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Canyon College

online Crime and Delinquency: Prevention and Treatment course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS:  Crime and Delinquency:  Prevention and Treatment


Course Title: CJ545 – Crime and Delinquency: Prevention and Treatment
Department: Criminal Justice/Criminology
Instructor: Fred A. Sams, JD, BA, AA, CMI, DABLEE  E-Mail - Vitae


Course Overview

This course will utilize a multifaceted approach to the examination and study of the nature of crime and its relationship to juvenile delinquency. It will enable students to understand the nature of juvenile delinquency, its causes and correlations, as well as the current strategies being used to control or eliminate delinquency. We will examine major issues that impact directly on crime and delinquency both in contemporary society and historically. The course will provide a review of recent legal cases, research studies, policy initiatives, nature and extent of delinquency, suspect causes of delinquency, and the environmental influences on youthful misbehavior. Finally, we will take a look at what most experts believe are the critical issues of juvenile justice, including the use of pretrial detention, waiver to adult court, and restorative justice programs.

Course Goals

When this course is concluded, the student will have a broad based understanding of crime, delinquency and the juvenile justice system. The student will be able to explain and discuss:
Required Text:  Online Bookstore

Juvenile Delinquency, The Core, Second Edition, by Larry J. Siegel and Brandon C. Welsh.   Wadsworth (Thomson), 2004/2005.  ISBN:0534629822

Evaluation Techniques

Practical Assignments

During the course of study, students will be presented with three practical assignments that are independent of the text. The practical assignments will represent a total of 10% of the student’s final grade.

Text Chapter Questions

A series of discussion questions will be found at the end of each chapter in the textbook. Students are required to answer each series of questions and submit them by Saturday of each week. The questions will be graded for accuracy and completeness. The chapter questions will represent a total of 10% of the student’s final grade.

Mid-term Examination

The mid-term examination will be administered upon completion of week four. It will cover all text materials completed through week four and will be comprised of fifty multiple-choice questions. The mid-term will represent 25% of the student’s final grade.

Final Examination

The final examination will be administered during week eight of the course. It will be comprised of fifty multiple- choice questions and will be all-inclusive, covering materials from week one through week seven. The final examination will represent 30% of the student’s final grade

Final Paper

The final paper will be due in the eighth week of the course. The paper will be in APA format and must be 4 to 6 pages in length. The topic of the final paper will be decided upon by the end of week six. The topic will be determined by input from the student and must receive final approval by the instructor. All topics must be relevant to the subject matter of the course and have academic credibility. The final paper will represent 25% of the student’s final grade.

Weekly Assignments

Week No.1
Reading Assignment: Pages 1 through 46
Chapter 1. Childhood And Delinquency
Chapter 2. The Nature And Extent Of Delinquency
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number one.
Week No. 2
Reading Assignment: Pages 47 through 106
Chapter 3. Individual Views Of Delinquency
Chapter 4. Social Views Of Delinquency
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number two.
Week No. 3
Reading Assignment: Pages 107 through 154
Chapter 5. Developmental Views Of Delinquency
Chapter 6. Gender And Delinquency
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number three.
Practical Assignment No 1:
View the video West Side Story. Compare how society then viewed juvenile crime and the youth gangs of the “West Side Story” era, as opposed to the contemporary views of today’s society. Use no more than two-typed pages, double-spaced, and submit your paper setting forth your comparison no later than Saturday of week three. Value: 3 points of final grade.
Week No. 4
Reading Assignment: Pages 155 through 208
Chapter 7. The Family And Delinquency
Chapter 8. Peers And Delinquency: Juvenile Gangs And Groups
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number four.
Practical Assignment No. 2:
Using library sources or Internet sources, review the homicide trial of the Menedez Brothers. They were tried for the murder of their parents by a California court. Analyze the trial and the personal information offered to the trial court regarding the defendants. Apply your findings to the theories and principles that you have studied thus far in chapters one through eight. Use no more than four typed pages, double-spaced, and submit your paper no later than Saturday of week five. Value: 3.5 points of final grade.
Mid-term Exam:  Fifty Questions, multiple choice: 25 points of final grade.

Week No. 5
Reading Assignment: Pages 209 through 257
Chapter   9. Schools And Delinquency
Chapter 10. Drug Use And Delinquency
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number five.
Week No. 6
Reading Assignment: Pages 260 through 305
Chapter 11. History and Development of Juvenile Justice
Chapter 12. Police Work With Juveniles
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number six.
Week No. 7.
Reading Assignment: Pages 306 through 370
Chapter 13. Juvenile Court Process: Pretrial, Trial, And Sentencing
Chapter 14. Juvenile Corrections
Questions: Answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and submit your answers by Saturday of week number seven.
Practical Assignment No. 3.
Research and review, via the Internet or library, the Gault decision (In re Gault). Describe the issues addressed in Gault, and the resulting decision. Explain how Gault changed the law in America regarding juvenile rights. Your paper should be no longer than four typed pages, double-spaced, in length. Value: 3.5 points of final grade.
Week No. 8
Reading Assignment: None
Final Examination:
Fifty multiple-choice questions: 25 points of final grade
One essay question (to be announced): 5 points of final grade
Research Paper:  25 points of final grade