CRJ 409-002, Spring 2012 (On-line version)
Youth, Crime and Society
R. 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: Natalie Martinez; GUA, room 5159 e-mail: marti116@unlv.nevada.edu

 

Course Description:

This course will explore the problem of youth crime and delinquency in modern society. The course will also focus on solutions to the problem by addressing several alternatives to institutionalization.

Teaching Method:

This class will be highly interactive as it encourages students to engage in discussions among themselves and with the instructor. For each chapter there is a module that helps guide you throughout the course.

Required Reading (available at the bookstore):

Randall G. Shelden, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice in America (2nd ed). Waveland Press, 2006.

On the Internet:

Ex Parte Crouse: http://www.sheldensays.com/Ex%20Parte%20Crouse.htm;

Suggested web sites for further reading:

Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice: www.cjcj.org
Justice Policy Institute: http://www.justicepolicy.org/
American Youth Policy Forum: http://www.aypf.org/
Juvenile Justice Evaluation Center: http://www.jrsa.org/jjec/index.html
Center on Children Exposed to Violence: http://www.nccev.org/violence/school.html
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: http://www.ojjdp.gov/

Course Grading and Exams:

Your grade in the course will be based upon your scores on four exams (each worth a possible 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: 360-400 = A, 320-359 = B, 280-319 = C, 240-279 = D, below 240 = F. Grades of plus or minus will be given in borderline cases. There will be an opportunity to earn some extra credit points by participating in a question and answer session two or three times during the semester. Tentative dates provided below. Details will be provided in class. Note: You can take the exams at any time during the week noted on the schedule of assignments below. Each exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice and true and false questions. You will have 50 minutes to complete the exam.

Academic Misconduct – Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another, from the Internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources. See the Student Academic Misconduct Policy (approved December 9, 2005) located at: http://studentconduct.unlv.edu/misconduct/policy.html.

 
Copyright – The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. You are individually and solely responsible for violations of copyright and fair use laws. The university will neither protect nor defend you nor assume any responsibility for employee or student violations of fair use laws. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. Additional information can be found at: http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright/.

 
Disability Resource Center (DRC)– It is important to know that over two-thirds of the students in the DRC reported that this syllabus statement, often read aloud by the faculty during class, directed them to the DRC office. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) coordinates all academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The DRC is the official office to review and house disability documentation for students, and to provide them with an official Academic Accommodation Plan to present to the faculty if an accommodation is warranted. Faculty should not provide students accommodations without being in receipt of this plan. UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offering reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, you will need to contact the DRC for the coordination of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC-A), Room 143, and the contact numbers are: Voice (702) 895-0866, fax (702) 895-0651. For additional information, please visit: http://drc.unlv.edu/.

 
Religious Holidays Policy -- Any student missing class quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall be given an opportunity during that semester to make up missed work. The make-up will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It shall be the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor no later than the last day at late registration of his or her intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering the test or examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the university which could not be avoided. For additional information, please visit: http://catalog.unlv.acalog.com/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=44&bc=1.

 
Tutoring -- The Academic Success Center (ASC) provides tutoring and academic assistance for all UNLV students taking UNLV courses. Students are encouraged to stop by the ASC to learn more about subjects offered, tutoring times and other academic resources. The ASC is located across from the Student Services Complex, #22 on the current UNLV map. Students may learn more about tutoring services by calling (702) 895-3177 or visiting the tutoring web site at: http://academicsuccess.unlv.edu/tutoring/.

 
UNLV Writing Center – The following statement is recommended for inclusion in course syllabi: One-on-one or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to UNLV students at the Writing Center, located in CDC-3-301. Although walk-in consultations are sometimes available, students with appointments will receive priority assistance. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 895-3908. The student’s Rebel ID Card, a copy of the assignment (if possible), and two copies of any writing to be reviewed are requested for the consultation. More information can be found at: http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/

 
Rebelmail – By policy, faculty and staff should e-mail students’ Rebelmail accounts only. Rebelmail is UNLV’s Official e-mail system for students. It is one of the primary ways students receive official university communication such as information about deadlines, major campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after they have been admitted to the university. Students’ e-mail prefixes are listed on class rosters. The suffix is always @unlv.nevada.edu. Any other class specific policies (e.g., absences, make-up exams, extra credit policies, plagiarism/cheating consequences, policy on pagers/mobile phones, specialized department or college tutoring programs, bringing children to class, policy on recording classroom lectures, etc.)

Course Assignments and Exams: The following schedule should be viewed as an ideal plan, subject to change. If there are any changes, they will be announced in class. Students will be responsible for coming to class and being aware of any changes.

 

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Schedule of Assignments and Exams

Dates                           Topic                                      Reading Assignments
(week of)

1/16                             Myths and Facts Shelden, Delinquency and Juvenile Justice in America (hereafter “text”), Introduction

1/23                             Historical Overview                Text, chapter 1; Ex Parte Crouse

1/30                             Extent of Delinquency            Text, chapter 2
Nature of Delinquency           Text, chapter 3

Review for first exam (see study guide)

FIRST EXAM (covering above assignments) to be taken between 2/6 and 2/8
 

2/13                             Youth Gangs                                      Text, chapter 4
Female Delinquency                           Text, chapter 5

2/20                             Theories of Delinquency                     Text, chapter 6

2/27                             Theories of Delinquency                     Text, chapter 7
 

Review for second exam (see study guide)
 

SECOND EXAM (covering assignments since 1st exam) to be taken between 3/5 and 3/7
 

3/12                             The Social Context                             Text, chapter 8
 

3/19                             The Family & Schools                         Text, chapters 9-10
 

Review for third exam (see study guide)

THIRD EXAM (covering assignments since 2nd exam) to be taken between 3/26 and 3/28
 

4/2                               Spring Break

4/9                               Juvenile Justice Processing                 Text, chapter 11

4/16                             Juvenile Institutions                            Text, chapter 12

4/23                             The Double Standard                          Text, chapter 13

4/30                             Sensible Solutions                               Text, chapter 14
 

Review for final exam (see study guide)
 

FINAL EXAM (covering assignments since 3nd exam) to be taken between 5/7 and 5/9