JUVENILE JUSTICE CRM 312/SOC 359
W 4 - 6:30
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PROFESSOR
Phone: 420-5872 with voicemail
Email:
wwolfvan@yahoo.com & evanderveen@stmarys.caOffice: MS 412
Webpage: tba
Office hours: T/R 11:30 12:30, and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is
concerned with the current state of affairs of juveniles in Canada when they
come into contact with the criminal justice system. Some historical changes will
be examined to give a perspective as to how society has arrived at the
legislation and system that currently exists. COURSE INSTRUCTION The course
objectives will be achieved through a program of readings, class discussions and
activities, and written work. The instruction will incorporate various
interactive exercises in which the students are expected to participate,
designed to exemplify the topics under consideration. THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE
COURSE, NOT SOLELY LECTURE BASED.
COURSE TEXTS Fall 2002
Bell, Sandra, (2002), Young Offenders and Juvenile Justice: A Century After the Fact, 2nd ed., Nelson: Scarborough, Ontario
Readings available on reserve in the library
Winter 2003 TBA
ASSESSMENT
Journals (6 entries 10 % each) 60
Group research paper and presentation 80
Case study research project 80
Class participation 20
Attendance 20
In class final exam 40
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TOTAL 300 Final grade pro-rated to 100%
WRITTEN WORK
The written work for this class is composed of various submissions. The following applies to all written submissions:
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Due dates: Due dates for assignments are given for good reason and acceptance of this syllabus indicates your agreement to meet said due dates. In general, late work will not be accepted. In EXTREME cases where late work may be deemed acceptable there will be substantial penalties to the assessment. As a general rule, late submissions will have a minimum 10% penalty deducted of the assessment for the first day, and then 10% each subsequent day late. A day is considered to be either a week or weekend da |
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Submission: Do not submit your papers in folders; simply staple the pages together at the upper left-hand corner. Be sure to keep a copy of your paper in case it goes missing. When submitting papers not directly to myself, papers can be left with the secretaries of the sociology and criminology department, however, make sure the person receiving the paper signs it and notes the date of receipt. Unless otherwise specified, all written work must be typed and in complete sentence form. |
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Questions: If you have any questions about the written work, consult with me well in advance of the due date. |
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Sources: several sources should be used to explore the topic/question outside of the textbooks (the exact number of sources will be supplied when specific work is assigned). Sources for ALL ideas presented and quotations used are to be properly referenced using a recognized bibliographic format, e.g. APA. Penalties will result if this referencing is not undertaken, amounting to a minimum of 10% of the grade. If you wish to include an anecdotal personal story, it is still to be written in third person. If you wish to include personal ideas, you must seek at least two sources for this idea in order to prove its validity, or demonstrate how your idea is derived from two other sources. Remember: Dont confuse your own subjective interpretation with sociological ones and dont make value statements in substitution for critical thinking. |
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Writing style: all written work is to be written using 3rd person and formal academic writing style unless specified otherwise. Students are expected to write at a college level with appropriate and effective use of the English language. Those who have difficulty with writing are encouraged to contact the respective SMU department for additional assistance. |
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Returned written work: In a class where you have received graded written work, you are NOT to consult with me immediately after class with queries pertaining to this assessment. You must take the time to review your work and then if still necessary discuss the matter after one week has passed. |
JOURNALS 6 submissions of 10 points each total of 60 points
Journals are an opportunity for you to explore your thoughts and FEELINGS about particular topics. Specific question(s) will be assigned for each journal entry. Journals are to be written in first person and they can be handwritten as long as they are legible see me to check to make sure I can read your handwriting. Journals are not evaluated for rightness or wrongness, rather for depth of exploration of the issues. As journals connote, they are personal exposes of yourself. Dont censor yourself. Contents remain confidential. Word length: approximately 750.
GROUP RESEARCH PAPER AND PRESENTATION 80 points
During the first weeks of class, the class will be divided into groups and a topic will be chosen from a given list. Your group will be required to explore and a sociological factor of youth crime. Details of this project will be provided in the first week of class. Class time will be provided for groups to meet. One group paper is to be submitted for this project, comprehensively discussing the above points. However, each individual group member will be required to submit a commentary on division of workload and describing what were their responsibilities.
CASE STUDY RESEARCH PROJECT 80 points
During the first half of this course, the Fall semester, the class will be divided into pairs and you will be required to chose a particular youth crime as a case study research project. Details of this project will be provided during the first weeks of class.
IN CLASS FINAL EXAM 40 points
A final exam comprised of short answer and/or essay questions will be given during the last week of class time. The purpose of this exam is to further demonstrate your comprehension of the material. If you are in regular attendance in class, presentations and subsequent discussions in the following classes, and diligently follow the reading schedule, you will have sufficient information from which to study.
