CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Masters of Science in Criminal Justice

CJ 610

Breyer State University

Instructor: Jackie Sexson, J.D., MBA

SYLLABUS

Welcome to Criminal Investigation, a graduate-level course in the Master of Science in Criminal Justice Degree curriculum.  This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to criminal investigation and will provide you with a logical framework for understanding the investigative process. You will learn to investigate everything from robbery to fraud to computer and environmental crime and terrorism.

This course will show how most successful investigators are those who know how to apply the rational scientific method in conducting investigations and solving crimes.  An in-depth discussion of typologies will allow you to have a more comprehensive understanding of criminal investigation.  There will also be some review of crime prevention. 

This class will enlighten your interests into the realm of criminal investigation and will offer challenges as to conducting criminal investigation and the information gained from such.  I hope you will find this class enjoyable and informational.  It is my pleasure to have you in this course.

TIME FRAME:  This is a four (4) semester hour course.  This course is allotted 10 weeks of time.  You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the 10-week period.  The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your textbooks have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies.  Please be cognizant of the time frame.  It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification.  Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded four (4) semester hours of credit.  You may accelerate and finish the course prior to the ten-week mark, but not in less than five weeks. There is no mandate to accelerate; it is simply an option if you are able to devote extra time to this course.

TEXTBOOKS: There is one (1) required textbook for this course:

Criminal Investigation, 9th edition.  Swanson, C., Chamelin, N., Territo, L., Taylor, R.  McGraw-Hill 2005: ISBN #73212784.

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EXAMINATIONS:  There are two examinations for this course, a mid-term exam (completed during the 5th week) and a final exam (completed during the 9th week).  The mid-term exam covers Chapters 1 - 12 and the final exam covers Chapters 13 - 21.  The examinations are “open” book and will be thought-provoking discussion type of questions.  I expect graduate level writing to be used in completing your examinations.

The mid-term examination must be taken by the end of the 5th week in the course.
The final examination must be taken by the end of the 9th week in the course.

Upon your request, I will e-mail the examinations to you and once you complete each (within one week from the time I send it to you), return it as an e-mail attachment back to me (sexson@aol.com). The paper is due by the tenth week of class (send to me also via e-mail attachment). Both the midterm and final examinations, and the final paper will be graded within one week of my receiving them.

GRADING:  The grading scale for this course is as follows:

A = 90 – 100%
B = 80 – 89%
C = 70 – 79%
F = Below 70%

Midterm Exam (25% of final grade)
Final Exam      (25% of final grade)
Final Paper      (50% of final grade)

COMMUNICATION:  You are encouraged to communicate with me.  I am available as an instructor, coach and mentor to assist you in meeting your goals for this course.  Primarily, communication is through email.  However, I am available by telephone during my stated office hours below.  Our classroom for this course has a “chat” room.  With prior notice, I am very willing to meet with you one-on-one in the chat room upon your request.  From time to time, depending how many students are enrolled in this course at a particular time, we will have some scheduled group chats.  You will receive more detailed information at the time such chat sessions are scheduled.  If at any time during this course, you change your email address, please be sure to notify me right away.

When communicating via email, ALWAYS put the course number (CJ 610) in the subject line of your email AND “sign” your email with your full name.  If you do not follow these instructions, your email may be deleted, believing that it is spam.

Office hours:      8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. CST
                           Phone: 334-538-2393

Instructor Email:          sexson@aol.com          Ensure that you spell it correctly.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Discuss the evolution of criminal investigation and criminalistics.
2. Understand the legal aspects of investigation.
3. Evaluate and discuss the investigative process.
4. Distinguish between the various crimes against persons and crimes against property and understand the investigative techniques of each.
5. Recognize and understand the investigative process of drug abuse, terrorism and homeland security.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact the instructor at sexson@aol.com.

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