Fundamentals of Criminal Law (CRIJ 1310)

Course Syllabus

 

CJ 1310 – Fundamentals of Criminal Law

Spring 2011

 

Course Days and Times: Tues/Thurs 11:00am– 12:30pm

 

Houston Community College Southwest – West Loop

5601 West Loop South
Houston, Texas 77081

Ph#. 713-718-7868

 

Instructor: Stedmen Jahmar Young, MCJ

Cell Phone#: 713-320-6201   Office#: 713-384-8366   Office Hours: Appointment Only

Email: [email protected]

 

• Masters of Arts (Criminal Justice) Boston University
• Bachelor of Science (Administration of Justice) Texas Southern University

 

Textbook: (NOTE) the textbook listed below is REQUIRED and will be used throughout the course:  Pollock, J. (2009). Criminal Law (9th ed.). Anderson Publishing: Lexis/Nexis Group.
  

Course Description: The course does not cover any specific Federal or State Law within the United States. The Topics covered include principles of Criminal Law, Principles of Criminal liability, complicity, inchoate crimes, defenses, justification, excuses, crime against persons, crime against property, and crimes against public order.

 

Students will also learn:

 

• To Understand the criminal elements of violent crime or crimes against person, property crimes, and order/state laws.
• To Understand fundamentals cases, legal concepts, clauses, and chronologies in criminal law, and to
• To examine the historical evolution of criminal law doctrines, and principles of criminal liability.
• To articulate informed opinion over important controversial issues in criminal law, and to analyze both early and contemporary judicial thinking and legal reasoning.
• To recognize important considerations regarding the rights of criminal defendants.

 

 

 

 

 

Methodology: The course will be taught primarily through lecture and discussions, supplemented with assignment and quizzes/test. Case studies, small group activities, audio-visual media, in class exercises and handout materials will enhancement the course lectures and discussions. Student participation will be utilized to teach the course materials through question answered exercises, independent/group writing and research activities and classroom presentations.

 

Attendance: Attendance in class is MANDATORY. Students who are absent more than (3) class meetings may be dropped from the Course/Class. The Houston Community College System attendance policy will be enforced and grade incentive will be rewarded to those who attend class regularly. Many activities will require Students active participation and involvement and these points cannot be awarded if Students are not present in class. Students who are absent for these activities will not have the opportunity to make up these points. Tests, quizzes, writing assignments, and such may be up according to HCC policy guidelines. It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to determine what work was missed, to obtain lecture notes from other students in the class, and to schedule a time before or after class for makeup work.

 

Grading Policy: Grades will be based on the percentage of points you earn from Tests, Quizzes, Essays, Worksheets, Class assignments, Creative assignments, Attendance, and Major individual/group projects. Every assignment is worth a set amount of points. After all scores are totaled, I will use the following scaling system:

 

• 360 - 400 = A 
• 320 - 359 = B
• 319 - 280 = C
• 279 - 240 = D
• Below 240 = F

 

Student Grade will be based on following assignments:

 

• Class Participation/Class Attendance (30 points): In-class assignments, Homework, Attendance, Discussions, Debates

 

• Power Point (40 points)

 

• 3 - 5 Page Term Paper (30 points): To Be Announced*

 

•  First Exam - Midterm Exam – Final Exam(Mandatory) (100 points each)*

 

 

 

*Failure to complete any of these assignments in a timely manner could result in a failing grade for the course.

 

Classroom Behavior: The study of Criminal Justice involves many controversial issues and theories. Critical Thinking and analytical reasoning are necessary to gain a systematic understanding of this subject and to make class discussions interesting. Thoughts and opinions will be varied and diverse. To encourage and foster open forum discussions, all students are expected to respect their fellow classmates and the Instructor, and expect the same respect in return from fellow classmates and Instructor. Due to the controversial nature of certain topics discussed in the duration of this course, opinions and comments made by other students may differ from your own analyses or point of view (this is normal). Discussing and debating issues is essential to the understanding of crime and delinquency. However, there are acceptable ways to express your thoughts and opinions. The guiding principle is to attack the issue, not the student. Derogatory comments to or about other students or Instructor will NOT BE TOLERATED. If such comments are uttered in the classroom, you will be subjected to reprimand and/or removed from the classroom.

 

Academic Honesty Violation: The Penalty for an Academic Honesty Violation on a significant course requirement such as a term paper/project/quiz/ or Examination shall be a “0” for the work. The penalty for a second violation will result in an “F” for the course. Plagiarism in any form or degree is strictly forbidden. Any work submitted that is plagiarized in whole or in part will be rejected by the Instructor in its entirety. The student will at the point will be barred from performing any type of extra credit or make-up work to bring up his or her cumulative grade for the course.

 

Students with Disabilities: Houston Community College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should notify Disabled Student Services and secondly their Instructor of any special needs. Instructors should be made aware of any student’s special needs within the first week of class or upon becoming aware that a disability may exist, whichever comes first.

 

It is the policy of Houston Community College System that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color sex, marital status, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability in any educational programs, activities, or employment.

 

 

Class Participation: Assignments may be individual or group. The student will have several graded in-class assignments, which cannot be made up in the event you were absent. Assignments are due on the due date in order to be worth full credit. Late assignments will be valued as follows:

 

• 1 day late – 75%
• 2 day late – 50%
• More than 2 days late – Will result in “0”

 

 

 

Each student will be evaluated on both the quality and the quantity of their classroom participation. What constitutes class participation is described in detail listed below:

 

• Attends class
• In class on time/No early departure
• Prepared
• Partakes in classroom discussions by contributing thoughtful and responsive input
• Takes assignments seriously
• Turns in quality work
• Turns in work in a timely manner
• Follows directions in all work
• Respects classmates and Instructor in discussion based topics
• Accepts critique in a mature and constructive manner
• Is attentive and does not disturb the classroom/Instructor during class

(i.e. Technology)

• Is Articulate, Both orally and verbally
• Contributes to Group efforts by focusing on task(s) and contributing to the

Assignment in which is given.