ATTENDANCE 20 points
Attendance is expected and will be taken during each class. Your attendance and participation is very important to your learning and that of other students in this class. It will become apparent if you have not conducted the readings and thus are unable to contribute constructive discussion in the class. In general, I make no distinction between "excused" and "unexcused" absences. This frees you from having to bring a note from your doctor or something of that nature. I know that there are times when real life comes into conflict with the demands of pursuing an education, but your attendance in this class is important and you should make it a priority. If you are unable to attend at least 80% of the classes, then it is advisable that you withdraw from the course or else risk the application of penalties in the assessment. Two missed class periods are allowed, with each subsequent class missed amounting to a 1/2 point deduction in this component of the assessment. The 2 allotted absences are to be used in the event that dire circumstances keep you from class. Use the absences at your discretion, but DO NOT VIEW THESE ALLOTTED ABSENCES AS SKIP DAYS!!! The absences are provided because I understand that real life occasionally collides with your school responsibilities and these absences give you the flexibility to responsibly manage conflicting circumstances that may arise during the course of the semester without severe consequences for your point total. If you have MAJOR extenuating circumstances requiring an extended absence from campus (e.g. an accident or illness that requires extensive hospitalization, a death in the family, etc.), please see me and we may be able to make arrangements and/or will talk about the options the University provides for dropping, withdrawing, switching to audit, and so on.
If you are late, YOU are responsible for checking with me after class on the day you were late to correct the record. It is simply not feasible to alter attendance records days or even weeks after the fact. Excessive tardiness may result in a further loss of points from the final grade. If you are late for a general class session, simply slip in as quietly as possible.
PARTICIPATION 20 points
Informed and constructive participation in class discussion is also expected. The course outline lists readings for each week. Please read and/or prepare all materials prior to the class period for which they are assigned. It is also helpful if you approach this class with an open mind and a sense of enthusiasm for learning. Participation is awarded for your involvement in in-class activities, exercises, discussions, and so on. Please note that participation points are awarded based on your active involvement and genuine participation, NOT for mere attendance (which is expected as a minimal requirement and is addressed above).
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES for Juvenile Justice CRM 312.0B 2002/2003
The following are a list of expectations you the student can have of me the professor for this course, and expectations I have of you during the course. If you have any questions or concerns about these expectations, then it is your responsibility to bring these to my attention during the first two weeks of classes. Otherwise it is understood that you agree to abide by these rights and responsibilities.
Your rights:
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course syllabus will be followed, and sufficient notice will be given if any changes will take place |
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clear explanations of written work including assessment |
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respect from myself and from other students |
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office hours are scheduled and appointments can be made |
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reasonable assistance individually in understanding the course material if necessary will be provided during office hours or scheduled appointments |
Your responsibilities:
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this is your education so take it seriously and make it a priority |
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be organized and do not procrastinate |
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show up to class on time |
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attend all classes |
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hand in all written work on time |
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do readings of assigned chapters prior to each weeks class (you need to allocate at least 2 hours for this each week) |
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contribute to class discussions and activities voluntarily and when called upon |
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provide valid reasons for absences and in a timely manner |
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seek out me if you are having difficulties and doing poorly early on and not towards the end of the semester |
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respect the opinions of others and put yourself in the shoes of others to better understand them |
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if having learning challenges or other issues which will affect your learning, inform me in advance |
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know what is taking place each week with regard to readings and assignment of written work and due dates |
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turn off all cell phones and pagers during class |
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seek out explanation of assessment of written work during office hours or scheduled appointments, not directly after class upon return of graded written work |
As your professor, I am responsible for facilitating learning and serving as a resource for you in this class. It is my job to challenge you, to consider your work against the standards I set forth, and to evaluate your efforts based on my years of training and my years of teaching in the field of Sociology. As students, you are responsible for being here, for participating in class, for completing assignments in an appropriate and timely fashion, and for learning. Staying on top of things, being self-motivated, and putting forth adequate effort are all a part of the equation for you to earn a good grade in this course.
That said, I'd like to remind you that it is best if you do not equate your self worth with your grade in this class or on any assignment. You may be an "A+ person" who happened to perform at a C+ level on a given assignment. Remember that grades are an indication of your performance in mastering the material at hand at one point in time. They do not condemn you to a life of doom and drudgery. Nor are they an indicator of my views of you as a person. Reflect on your grade in an honest and realistic fashion before flying off the handle. Remember that I am hired to offer constructive criticism of your speeches, papers, and so on. Digest that criticism and then ask yourself questions like: Did I put in the preparation time that would've been necessary to receive a better grade?, Did I understand the assignment as fully as I could have?, Did I turn in all the required paperwork?, Did I do an adequate job of proofreading, running a spell check? If you find that you still have questions about how you can improve or about course content, come see me and we will talk about additional ways for you to work on your mastery of the subject matter.
