INSTRUCTOR: Chris Eskridge 310 Nebraska Hall 472-6755 ceskridge@unl.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide an overview of the justice process andthe criminal justice system in general. Concepts of crime, deviance andjustice will be discussed and general theories of crime causality will beexamined. Individual rights in a democratic society will be explored, aswill the legal definitions of various crimes. The law enforcement,judicial, juvenile justice and corrections subsystems will also beexplored, and a number of reform proposals presented.
COURSE READING MATERIALS: Readingson the course webpage Criminal Justice: The Essentials, by Lab et al (recommended, not required)
RECITATION SESSIONS: Recitation sessions will be held in the evenings at a time that will be announced in class.
EVALUATION: Two examinations covering the readings and lecture material will be given.The mid-term exam will be given on Thursday, March 20 and will count forone-third of the course grade. The comprehensive final exam will be givenon from , and will count fortwo-thirds of the course grade. A standard "curve" will be used to determinethe course grade (90% - A; 80% - B; 70% - C; 60% - D). A passing gradein the P/F option is a C. Make-up exams will not be given, so plan to take the exams on these days. Regular class attendance will not be taken, but students should planon attending class on a regular basis inasmuch as the exams will emphasizematerial presented in class. Students who miss a class session should makearrangements to obtain notes from another class member.
EXAM CONTENT: Text Material Lecture Material Mid-Term Exam Liberty v. Order Sections 1 - 7 Webpage materials
Final Exam Liberty v. Order Sections 1 - 14 Webpage materials
EXTRA CREDIT: A series of extra credit films will be shown on selected evenings during the semester (see www.unl.edu/eskridge/Film Schedule Spring.doc). Extra credit will be given to those who attend the films and write a paper regarding each of those movies. Each paper is to be a minimum of 400 words in length (note the word count at the bottom of the paper). The papers are to address the study questions that have been prepared for each film. The study questions are on the web at www.unl.edu/eskridge/filmquestions.htm . There are twelve movies planned during the semester. Students may receive extra credit for attending and writing a paper on up to six films. Students may attend all, a few, or none of the films. Students will receive up to 5 points of extra credit for every film they attend and paper they subsequently submit. Students who attend six films and write six quality papers could receive a total of 30 extra-credit points (10% of the course grade). Papers are due on the dates shown on the film schedule. Turn the papers in during class or at the School of Criminology offices (310 Nebraska Hall). No late papers will be accepted. Students will be informed in class of any additional extra credit opportunities that may arise during the course of the semester.
ACE #6 This course satisfies ACE Student Learning Outcome #6: Use knowledge, theories, methods, and historical perspectives appropriate to the social sciences to understand and evaluate human behavior.
Students have the opportunity to achieve ACE Student Learning Outcome #6 through the following: 1) Completing two exams. 2) Completing the extra credit written assignments.
ACE outcome #6 will be assessed in this class utilizing the two course exams and the extra credit written assignments. Samples of student work will be collected to assess student learning in the course and program. The purpose of this assessment is to help faculty improve student learning opportunities, not to evaluate individual student work. Any student in this course who is not willing to participate in this process should notify the instructor.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln provides individualized accommodations to students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability that is impacting your academic progress, please call SSD at 472-3787 and schedule an appointment with the Director, Veva Cheney, or Assistant Director, Barbara Woodhead. If you do not have a documented disability but you are having difficulties with your coursework (such as receiving low grades even though you study more than your classmates or running out of time for test questions when the majority of your peers finish their exams in the allotted time), you may schedule an appointment with Veva or Barbara to discuss the challenges you are experiencing.
CJ 101 COURSE OUTLINE TOPIC READING ASSIGNMENT* SECTION 1 Crime, Deviance and Justice Chapter 1; Liberty v. Order SECTION 2The Criminal Justice Network
SECTION 3 Crime and Deviance in America
SECTION 4 Criminology
SECTION 5 Criminal Law Chapter 2 SECTION 6 Justice Process SECTION 7 Rights of the Accused - 4th Amend.
-MIDTERM EXAM-
SECTION 8 Rights of the Accused - 5th, 6th, 8th Amend. SECTION 9 The Law Enforcement System Chapter 3 SECTION 10 Pre-Trial Issues
SECTION 11 The Judicial System Chapter 4
SECTION 12 The Correctional System Chapters 5, 6
SECTION 13 The Juvenile Justice System Chapter 7
SECTION 14 The Future of Justice Chapter 8
-FINAL EXAM-
*The textbook is recommended but not required. Exams will focus on material presented in class.
