College. Nondiscrimination and Policy Human Diversity Saint Louis University has a strong and active commitment to promote human diversity and to ensure that all aspects of educational programs are carried forth without discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or political orientation. A specific University goal is to foster "respect for diversity, other cultures, and belief systems." Students with Special Needs If any member of the class has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature, please let the instructor know at some point before, during, or immediately after the first scheduled class period. The instructor will work with you and the campus Disability Coordinator
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to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform well in the class. Students should contact the Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action, DuBourg Hall Room 36, or call 314-977-8885. Instructor/Course Evaluation The instructor and course will be evaluated at the end of the term by students through the use of WebCT (or in class as circumstances dictate). Each evaluation will cover the quality and relevance of course material and the quality of instruction. The intent is to seek information which will help to improve both the quality of the course and instructional competence. In completing these evaluations, each student should be mindful of the extent to which the course objectives have been met. Extra Credit Policy As a general rule, there is no extra credit available in this course. Thus, you should organize your time in such a way to ensure that you are here regularly and prepared for each of the tests. I may, however, at any time during the semester provide in-class (i.e., attendancerelated) extra credit opportunities such as extra credit quizzes. Obviously, if you are not in class on these days, you are not eligible for these opportunities--along with attendance/participation points available for each class meeting. Make-Up Test Policy As a general rule, there are no make-up tests offered in this course--so please ensure that you have no conflicts with the test dates noted in several sections of this syllabus. However, students may be allowed to make up a missed test if they are ill (requires a doctor's excuse) or if there is an unforeseen emergency--these are narrowly defined and require immediate notification of the instructor. Any/all make-up tests are at the discretion of the instructor. Any/all make-up tests will not be the same as the in-class version, and may take on a different format. Late Policy As the due date for your written assignment is specified within this syllabus, as a general rule, late papers will not be accepted. Again, unforeseen emergencies may arise and those situations will be dealt with on a narrowly defined case-by-case basis. Generally, any late papers accepted (with the permission of the instructor) will not be eligible for full credit but at a lesser percentage depending upon the emergency circumstance. (FYI: "Emergency" circumstances would not include, for example, your printing running out of ink or paper, your ride was late in picking you up, etc.) Schedule/Syllabus Changes Please be advised that the dates indicated below on this syllabus are optimistic and tentative in nature and may be revised during the course of the semester. As the instructor of this class I reserve the right to amend this syllabus should I deem it warranted and/or necessary at any point during the semester. Should changes be required they will be announced during regularly scheduled class times--but students are responsible for any/all changes whether or not they are present in class when the change(s) is/are announced. Students should read the required reading assignments prior to the day the material is scheduled to be presented/discussed in class --this enables much more fruitful discussion! Additional Information on Academic Etiquette
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Class begins promptly at 8:00am and lasts until 9:15am. Please make every effort to be in class and to be here on time--especially for all test dates as any student who arrives after any other student has already completed and submitted any test will not be allowed to take that test. If it is unavoidable that you arrive late, or leave early, please do not disrupt the class. Respect for opinions voiced in class is essential, ...