A few thoughts about attitude... It has been my experience that students who approach their education with a sense of excitement and a willingness to learn are more productive students. Holding on to the belief that you HAVE TO take this course prevents you from embracing the point of view that you GET TO take this course. This course may be outside your major area of interest, but the content will still relate to your daily activities at home, work, and school. We will laugh, we will experience nervousness, we will think critically, we will speak, we will listen, and we will learn. Most importantly, we will do these things together. There is no room for negative criticism of others and there is no room for laughter at the expense of another in this class. Enjoy the class and look for the concepts to be applicable in your daily life and I think you'll be surprised at what you can accomplish this semester.
PLAGIARISM, ACADEMIC DISHONESTY, AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
See Academic regulations 19 b) in Academic calendar
Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable. Plagiarism is quoting from, paraphrasing, or using specific ideas contained in any published work, e.g. books periodicals, public documents, internet, etc , or using another persons ideas without providing an appropriate citation or recognition which credits the author and/or origin of the work or idea, and presenting them as if they are your own. Academic dishonesty can refer to a range of inappropriate and unethical behaviours including but not limited to cheating on exams, falsification of sources, and so on. As in other courses at the University, students in this class are expected to do their own work and conduct themselves in a fair, honest, and ethical manner. Those who plagiarize or engage in academic dishonesty of any kind may minimally expect to fail the assignment at hand and perhaps the entire course. In addition, instances of academic dishonesty and plagiarism may be dealt with through proper University channels for investigation and disciplinary action.
"Disruptive behaviour" includes but is not limited to talking when someone else has the floor, being rude to other people, destructive (rather than constructive) criticism of another, arriving late repeatedly, sleeping during class, belligerent or aggressive behaviour, and so on. These behaviours have no place in a college classroom. You have a right to maintain your own opinions and to disagree with others, but you must do so in a fashion that is conducive to learning and does not take the form of a personal attack on others. Minimally, you are expected to treat your classmates and your professor in a respectful fashion and they will return the favour. Any behaviour that obstructs or disrupts the classroom teaching and learning environment will be addressed. Serious or repeated breaches in appropriate behaviour may result in a reduction of your final grade in the course and may be referred to additional University authorities.
GRADING SCALE
A+ 96 - 100%
A 90 95
A- 85 89
B+ 80 84
B 75 79
B- 70 74
C+ 67 69
C 64 66
C- 60 - 63
D 50 59
F 0 49
Refer to the SMU Catalogue for a description of what a letter grade represents in terms of GPA.
Remember an "A" denotes exceptional work.
All assignments and policies indicated above and below must be completed and/or carried out in a satisfactory manner in order to receive a passing grade in this class. . To calculate your grade in the course as we go along, simply calculate the percentage of points you have earned from the total thus far in the class.
COURSE OUTLINE
Chapters denote readings to be completed prior to each week. It is imperative that you read the chapter(s) before coming to class so that you will have a basic foundation of the topic in class discussions and activities.
WEEK 1 September 2nd
Introduction of students, instructor and course
Journal #1 assigned
WEEK 2 September 9th
Topic: History of youth, youth crime and juvenile justice system
Chapter 1 & 2
Journal #2 assigned
Journal #1 due
WEEK 3 September 16th
Topic: Myths and facts of youth crime
Chapter 3
Journal #2 due
WEEK 4 September 23rd
Topic: Overview of classical theories of crime
Chapter 5
WEEK 5 September 30th
Topic: Overview of contemporary theories of crime
Chapter 6
WEEK 6 October 7th
Topic: Social class and youth crime
Reading on reserve in library
Journal #3 assigned
WEEK 7 October 14th
Topic: Social class and youth crime continued
Journal #3 due
Presentation
WEEK 8 October 21st
Topic: Race & ethnicity and youth crime
Chapter 4
Journal #4 assigned
Presentation x 2
WEEK 9 October 28th
Topic: Gender and youth crime
Chapter 4
Journal #5 assigned
Journal #4 due
Presentation x 2
WEEK 10 November 4th
Topic: Family and youth crime
Chapter 9
Journal #6 assigned
Journal #5 due
Presentation
WEEK 11 November 11th
Topic: School and youth crime
Chapter 9
Journal #6 due
Presentation
WEEK 12 November 18th
Topic: Peers and youth crime
Chapter 9
Presentation
WEEK 13 November 25th
Final exam in class
NOTE: The professor reserves the right to change the course syllabus. The students will be given sufficient advanced notice of any changes should they arise.
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Revised: October 24, 2002 .