Course Syllabus College of Criminal Justice and Security CJA/394 Contemporary Issues and Futures in Criminal Justice Copyright © 2010 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course examines both the principle issues in contemporary criminal justice as well as the extrapolation of such issues toward possible futures within the criminal justice field. Students will focus upon relevant research in policing, courts, and corrections that reflect key elements of current conditions and what may be expected in the years to come.
Students will apply critical review and engage in in-depth discussion of these concepts as a basis for comprehensive understanding at local, state, national, and global levels of criminal justice administration. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: •University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. •Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.
University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Muraskin, R. , & Roberts. A. R. (2009). Visions for change: Crime and justice in the twenty-first century (5th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Robinson, M. B. (2009). Justice blind?
Ideals and realities of American criminal justice (3rd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Victor, J. L. & Naughton, J. (2010). Annual editions: Criminal justice. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Walker, S. , & Katz, C. M. (2008). The police in America: An introduction (6th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw- Hill. Waller, B. N. (2009). You decide! Current debates in criminal justice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: Criminal Justice System Assessment
DetailsDuePoints Objectives1. 1Evaluate past, present, and future trends in the interface between components of the criminal justice system and criminal justice connections with surrounding society. 1. 2Assess the value of the criminal justice system in a changing society. 1. 3Examine contemporary issues currently facing the Criminal Justice System. 1. 4Identify recent and future trends and issues affecting the criminal justice system. ReadingsRead Ch. 1 of Visions for Change. Read Article 14 of Annual Editions: Criminal Justice. Read Ch. 3 of Justice Blind? Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion by posting a minimum of two substantive responses on four separate days during the online week. All Week1 Discussion QuestionsRespond to the two weekly discussion questions (DQ1 & DQ2). DQ1-Thursday DQ2-Saturday0. 5 0. 5 Individual AutobiographyIntroduce yourself to the class with a summary of your background. Submit the bio to the Chat Room forum and comment on other student’s bios in an effort to get to know everyone better.
Tuesday by 11: 59 PM MST4. 0 Individual Criminal Justice Trends EvaluationWrite a 1, 400-1, 750-word paper in which you evaluate past, present, and future trends in the interface between components of the criminal justice system and criminal justice connections with surrounding society. In your assessment, be sure to evaluate and identify and assess the following: •Recent and future trends and contemporary issues affecting the criminal justice system •Value of the criminal justice system in a changing society Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.
Monday by 11: 59 PM MST12 Week Two: Past, Present, and Future Trends in Policing: Development and Operations DetailsDuePoints Objectives2. 1Evaluate past, present, and future trends pertaining to the continuing development and operation of the field of policing. 2. 2Analyze the organizational management, administration, and operational aspects of policing. 2. 3Examine perspectives of the policing function from the local, state, and federal organizational levels. 2. 4Identify possible future changes in laws and the impact on the field of policing.
ReadingsRead Ch. 2-4, & 15 of The Police in America. Read Article 14 of Annual Editions: Criminal Justice. Read Debate 1 & 2 of You Decide! Current Debates in Criminal Justice. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion by posting a minimum of two substantive responses on four separate days during the online week. All Week1 Individual Discussion Questions Respond to the two weekly discussion questions (DQ1 & DQ2). DQ1-Thursday DQ2-Saturday 0. 5 0. 5 Individual
Policing Functions PaperWrite a 1, 050-1, 750-word paper in which you examine the various perspectives of the policing function from the local, state, and federal organizational levels. Be sure to identify and address possible future changes in laws and the overall impact these changes will have on the field of policing. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST11 Learning Team Team Charter Collaborate with all team members and come to consensus regarding the contents of your learning team charter. Submit the final Team Charter to one team member’s Assignments section.
Wednesday by 11: 59 PM MST1 Learning Team Policing Development and Operation Trends PaperWrite a 1, 050-1, 400-word paper in which you analyze the organizational management, administration, and operational aspects of policing within policing organizations. In your analysis, be sure to evaluate past, present, and future trends pertaining to the continuing development and operation of the field of policing and how these evolutions impact various policing organizations (local, state, federal). Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST8
Week Three: Past, Present, and Future Trends of the Courts: Development and Operations DetailsDuePoints Objectives3. 1Identify the current and future issues facing courts and court administrators today. 3. 2Articulate court purposes and responsibilities and the importance of strategic planning and vision as foundations of successful court management. 3. 3Discuss future management issues and trends regarding language interpretation services. 3. 4Appraise the impact of court consolidation and restructuring on future court processes and responsibilities. . 5Assess the past, present, and future impact that victim rights laws have on court proceedings. ReadingsRead Ch. 12 of Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the Twenty-First Century. Read Ch. 7 of Justice Blind? Read Article 13 of Annual Editions: Criminal Justice. Read Debate 3, 8, & 17 of You Decide! Current Debates in Criminal Justice. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion by posting a minimum of two substantive responses on four separate days during the online week.
All Week1 Individual Discussion Questions Respond to the two weekly discussion questions (DQ1 & DQ2). DQ1-Thursday DQ2-Saturday 0. 5 0. 5 Individual Court Issues AnalysisWrite a 1, 050-1, 400-word analysis in which you identify the current and future issues facing courts and court administrators today. In your analysis be sure to discuss the following areas: •Discuss future management issues and trends regarding language interpretation services. •Assess the past, present, and future impact that victim rights laws have on court proceedings.
Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST10 Learning Team Court Management Executive SummaryWrite a 350-700-word executive summary in which you articulate court purposes and responsibilities and the importance of strategic planning and vision as foundations of successful court management. Additionally, appraise the impact of court consolidation and restructuring on future court processes and responsibilities as part of court management efforts and responsibilities. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST7
Week Four: Past, Present, and Future Trends in Corrections: Institutional and Corrections Systems DetailsDuePoints Objectives4. 1Identify the current and future issues facing prisons and prison administrators today. 4. 2Evaluate past, present, and future trends pertaining to the development and operation of institutional and community based corrections. 4. 3Analyze the role/issue of various correctional models, approaches and systems as a developing trend. 4. 4Analyze Legislative and correctional philosophies associated with increasing correctional populations. 4. Hypothesize future correctional problems including potential solutions. ReadingsRead Ch. 16 of Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the Twenty-First Century. Read Article 31 & 32 of Annual Editions: Criminal Justice. Read Debate 13 & 15 of You Decide! Current Debates in Criminal Justice. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion by posting a minimum of two substantive responses on four separate days during the online week. All Week1 Individual Discussion QuestionsRespond to the two weekly discussion questions (DQ1 & DQ2).
DQ1-Thursday DQ2-Saturday 0. 5 0. 5 Individual Corrections Trend EvaluationWrite a 1, 400-1, 750-word paper in which you conduct research and evaluate past, present, and future trends pertaining to the development and operation of institutional and community based corrections. As part of your evaluation, identify and analyze current and future issues facing prisons and prison administrators today and the role/issue of alternate correction systems as a developing trend. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST12 Learning Team
Futures of Corrections PaperWrite a 700-1, 400-word paper in which you analyze future correctional philosophies associated with increasing correctional populations. In your analysis be sure to hypothesize future correctional problems that will need to be addressed by prison administrators. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST7 Week Five: Major Global Crimes and Criminal Issues in Criminal Justice DetailsDuePoints Objectives5. 1Identify major global crimes and criminal issues that have a global impact on justice systems and processes. 5. Compare and contrast international criminal justice systems. 5. 3Analyze the impact of cyber crime on worldwide justice systems. ReadingsRead Ch. 5, 15, & 32 of Visions for Change: Crime and Justice in the Twenty-First Century. Read Debate 18 & 19 of You Decide! Current Debates in Criminal Justice. Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion by posting a minimum of two substantive responses on four separate days during the online week. All Week1 Individual Discussion QuestionsRespond to the two weekly discussion questions (DQ1 & DQ2).
DQ1-Thursday DQ2-Saturday 0. 5 0. 5 Individual Global Crimes AnalysisWrite a 1, 050-1, 400-word paper in which you identify the various major global crimes and criminal issues that have a global impact on national and international justice systems and processes. Be sure to compare and contrast the various international criminal justice systems and how these major global crimes and criminal issues addressed. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST11 Learning Team Article AnalysisWrite a 700-1, 400-word paper in which you research a recent article focusing on cyber-crime.
In your analysis, be sure to analyze the impact that cyber crime has on worldwide justice systems and the processes which combat global crime. Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Monday by 11: 59 PM MST7 Individual Discussion Questions Week One •What is the relationship between the criminal justice system and society? How do past, current, and future trends impact the development of community relations for criminal justice organizations? What recommendations would you make to improve the interface between society and the criminal justice system? Give an example of a contemporary issue currently facing the criminal justice system. How does this issue impact the criminal justice system? What would happen if this issue was magnified (or decreased)? What would the implications be for the various personnel in the criminal justice system? Explain. Week Two •What are the various developmental and operational trends impacting policing? How do past, current, and future trends impact the development and operations of policing organizations? What recommendations would you make to improve the overall development and operations of the policing field? What are the various organizational police functions (local, state, federal)? How do the various functional levels of policing differ from one another? What distinctions can be made about each? Is there a better solution to the way the current system(s) operate at each level? Explain. Week Three •Give an example of a current/future issue facing courts and court administrators today. How does this issue impact the overall operations of the court system within the criminal justice system? How can we solve this issue to improve the court system and improve overall court administration?
Explain •What are the laws reflecting victim rights? How do the past, present, and future victim rights laws impact court proceedings? What would happen if victim rights laws did not exist? Explain. Week Four •What is the role of alternate corrections systems? How do alternate corrections systems impact the criminal justice system as a developing trend regarding management, administration, etc.? Is there a better solution to alternative corrections systems? Explain. •What are potential future problems for correctional systems? Which events have led to the development of these issues (past and present)?
How can we solve and accurately plan to correct these future issues? Explain. Week Five •Give an example of major global crimes. How do these crimes and other criminal issues impact global criminal justice systems? How can we improve the overall effectiveness of strategies employed to combat these global crimes and criminal issues? Explain. •Give an example of an international justice system. How do the various international justice systems cooperate and coordinate in combating global crime? What would happen if thecommunicationamong these international justice systems broke down, or was non-existent? Explain.