Criminal Justice

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Analyze the criminal adjudication process from arrest through appeals, identifying the roles and responsibilities of key legal actors (e.g., police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges).
• Evaluate contemporary issues in the administration of justice, such as the death penalty, plea bargaining, and alternatives to incarceration, using legal principles and empirical evidence.
• Compare and contrast sentencing options and post-conviction processes, including the rationale, effectiveness, and equity of various criminal sanctions.
• Critically assess the impact of legal and policy reforms on the fairness and efficiency of the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on current debates and court decisions.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Current Event Presentation	50 points
Homework Assignments (13)	260 points
Reflection Assignments (13)	260 points
Midterm and Final Exams	200 points
Attendance	120 points

Grading Scale

Percentage	Letter Grade
≥ 93.0%	A
90.0-92.9%	A-
87.0-89.9%	B+
83.0-86.9%	B
80.0-82.9%	B-
77.0-79.9%	C+
73.0-76.9%	C
70.0-72.9%	C-
60.0-69.9%	D
<60.0%	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance plays an important role in your success in this course. You are expected to attend class regularly, be on time, and actively participate. However, we understand that situations may arise where you need to miss class. Below is the breakdown of how attendance will impact your grade:

Perfect Attendance (0 absences): 120 points

1 Absence: 112 points

2 Absences: 104 points

3 Absences: 96 points

4 Absences: 84 points

5 Absences: 72 points

6 Absences: 60 points

7 or More Absences: 0 points

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Hartley, R. D., Rabe, G. A., & Champion, D. J. (2018). Criminal Courts: Structure, Process, and Issues (4th ed.). Pearson.