CRJU110 - Introduction To Criminal Justice
 Spring, 2003

 
 

"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being." 

 

Alexander Solzhenitsyn – The Gulag Archipelago

 


 
 

Dr. David B. Gulick

Office Hours:
10:00 - 11:00 T&Th Otherwise by Appointment

dgulick@udel.edu

 

 

 

Catalogue Description: 

 A general introduction to the study of the American system of criminal justice. The crime problem, the police, the judicial system, and correctional agencies will be examined. Special emphasis will be placed on depicting both the legal and behavioral realities of each stage of the criminal justice process.

 

Expanded Description: 

American systems of justice administration (federal, state, local) will be examined from a critical perspective. The content of the course will focus on the following general objectives:

 

Course Philosophy:

 

This freshman-level course is presented within the context of the following working assumptions:

·        A basic knowledge of the workings (theoretical and actual) of the American criminal justice apparatus is not only fundamental to a legitimate liberal arts education, it is a critical element of citizenship.  It justifies both the cost of the course and the considerable investment in time and effort required both of the instructor and the students.
Corollary – The instructor takes the course seriously. Students are expected to do so also.

·        Large “lecture” classes, properly prepared and augmented by additional resources, are effective vehicles of learning.
Corollary – The instructor is responsible for preparing stimulating and informative lectures and developing in-class as well as out-of-class resources. Students are responsible for attending class regularly, proactively thinking about course-related materials, and taking responsibility for their own learning.

·        Any student accepted to the University of Delaware is capable of doing well in this course.
Corollary – Should the instructor be presented with the question; “I’ve read all of the material, studied properly, and come to class regularly and am still doing poorly, what can I do?” the answer is “I don’t know.” Though this situation should rarely, if ever, arise,   University Counseling Resources  are available and students are encouraged to take advantage of them early in the semester.

 

 

 

InsCourse Requirements and Resources:
 

NOTE: The text will be the primary resource around which lectures will pivot. Some chapters will be covered in detail. Others will be highlighted only, and some will be skipped. Additionally, some chapters will be assigned for study and inclusion on exams without being discussed in class.  


Exam Schedule:

March 25  Exam    I – Chaps.  1,2,4,5 and lecture notes

April 29   Exam   II – Chaps. 6,7,8,10,11 and lecture notes

Final Exam Date (TBA) Exam III – Chaps. 12,13,14,15 notes from lectures and films, T/F Items from Exams I and II included.

 

Grades:

Grades will be calculated exclusively by a weighted distribution  based only on exam scores. Do not ask to be given extra points. The following scoring format will be applied:

90 = A
89 = B+
80 = B-
79 = C+
70 = C-
69 = D+
60 = D-
59 = F