SYLLABUS – AJ/SOC 484

Correctional Institutions

Spring 2001

 

 

Instructor:  Curtis R. Blakely, Ed.S.                                      Classroom:    Parkinson 108 (MWF 9-9:50)

Office:         Faner 4343      453-5701                                     Office Hours:  8:30 - 8:50 am MWF

E-mail:          rickyb103@aol.com                                                                        1 – 3 pm Wednesday   

Home:          443-6662                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                               

                                                    

Course Description:

 

Examination will be made of the roles, purposes, structures and functioning of institutional corrections within the United States.  Emphasis is placed on an understanding of the philosophies, elements, structures and programs that shape current institution operations and their impacts on offenders, staff and the community.   A decisively sociological approach will be taken toward our subject.

 

While this is not a “topics” course, a specific correctional topic or question(s) for our examination will drive most class meetings. 

 

Course Objectives:

 

1).           To explore the variety of programs being utilized in correctional institutions.

2).           To critically examine the application of these programs.

3).           To compare these strategies with more contemporary community-based methods.

4).           To determine if institutional-based corrections is effective and cost efficient.

5).           To review the role(s) that employees play within the correctional process.

6).           To determine future applications and probable deployment methods for institutional-based

correctional programs.  This will include an assessment of sentencing structures, practices,

technological developments and their place within the justice system and society.

 

Required Texts:

 

Hard Time: Understanding and Reforming the Prison 2nd ed. by Robert Johnson

Jail: Managing the Underclass in American Society by John Irwin

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

Attendance/Participation: Regular attendance is required and will be taken during each class session.  More than three unexcused absences will result in a lowering of your final course grade by one entire letter grade (i.e. an A would become B, a B would become a C, etc.). Class participation will be evaluated by the quality of responses to questions and topics derived from reading assignments.  Participation may make a difference if your final course grade is borderline (within 2 pts. of the next highest grade).  Such a determination is at the sole discretion of the instructor – solicitation by the student is not acceptable.   All assignments and exams will be graded promptly and returned to the student within one week – usually the class period following the due date (for example, every effort will be made to ensure that if an assignment/exam is turned in on a Wednesday, it will be returned to the student with comment on Friday).

 

There will be five short take-home assignments that will account for a combined 15% of your final course grade (3 pts. per assignment).

 

There will be a Midterm Exam that will comprise 30% of the student’s final course grade.

There will also be a Final Exam that will comprise 30% of the student’s final course grade.

 

Exam format will consist of T/F, short answer, multiple answer and essay questions.  Review sessions for each exam will occur during the class meeting proceeding each scheduled exam.  For example, if an exam is scheduled for a Friday, the review session will take place Wednesday during the regularly scheduled class meeting.  Review sessions will be driven primarily by student questions.  

 

All students will be required to complete a 12-15 page paper that will account for 25% of the student’s final course grade.  This paper will be double-spaced and cover an issue/program pertinent to institutional corrections.  This paper should provide a thorough description of the chosen topic along with a critical analysis.  The student is urged to discuss his/her chosen topic with the instructor.  This will ensure that the student is utilizing his/her time most efficiently.

 

Special Arrangements:

 

Every effort will be made to ensure that students requesting special arrangements for note taking, completion of assignments, readings, or test-taking are appropriately accommodated.  Therefore, special arrangements for those with a demonstrated need will be made.  The object of this course is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and acquire an education without unnecessary hindrance.  Likewise, in accordance with SIU policy, absences due to religious observances will be considered  “excused”.  However, the student will be expected to inform the instructor prior to his/her absence, and will be required to complete all appropriate readings/assignments as those attending.