University of Texas at Dallas 

CJS 3303 
Advanced Criminal Justice 
Fall 2006 

Instructor: Kenneth M. Cowle

Course Time/Room: Wednesday 7-9:45 p.m., CB1.106
Office: GR 2.510
Phone: 972-883-2040
E-mail: kcowle@utdallas.edu or via WebCT
Office Hours: Wednesday 5:30-7 p.m.

Note: The instructor reserves the right to make additions or subtractions to this syllabus. All
information, dates, and assignments included on this syllabus are subject to change.

Course Overview:
This course will analyze the major agencies, personnel, and decision-making points which comprise
the criminal justice system, including discussions of the problems and current issues confronting
legislatures, police, courts, corrections, and the community, as they respond to crime. By the end
of this course, you should be familiar with the intricacies of the criminal justice system, as well as
conversant in many of the major issues facing the criminal justice system today.

Pre-requisite: CJS 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice

Course Materials:
This course will utilize a textbook, which is available at the Campus Bookstore and Off Campus
Books. Supplemental readings will be provided via WebCT and class handouts.

Required text:
Siegel, Larry J. and Senna, Joseph J. Essentials of Criminal Justice. 5th ed. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Course Requirements:
™ Attendance/Participation: Students will receive up to 25 points for class participation.
Participation is not mere attendance students must respond to questions posed by the
instructor and actively engage in class discussions/ activities. If you do not actively
participate, fail to attend classes, and/ or are not prepared for class, you can not
participate effectively and will not receive points.
™ Exams: There will be three exams over the duration of the semester, two of which will be
worth 50% of your grade. The lowest test grade will be dropped. If you miss a test that
grade will be dropped. The exams will cover material from the textbook, supplementary

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 readings, lectures, and class discussions, and will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank,
true/false, short answer, and essay questions.
™ Report / presentation: Each student will select a current topic in the field of criminal
justice and complete a 8-12 page comprehensive report on this subject. Students will then
give a brief (15 min.) oral presentation on that topic. Topics, research, and formats will be
thoroughly discussed in class. Handouts will be provided for all activities. Keep in mind your
paper/ presentation counts for 25% of your grade, appropriate time and effort should be
devoted to this.

Grading Structure:

Participation 25%
Exam 1 25%
Exam 2 25%
Exam 3 25%
Report/ presentation 25%
Total 100%

Scale:

98-100 A+ 77-79 C+
94-97 A 73-76 C
90-93 A- 70-72 C-
87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
83-86 B 63-66 D
80-82 B- 60-62 D-
59 and below F

Policies and Procedures: Exams will be conducted in class. Assignments must be turned in at the
beginning of class on the due date. Due to the ability of students to drop an exam without penalty
make up exams will only be given in extenuating circumstance. Late assignments will not be accepted.
Note that make-up exams and assignments will only be allowed under extreme circumstances and
will require appropriate documentation. It is your responsibility to notify the instructor of any such
circumstances in a timely manner. Failure to complete an exam or assignment will result in a grade
of 0.

Academic Misconduct: References and citations should accompany your paper. Cheating and
plagiarizing other people’s words and/or ideas will not be tolerated. The university policy dictates
that students who engage in academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties. These
include automatic failure on an individual assignment, the possibility of failure in the course, and
dismissal from the university.

“Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission
for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person,

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taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or
the attempt to commit such acts.” Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3,
Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.
If you have any questions about the university’s policy on academic misconduct/scholastic
dishonesty, please consult the University of Texas at Dallas Handbook of Operating Procedures,
Title V “Student Discipline and Conduct,” Chapter 49 and http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/ .

Other information: This class will make use of WebCT for posting grades, assignments,
supplemental readings, and other pertinent information; thus, you must be able to access WebCT.
You need to check it several times a week for updates or other information. If you have not
activated your NetID, you need to do so immediately. To activate your NetID, please go to
https://netid.utdallas.edu:4443/guam/servlet/MAIN. If you have any problems, please see
https://www.utdallas.edu/distlearn/students/webct_login.htm or call the help desk at 972-883-
2911.

Course Schedule:
This outline is tentative and may be revised over the course of the semester. In addition the
instructor will provide supplemental readings via WebCT or as handouts that correspond to the
topics covered. You will be responsible for all assigned readings.

Week 1 (Aug.23): Course Overview, Syllabus, and Introductions

Week 2 (Aug.30h): Siegel: Chapter 1& 2

(Sept. 1) Last day to drop without a “W”

Week 3 (Sept.6): Siegel: Chapter 3

Report research/ outline activities

Week 4 (Sept.13): Siegel: Chapter 4 & 5

Week 5 (Sept.20): Siegel: Chapter 6

Exam 1

Week 6 (Sept 27): Siegel: Chapter 7 & 8

Week 7 (Oct.4): Chapter 9 & 10

Week 8 (Oct.11): Siegel: Chapters 11

Exam 2

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Week 9 (Oct 18): In-class exercises
(OCT. 19) Last day to drop course without instructor’s signature.

Week 10 (Oct 25): Siegel: Chapter 12

Student presentations

Week 11 (Nov.1): Siegel: Chapter 13

Student presentations

Week 12 (Nov.8): Siegel: Chapter 14

Student presentations

Week 13 (Nov. 15): Siegel: Chapter 15.

Student presentations

Week 14 No class, thanksgiving break

Week 15 (Nov 29): Final exam preparation

Papers due

Week 16 Final Exam Period

NOTE: Tape recording devices ARE NOT permitted without the express
permission of the instructor, and by prior arrangement.