Sociology 3101

Fall 2004

Introduction to Crime and Justice

Samaha/Grandados/Schaefer

Grade Book

URL for the online version of this syllabus: http://www.soc.umn.edu/~samaha/courses/3101/04f_3101_syllabus.htm Please write down the URL. This is the only hard copy of the syllabus you’ll get. If you lose your copy we don’t supply duplicates. You’ll also have to go to the online syllabus to link to video transcripts, find special announcements, and to check the number of points you have.

Course Requirements

Required Text. Samaha, Criminal Justice, 6th edition (earlier editions won’t work because of major revisions in this edition)

Exams (500 points). The exams cover the text, my lectures the guest lectures, videos, and discussions of the videos. Exams are not cumulative.

Video assignments (70 points). Summarize (a few sentences) and explain (one paragraph) why you agreed with comment you picked from “Join the discussion.” Make sure you label each assignment at the top left of the page. Include your name, date, and video title. Due at the beginning of class. No exceptions.

Question and comment assignment. For all lectures and video viewings, you’re expected to write either a question or comment. We’ll answer questions frequently asked and respond to comments frequently made. Also, these question and comment sheets will count as attendance for the day they’re made. Make sure you label each assignment at the top left of the page. Include your name, date, and video title or lecture topic. These are due at the end of class on the day of the lecture or video. No early or late assignments will be accepted. No exceptions.

Guest lecture written assignments (up to 5 bonus points for each lecture)

1. Heading. At the top left of your paper enter the following information, each on a separate line:

a. Your name

b. Guest Lecturer’s name

c. Date of the lecture.

d. You can’t get any bonus points if you don’t follow this format.

2. Body: In a paragraph or two, write something you especially want to tell the lecturer.

3. The paper is due at 9:45 a.m. on the day of the first class meeting after the date of each guest lecture. No late papers will be accepted after class begins on the due date.

4. You don’t get points just for turning in a paper. The number—if any—bonus points you get depend on the quality of the content and the detail and clarity of your comments. There’s no review of bonus points. They’re given at the total discretion of the TAs.

Make-up Exams

1. You can’t take any make up exam without written proof of illness, death in the family, observance of a religious holiday, participation in athletic or other official University events, or others outlined on the sheet accompanying your syllabus. Please submit written proof of your excuse to either.

2. This written proof may be checked for authenticity. There are no exceptions to this rule.

3. The time and place of make-up exams for exams 01-03 is entirely up to your TA.

4. If you have a written approved excuse for Exam 4, you can take the exam at the time set by the Sociology Department in Spring Semester 2005. Contact the Sociology office (612-624-4300) for details. We don’t have any control over the date and time of this.

Missed Classes

1. You have to make your own arrangements for getting information from classes you miss.

2. We don’t supply notes or other materials for missed classes.

3. We don’t schedule special viewing of the videos and we don’t loan them out. (There are links to online transcripts of most videos.)

4. Attendance can help your grade (see below).

5. If you submit written documentation of a recognized University excuse for days when video and lecture assignments are due, we’ll reduce your total possible course points accordingly.

Grades

Here’s how we’ll determine your grade. We begin with your presumptive grade (straight percent) of the total points for the course. Your presumptive will be determined as follows:

A=95-100%;  A-=90-94%

B+=87-89%; B=83-86%; B-=80-82%

C+=77-79; C=73-76%; C-=70-72%

D+=67-69; D=60-66%

F=less than 60%

Your presumptive grade will probably be your final grade. But, if your point total is close to a borderline, all of the following can push your grade up to the next level: improvement in exam performance; some allowance for one major screw up on Exams 1-3 (but not for Exam 4); regular attendance; participation in class; information provided by Katherine and Pao. It’s almost impossible to cross the threshold from a A- to A. It’s a little easier to cross from B+ to A- and gets progressively easier to cross the thresholds from B to B+ and so on down the grades.

Schedule of Assignments and Classes

September 7: Getting Started

September 9: Lecture: “Welcome to Bloomington, you’re under arrest”

September 14: Video: “The Case for Innocence”

September 16: Discuss “The Case for Innocence.”Question for discussion: Which comment in Join the Discussion do you agree with most and why?

September 21: Video: “Chasing the Sleeper Cell”

September 23: Discuss “Chasing the Sleeper Cell” Question: Which comment in Join the Discussion do you most agree with?”

September 28: Lecture: Highlights from Chapters 1-3

September 30: Exam 1, Chapters 1, 2, 3, videos, discussion of videos, lectures (100 points)

October 5: Video: “Busted”

October 7: Discuss “Busted.” Question for discussion: Which comment in Join the Discussion do you agree with most and why?

October 12: Guest Lecture: Assistant Chief Richard Gardell, St. Paul Police Department

October 14: Exam 2, Chapters 4, 5, 6, lectures, videos, discussion of videos, lectures (100 points). Submit bonus point paper on Deputy Chief Gardell’s lecture.

October 19: Guest Lecture. Paul Skoggin, Prosecutor, Hennepin Co.

October 21: Jeff Dean Guest Lecture. Submit bonus point paper on Skoggin’s lecture.

October 26: “Real Justice” Part I. Submit bonus paper on Jeff Dean’s lecture.

October 28: Discuss “Real Justice” Part I. Question for discussion: Which comment in Join the Discussion do you agree with most and why?

November 2: “Real Justice” Part II.

November 4: Discuss “Real Justice” Part II. Question for discussion: Which comment in Join the Discussion do you agree with most and why?

November 9: Lecture, “Trials, guilty pleas, and sentencing.”

November 11: Exam 3, Chapters 7, 8, 9, videos, discussions of videos, lectures (100 points)

November 16: “Snitch”

November 18: Discuss “Snitch”. Question for discussion: Which of the comments in Join the Discussion do you agree with most and why?

November 23: Guest lecture: Judge Heidi Schellhas, Hennepin County District Court.

November 25: HAPPY THANKSGIVING

November 30: Lecture: “Prisons—As punishment or For punishment?”Submit bonus paper on Judge Schellhas’s lecture.

December 2. "The Execution."

December 7: Discuss "The Execution." Question: Which of the comments in "Join the Discussion" do you agree with most and why?

December 9: Guest lecture: David Schwab, U.S. Probation Officer.

December 14: Guest Lecture: Warden David Crist, Minnesota Correctional Facility, Lino Lakes. Distribute course evaluations. Submit bonus paper on David Schwab’s lecture.

December 21, Tuesday 8:00-10:00:

1. Submit bonus paper on Warden Crist’s lecture.

2. Exam 4: Chapters 10, 11, 12, text and lectures (200 points).

3. Submit course evaluation.