COURSE INFORMATION

Course title:

Legal Aspects of Corrections

Course number:

CJCR 2325.090

Course discipline:

Criminal Justice

Course description:

This course is a study of the operation, management, and legal issues affecting corrections. It includes an analysis of constitutional issues involving rights of the convicted, as well as civil liability of correctional agencies and staff.

Course date:

Spring, Flex II  2010

Location:

VCT/Internet

Log in web: 

 Prerequisite(s): 

https://vista.accd.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct

None

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name:

Ray Gill

Email:

rgill2@alamo.edu       

Phone:

Phone: (210)  520-6050  

TEXTBOOK(s)

Required reading:

Legal Aspects of Corrections Management  by Clair A. Cripe, Michael G. Pearlman; latest edition

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Explain the role of correctional institutions

Have an understanding of the interests of the institution versus inmate’s rights

Discuss the history of prisoner’s rights in America, including the changing role of the courts in determining prisoner’s rights

Distinguish the types of laws that cover correctional law: constitution; statutes; and case law

Show awareness of the three basic types of prisoner litigation: habeas corpus, tort and civil rights lawsuits

Explain inmates’ right of access to the courts and to counsel

Understand how the First Amendment affects inmates’ rights to:

 mail;

telephone;

 inmate association;

 inmate visitation;

 religion;

 assembly;

 expression

Understand how the Fourth Amendment governs the authority of correctional

facilities’ searches and seizures of:

  Inmates

  Inmates’ cells

  Inmate’s property

  Visitors

   Employees

Understand how the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments’ due process

clauses affect the authority of the correctional facility to discipline

inmates

Understand how the Fifth and Sixth Amendments affect the inmates’

rights to remain silent and/or to counsel in disciplinary proceedings in the

facility

Discuss how the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments’ due process clauses

affect the prison classification system

Explain how the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection clause affects

prison classifications and housing

Understand how the Eighth Amendment’s  prohibition against cruel and

unusual punishment affect:

                 Conditions of confinement

                 Health care

                 Excessive use of force

     Compare and contrast the rights of parolees to the rights of probationers

Discuss the loss and possible restoration of the convict’s rights

Compare and contrast the rights of jail inmates to the rights of prison

inmates

Discuss the laws regarding correctional personnel with regard to:

     Employment

     Discrimination

     Civil Service

     Liability – criminal and/or civil

Appreciate new developments in the field of correctional laws

VCT/INTERNET Information and Policies

The course will be accessed via BB Vista on the San Antonio College server at https://vista.accd.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct

 You will need to purchase the text by the first week of the semester. Students can log on to the Virtual campus BB Vista website on the first day of class. In order to log on to BB Vista, will need an ID.  When you go to BB Vista, you will find info on how to log in.  If you run into any problems, please contact Ms Lisa 210-897-9991.  Students should have basic computer and word processing skills prior to taking the course.  You must log into the course the first week of the semester. Participation in the class is essential to learning. Failure to establish communications or submit assignments and tests when due may result in the student being dropped from the class. If you have any questions or run into any problems, please do not hesitate to contact me. Students will be required to take all exams and complete all assignments at the scheduled time.  Late work will not be accepted for any reason. 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

Introduction:

Each week you will be required to read a few chapters in your textbook and either post and respond to the weekly discussion board topic for a grade or some weeks we will have open book quizzes as opposed to db assignments.    You will also have two exams:  Mid-Term and Final that will be taken online.  They are timed and will consist of Multiple choice and True/False questions covering the material up to that point. 

GRADING

Grading Policy:

Do all assigned reading and related homework. Complete homework and tests at assigned times. Students are expected to demonstrate a mature attitude toward the subject matter and participate enthusiastically in the course. Your final grade will be based upon the following scheme subject to change.
Weekly Discussion Board postings and peer responses/quizzes                                                   =  40%
2 exams @  30% each                                             =  60%
TOTAL                                                                                                                                                                  =100%

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY

Introduction:

Plagiarism/Cheating: All students enrolled at ACCD have access to PALS by visiting the web page at:  http://sacportal.accd.edu after January 1, 2006. You are encouraged to collaborate with other students on homework using the class tools available to you through PALS; however, each student must write and submit his/her own work. Copying someone else's work does not help you learn and is regarded as academic theft. The first violation will result in a grade of zero for the work in question. Multiple violations will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action that shall, at a minimum, include a failing grade for the course. DO NOT risk your grade by trying to cheat!!! 

SCAN SKILLS

Goals/Objectives:

Scans Skills  
 
Resources:
                Time: Selects goal relevant activities and ranks them.
Information;
                Evaluates;   Acquires and evaluates information
                Interprets:   Interprets and communicates information
 
 
Basic Skills:
                Reading:  Locates, understands, and interprets written information
                Listening:  Receives, attends to, interprets and responds to verbal messages
                Speaking:  Organizes ideas and communicates orally
 
Thinking Skills:
                Creative
                Thinking:  generates new ideas
                Decision
                Making: evaluates and chooses best alternatives
 
                Problem
                Solving: Recognizes problems
                Reasoning:  Discovers relationships between two or more objects and applies it when solving a problem
 
Personal Qualities:
              Responsibility: Exerts a high level of effort towards goal attainment
              Integrity/Honesty:  Chooses ethical courses of action