Methods of Crime Control

Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice

CJE 420

Breyer State University

Instructor: Chuck Fields, Ph.D.

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: Methods of Crime Control, an undergraduate-level course in the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Degree curriculum, examines various approaches to reducing crime that show promise of being effective, and equally important, which ones do not. Crime reduction strategies will also be examined that can help us to function as intelligent and critical citizens in a democracy that works better when its citizens are well-informed about major public issues. More specifically, you will learn about gun control, the death penalty, the War on Drugs, correctional treatment of criminals, community crime control, situational crime control, and other major approaches to reducing crime.

TIME FRAME: This is a ten (10) semester hour course. The course and all exams and/or assignments must be completed within ten weeks. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course or the day that you advise me that your textbooks have arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame as extensions are very rare without special circumstances. Upon successful completion of this course you will be awarded ten (10) 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 are two (2) required textbooks for this course:

Book 1: Fixing Broken Windows: Restoring Order and Reducing Crime in Our Communities. Kelling, George L., & Catherine M. Coles. New York: Simon and Schuster/Touchstone Books. 1998.

Book 2: Crime: Public Policies for Crime Control. Wilson, James, Q., Joan Petersilia, & Robert B. Hawkins. Oakland, CA: Institute for Contemporary Studies. (2002).

Additionally, there is some material you must obtain via the internet (download and print; no charge for this on the sites). Please obtain the textbook and other materials listed below as soon as possible.

	» Click Here to Enter
» Additional Student Resources at StudyTactics

From the Internet:

(Document- Crime Control: The Federal Response)

(Articles, discussions about crime control)

ASSIGNMENTS: By the fifth week of class, you should have read the assigned text and be familiar with the internet materials. By the eighth week, you must have selected and notified me as to a topic for your paper; you may submit an outline of the paper to me for feedback if you so desire.

EXAMINATION/FINAL PAPER: There is one midterm examination for this course (completed by the fifth week) and will consist of several (18-20) short essay questions that demonstrate your understanding of the assigned readings, and a eight-ten (8-10) page final paper on a topic relating to the course (I can offer suggestions as to the topic and must approve your selection). Please use some form of consistent referencing of sources for your paper, which is due by the tenth week of class (via e-mail attachment). The midterm will have questions from the text as well as from the internet readings. Upon your request, I will e-mail the exam to you and once you complete it (within one week from the time I send it to you), attach it as an e-mail back to me (address below). Both the midterm and the final paper will be graded within one week of receiving them.

GRADING: Final grades for this course will be computed as follows:

Excellent (90-100%)        - A
Above Average (80-89%) - B
Average (70-79%)           - C
Poor (below 70%)            - Fail

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

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: In addition to teaching in the program at Breyer State University, Charles Fields is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Eastern Kentucky University where his teaching interests include penology, drug policy, and comparative and international criminal justice. He has a B.A. (Political Science, 1980) & M.A. (Political Science, 1981) from Appalachian State University and a Ph.D. (Criminal Justice Theory, 1984) from Sam Houston State University. His previous teaching posts include Saginaw Valley State University (MI), Appalachian State University (NC), California State University, San Bernardino (Department Chair of Criminal Justice), and Eastern Kentucky University (Department Chair of Correctional and Juvenile Justice Studies). He has also been a visiting lecturer at the University of Lapland and the Police College of Finland. Professor Fields is the author or co-author of four edited books, over thirty articles, book chapters and reviews, and numerous technical reports and monographs. Current research interests include international drug policy, comparative criminal justice systems, and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion this course, you should be able to:

1). Describe the advantages and limitations of different macro and micro operational styles and policing techniques used by police officers and organizations in dealing with crime.
2). Discuss the various crime control theories, policies, programs and practices that are, and have been employed.
3). Evaluate whether, and under what circumstances, a particular program or policy may reduce crime or reduce risk factors associated with crime.
4). Understand federally-funded crime control programs across the following institutional contexts:
   a). community.
   b). family.
   c). schools.
   d). labor-markets.
   e). places.
   f).  police.
   g). courts/corrections.
5). Discuss both sides of the arguments of eliminating "technicalities and legal loopholes" and evaluate whether such measures can effectively reduce crime.
6). Understand the A broken windows concept as developed by George Kelling and James Q. Wilson.

Apply	Pay Online	Refund Policy
Payment Plan	Email for Info	Register for a Course