CRJ 405, Fall 2010

Dr. Randall G. Shelden

Office: GUA, room 5140

Phone: 895-0251; e-mail: shelden@unlv.nevada.edu

Web site: www.sheldensays.com

Office Hours:  Monday and Wed. 10-11:00 AM; Tuesday 8-11AM

Graduate Assistant:  Omar Melchor-Ayala melchor2@unlv.nevada.edu

Required Readings:

I.  On my web site: look under UNLV Student’s Page: Click on title to order book and save money!!

Randall G. Shelden, Controlling the Dangerous Classes: A History of Criminal Justice (2^nd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. 

Suggested web sites:

http://216.198.222.116/childhistory/FRAMES/history.htm

http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/about/train

Aim of Course:

A famous philosopher George Santayana said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We usually fail to study history and we have condemned ourselves to repeat it.  For this course, we will be reviewing some of the major themes in the history of the criminal and juvenile justice system. Specific histories of each of the major components of the criminal justice system (police, courts, corrections), plus juvenile justice will be examined via both readings and lectures.  A special look at women and the criminal/juvenile justice system will also be examined. Finally, there will be a look ahead in the new century with an examination of the “crime control industry.” Among the specific themes to be covered during the course lectures will be that of race, class and gender bias throughout American history.  We will be constantly looking back into history with an eye to how it relates to today and the future.  There will be a special focus, throughout the course, on the “war on drugs.” 

 Course Grading and Exams:  Your grade in the course will be based upon your scores on three exams (each worth 100 points).  For each exam, the grade will be based upon the following formula: 90% or more = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, below 60% = F.  Final grades are based upon the following formula: 270-300 = A, 240-279 = B, 210-239 = C, 180-209 = D, below 180 = F. Grades of plus or minus will be given in borderline cases. Several films will be shown and students may be asked to write a brief review of one or more of these films.  The review will be included as part of the exam.  Details will be provided during class.

Note: There will be no make-ups unless there is an extremely unusual situation, and then the student must contact our office prior to the scheduled exam. 

Classroom Courtesy:

Please make every effort to arrive to class on time and stay until class is completed.  However, if you are running late, I hope you do not miss class because of this.  If you are late or have to leave early, please do so as quietly as possible.  Positively no cell phones, beepers, etc. are permitted (turn them off before you get to class).  And please do not talk while others (including the instructor) are talking.  It is rude behavior and will not be tolerated.

Disability Statement:  If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the Disability Resource Center for coordination in your academic accommodations.  The DRC is located in the Reynolds Student Services Complex in room 137.  The DRC phone number is 895-0866 (TDD - 895-0652).

Dates                        Topic                        Reading Assignments                    

8/23                       Overview of class                                  none

8/25                       Historical Overview                                 Introduction

8/30 – 9/1             History from a Critical Perspective             Introduction

 9/6                            Labor Day

9/8                        Development of Criminal Law                   Chapter 1

9/13 – 9/15             Case Study: Internment of Japanese Americans in World War II Film: "Come See the Paradise"

9/20 – 9/22             Police History                                        Chapter 2

9/27                       Review for first exam

9/29                           First Exam (covering above assignments)

10/4                           No Class

10/ 6                      History of the Courts                              Chapter 3

10/11 – 10/13 Case Study: Southern Justice - The Scottsboro Case

                                    Film: "Heavens Fall"

 Note some minor changes below

10/20 – 10/25         Prisons                                                          Chapter 4

                                  Letter from a Birmingham Jail - Martin Luther King

10/27                     Film on Eastern State Penitentiary

11/1 – 11/3             Juvenile Justice                                     Chapter 5              

11/8                       Review for Second Exam    

11/10                         Second exam (covering assignments since first exam)

11/15                     Women and Criminal Justice                     Chapter 6

11/17                         No Class

11/22                     Women and Criminal Justice                     Chapter 6

 11/24                       No Class

11/29                    Crime Control in the New Millennium          Chapter 7

12/1                       Where do we go from here?                    Chapter 8

                             Review for final exam

12/6                           Final exam (covering assignments since second exam)