Course Syllabus Essay

This capstone course for the criminal justice administration undergraduate degree program provides students with an integration of acquired knowledge of theory to practical applications. Particular attention is given to integrating core content of criminal justice administration with specialized content from students’ selected concentration area. Students will assess the impact of their educational experiences on their professional competence and values, critical thinking and problem solving, communication, information utilization, and collaboration skills. 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 All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: Overview of Administration of Justice Details Due Points Objectives 1.1 Critically evaluate current qualitative and quantitative research pertaining to trends in the criminal justice arena. 1.2 Evaluate past, present, and future trends in the interface between components of the criminal justice system and criminal justice connections with surrounding society. 1.3 Analyze organizational behavior concepts associated with common managerial practices involved in day-to-day operations within criminal justice settings. 1.4 Identify professional standards and values that apply across various components of the criminal justice system. 1.5 Analyze the relationship among ethics theory, critical thinking, and professional behavior within the administration of criminal justice. Readings Read this week’s Read Me First. Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Examine this week’s Additional Readings. Discussion & Participation Participate in weekly class discussions (eight substantive posts on at least three class days). Each Week  4 Learning Team Instructions Meet and Greet Learning Team members who work together throughout the course. Create the Learning Team Charter. Begin preparing for Learning Team Assignment: Critical Thinking, Ethics, and Professional Standards As Assigned Individual Assignment Quiz #1 Complete the Week 1 Quiz #1 (found in Course Materials) Submit your responses to the Assignments Section Sunday Week 1 Day 6 Individual Assignment Quiz #2 Complete the Week 1 Quiz #2 (found in Course Materials) Submit your responses to the Assignments Section Sunday Week 1 Day 6 Learning Team Instructions Submit the Learning Team Charter. Monday Week 1 Day 7 Individual Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation Select one component of the criminal justice system (police, courts, or corrections). Write a 1,050 to 1,400 word paper: Evaluate and assess the past, present, and future trends of the criminal justice component you selected (limit your evaluation to post-World War II trends). Justify the future budgetary and managerial needs of the component you selected, and how these needs will affect other components of the criminal justice system. Include current qualitative and quantitative research data in your analysis. Format your paper to APA guidelines. Submit your paper to the Assignments Section. Note: Do not use a textbook as a reference – seek professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 1 Day 7 Week Two: Policing Perspective: Theory and Application Details Due Points Objectives 2.1 Examine perspectives of the policing function from the local, state, and federal organizational levels. 2.2 Evaluate past, present, and future trends pertaining to the development and operation of the field of policing. 2.3 Identify leadership characteristics and responsibilities within policing organizations. 2.4 Apply prevailing theories of crime control to the policing function. 2.5 Analyze the organizational management, administration, and operational aspects of policing. Readings Read this week’s Read Me First. Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Examine this week’s Additional Readings. Discussion & Participation Participate in weekly class discussions (eight substantive posts on at least three class days). Each Week Learning Team Instructions Begin preparing for Learning Team assignment: Discussion Question Q&A: Policing Perspective: Theory and Application. Individual Instruction Prepare and submit Week 1 Summary Wed Week 2 Day 2 Individual Organizational Management and Operations Analysis Police agencies exist at the federal, state, and local government levels. These agencies have legal, jurisdictional, and functional commonalities and differences. Write a 1,050 to 1,400 word paper in which you identify, compare, and contrast the policing functions and the legal and jurisdictional differences of the local, state, and federal levels of police. Analyze similarities and differences of the organizational, management, administration, and operational functions of each level, and why these exist. Format your paper to APA guidelines. Submit your paper to the Assignments Section. NOTE: Do not use a textbook as a reference — seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 2 Day 7 Learning Team Critical Thinking, Ethics, and Professional Standards Analysis Write a 1,400 to 2,100 word paper: Analyze the relationship between ethics and professional behavior in the administration of criminal justice. Describe the role of critical thinking with regard to the relationship of criminal justice ethics and professional standards across criminal justice components. Identify five current or recent (within past year) criminal justice professional standards issues in the news and explain the related ethical conduct issue. Format your paper to APA guidelines. Designate a team member to submit your team assignment. Submit your paper to the Assignments Section. NOTE: Do not use a textbook as a reference — seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 2 Day 7 Week Three: Courts: Role, Process, and Impact Details Due Points Objectives 3.1 Evaluate the diverse roles of the courtroom personnel and participants in shaping both substantive law and procedural law relating to the criminal justice system. 3.2 Analyze the relationship of the courts of the criminal justice system when establishing legal standards applicable to the professional practice of criminal justice. 3.3 Evaluate the constitutional foundations and safeguards and how they apply to the criminal law and adult and juvenile proceedings. 3.4 Assess the relationship of crime, criminal law, and liability. Readings Read this week’s Read Me First. Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Examine this week’s Additional Readings. Discussion & Participation Participate in weekly class discussions (eight substantive posts on at least three class days). Each Week Learning Team Instructions Begin preparing for Learning Team assignment: Constitutional Safeguards Analysis Individual Instruction Prepare and submit Week 2 Summary Wed Week 3 Day 2 Individual Court Evaluation Judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel perform diverse roles for effective operation of courts. Each holds broad power, authority, and responsibility in duty and function. Their relationships are both independent and interdependent. Legal and ethical standards guide the relationships, duties, and responsibilities of each profession. The actions of judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel affect both substantive and procedural law. Write a 1,050 to 1,400 word paper in which you assess and evaluate the above issues and concepts. Format your paper to APA guidelines. Submit your paper to the Assignments Section. Note: Do not use a textbook as a reference – seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 3 Day 7 Learning Team Policing Perspective: Theory and Application Write a 1,400 to 2,100 word paper responding to policing and crime control theory and application. Evaluate the past, present, and future trends affecting the development and operations of policing. Limit your past-trend discussion to post-World War II trends. Classify and interpret some prevailing theories of crime as they apply to policing. Consider the following in your narrative: The effect of crime theories on police  practices The correlation of criminal justice and crime data on crime theories The effects of crime control models and corresponding police practices on due process The future model of policing Format your team assignment to APA guidelines. Designate a team member to post your team’s final assignment on behalf of the team. Post the final assignment in the Assignments Section. NOTE: Do not use a textbook as a reference — seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 3 Day 7 Week Four: Corrections: Contemporary Views of Offender Management and Treatment Details Due Points Objectives 4.1 Evaluate past, present, and future trends pertaining to the development and operation of institutional and community based corrections. 4.2 Assess the security, technology, management, and control functions within correctional environments. 4.3 Explain the various educational and treatment programs used in rehabilitation efforts for institutional and community corrections. 4.4 Examine correctional organization and administration functions that reflect operations and fiscal demands. 4.5 Analyze the relationship among jails, prisons, probation, parole, juvenile and community corrections processes. Readings Read this week’s Read Me First. Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Examine this week’s Additional Readings. Discussion & Participation Participate in weekly class discussions (eight substantive posts on at least three class days). Each Week Learning Team Instructions Begin preparing for Learning Team assignment: Institutional Corrections in America Research Paper. Individual Instruction Prepare and submit Week 3 Summary Wed Week 4 Day 2 Individual Community Corrections Analysis Write a 1,050 to 1,400 word paper. Evaluate the development, operation, and purpose of community correction systems (probation and parole), and the legal, jurisdictional, and functional differences between these. Analyze the relationship between federal, state, and local community corrections systems and federal, state, and local institutional corrections (hint: consider state versus federal crimes and felony versus misdemeanor crimes and the respective corrections systems that respond to these). Include a discussion of the effects of truth-in-sentencing law on parole and institutional corrections populations. Format your paper to APA guidelines. Submit your paper to the Assignments Section. NOTE: Do not use a textbook as a reference – seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 4 Day 7 Learning Team Constitutional Safeguards Analysis Write a 1,400 to 2,100 word paper: Identify and evaluate the constitutional safeguards provided by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution as they apply to both adult and juvenile court proceedings. Examine the effect these safeguards have on the day-to-day operation of adult and juvenile courts. Discuss any safeguards to eliminate and why your team would eliminate these. Support your recommendation with valid research. Format your team assignment to APA guidelines. Designate a team member to post your team’s final assignment on behalf of the team. Post the final assignment in the Assignments Section. NOTE: Do not use a textbook as a reference – seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings. Monday Week 4 Day 7 Week Five: Globalization of Criminal Justice: International Perspectives Details Due Points Objectives 5.1 Assess the impact of globalization on the U.S. criminal justice process. 5.2 Compare and contrast international criminal justice systems. 5.3 Discuss the impact of cyber crime on worldwide justice systems. 5.4 Differentiate the policing systems on a worldwide scale. 5.5 Identify major crimes and criminal issues that have a global impact on justice systems and processes. Readings Read this week’s Read Me First. Review this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. Examine this week’s Additional Readings. Discussion & Participation Participate in weekly class discussions (eight substantive posts on at least three class days). Each Week Individual Instruction Prepare and submit Week 4 Summary Wed Week 5 Day 2 Individual Instruction Prepare and submit Week 5 and Final Summary Monday Week 5 Day 7 Learning Team Institutional Corrections in America Research Paper Write a 2,500- to 3,000-word research paper regarding Incarceration in America. Evaluate the current state of American institutional corrections. Include analysis of correctional organization and administration functions; assess security, technology, and inmate-management and inmate-control functions, and; analyze the fiscal demands of these functions and programs. Forecast the future of American institutional corrections from past and current corrections trends (limit past-trend examination to post-1950s era corrections) and recommend a criminal justice and corrections philosophy for all states to adopt, supported by your research, evaluation, and analysis. Note: This is a research paper. Develop a thesis about your future forecast or recommendation and present it in your introduction. The Center for Writing Excellence offers assistance for this final assignment (and all previous assignments). Support all assertions with valid and credible research. In your research and thesis design, you may wish to consider any of the following concepts: past (post-1950s) and present incarceration trends and policies; incarceration rates, populations, and overcrowding; crime rates and trends; privatization; incarceration and sentencing initiatives and practices; use of incarceration alternatives; management, organizational, and inmate-supervision functions and practices; fiscal demands; inmate health-care; educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities; rehabilitative programs; and other corrections concepts. Format your team assignment to APA guidelines. Include an abstract with this writing (Abstract is graded separately and worth 2 of the 12 points) Designate a team member to post your team’s final assignment on behalf of the team. Post the final assignment in the Assignments Section. NOTE: Do not use a textbook as a reference – seek out professional and scholarly reference sources, including our weekly readings.