University of Rhode Island

Criminology and Criminal Justice

CCJ/PSC 274 – Criminal Justice System

Syllabus for Fall 2023

Meeting Time: Tue/Thur 11:00am-12:15pm Instructor: Reinmar Freis-Beattie, PhD

Location: White Hall 205 Instructor Office: 227 Chafee Hall
Section: 002 Instructor Email: reinmar.freisbeattie@uri.edu
CRN: 5571/5573 Office Hours/Availability: Tuesdays: 1pm-2pm;
Credit Hours: 3 Wednesdays: 10am-12pm; or by appointment
Prerequisites: None (zoom or in-person; email for appointment)

Catalog Description: The American system of criminal justice, general processing of cases, principal
actors, study of theories of criminal law, and pretrial detention and sentencing.

Required Text: Introduction to Criminal Justice: Systems, Diversity, and Change 4th Ed. (2022) By
Callie Marie Rennison and Mary Dodge. Sage Publications ISBN: 978-1544398846

It is your responsibility to have access to all required materials. You are required to personally purchase, rent, or
otherwise access the required materials. Purchasing or renting the eBook version is highly recommended for this
course if you do not have a physical copy by the beginning of the semester.
• Purchase on Amazon: https://a.co/d/d2Z6qzJ
• Purchase RedShelf eBook: https://redshelf.com/app/ecom/book/1668920/introduction-to-criminal-
justice-1668920-9781544398754-callie-marie-rennison-mary-dodge
Additional required course materials (readings, documentaries, etc.) will be posted to Brightspace.

Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is to familiarize you with the structure and the functioning
of the American criminal justice system. We will explore three main issues. The first is the conflict
between our desires for safety, on the one hand, and freedom, on the other. The second issue is the
systematic nature of American criminal justice, that is, the degree to which the various agencies are
interrelated and operate together to achieve common goals. As will be seen, the conflict between safety
and liberty has significant implication for the degree to which criminal justice agencies form a system.
Finally, a third issue is the extent to which the system operates to provide equal protection for all or to
privilege some while disadvantaging others. To address these issues, students will explore work from a
variety of disciplines: law, political science, history, anthropology, sociology, criminology, psychology,
philosophy, and economics, for example.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Discuss the historical development of the criminal justice system, including the police, the courts, and
the correctional system.
2. Explain the state of the current criminal justice system in the United States.
3. Describe the problems and practices of the police.
4. Analyze the workings of the courts and the agents of the court, as well as the workings and influence
of the correctional system in our society.
5. Identify the differences in how the criminal justice system treats males and females, as well as
minorities.

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This course, and its assigned and presented material, is for mature audiences. It may include adult themes
and depictions/discussions of violence, sexuality, sexual encounters, sexual assault, nudity, profanity, torture,
murder, assault, upsetting material, and the like. The study of our subject material requires us to learn about
these matters; further, it means that potentially upsetting topics may come up during conversation without
warning. Hence this is your one and only notice, and it applies to the entire course. You are required to study
all material and do so a mature and scholarly fashion. If you are unable or do not wish to approach the
course and its material in a mature and scholarly fashion, it is recommended that you speak with your
adviser immediately and withdraw from the course. To know more or to discuss further, please contact me
before proceeding with the course.

Teaching Methodology: This course is conducted in-person and involves a variety of activities including
lectures, readings, documentaries, discussions, and in-class activities. Regular attendance and enthusiastic
participation are required and will make the class a much better experience. This course engages a
variety of topics and perspectives, some of which may be considered controversial. Sometimes, this
leads to difficult discussions. All students are encouraged to share their informed thoughts, ideas,
viewpoints, and questions in a respectful manner.

In fact, this course is built around research regarding learning and the best practices in teaching. One
central concept in learning is known as Bloom’s taxonomy, which outlines how one can accomplish
higher levels of thinking on any subject. Critical thinking is the process of engaging with reputable
research on matters to form educated perspectives on complex matters. To achieve this necessary goal of
a university education, one must start at the bottom of the pyramid and accomplish the mission at hand
before proceeding onto higher levels and eventually critical thinking. Like a house that falls apart with a
poor foundation, failure to work on lower levels will result in an inability to achieve higher ones and
consequently an inability to achieve critical thinking.

I have designed all course tasks to support you in the process. As you can see from the diagram shared,
for you to achieve each level in the taxonomy, you must devote yourself to each assigned related course
task as it is assigned. In doing so, at the end of the semester, you will achieve the highest level of the
pyramid, critical thinking about crime and media. This course is designed to engage you throughout this
learning process. Consistent with the themes of the course and best practices for learning, we will also use
various formats (e.g., videos/films, readings, activities, etc.) for learning.

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CCJ/PSC 274 Syllabus Fall 2023

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Welcome Activity and Mid-Semester Check In – 20 Points (~2% of final grade) The first assignment
is a welcome activity telling me about yourself and your interests in the course. Approximately halfway
through the course, students will also complete a “check in” assignment to assess their progress.

Participation/Professionalism - 80 Points total (~11% of final grade). Participation is assessed by

completion of in-class activities and professionalism in the course. Consistent attendance and active
participation are required. The extent to which you engage with and contribute thoughtfully to the course
will ultimately impact your overall grade. Throughout the semester, points are awarded for completion
of in-class activities. Students who contribute frequently to class discussions can earn bonus credit. In-
class activities cannot be made up. Students can miss three (3) in-class activities before affecting
their grade. However, missing seven (7) or more will result in a “0” grade for participation. Grade
may also be adjusted based on a student’s professionalism in and out of the classroom.

Review Assignments - 100 Points total (~14% of final grade). Assignments include a syllabus quiz
and multiple-choice reading review quizzes administered on Brightspace. Each homework quiz
corresponds to an assigned chapter and assesses materials discussed in the reading. Assignments are
timed but can be taken multiple times before the due date. Only the highest score will be counted. A
total of 12 online review assignments worth 10 points each plus the syllabus quiz worth 10 points.
Lowest three (3) review assignment grades are dropped at the end of the semester.

Exams - 400 Points total (~60% of final grade). Four exams (worth 100 pts each) will be given
throughout the semester to assess students’ learning of course material. Exams are timed and cover
readings, lecture materials, films, and other assigned materials. Exam questions are a mix of multiple
choice and true/false questions. Exams are completed during class time. If you must miss an exam
class period, you must contact me immediately or you may not be allowed to take the exam.

Final - 100 Points total (~14% of final grade). The final requirement of this course will be a cumulative,
take-home final essay. This will be completed out of class and require students to demonstrate both breadth
and depth of course materials. The Final is due during finals week and will be submitted through the
course Brightspace page. Details and requirements will be provided at the end of the semester.

GRADING AND EVALUATION

This course follows URI policies on grading. Final grades are rounded to the nearest full number (e.g.,
89.50% becomes 90% and 69.49 is 69%). In general, the grading scale:
Letter Grade/Percentage Assignment Points
A 94-100% EXAMS 400
A- 90-93% FINAL 100
B+ 87-89% ASSIGNMENTS 100
B 83-86% PARTICIPATION 80
B- 80-82% WELCOME/CHECK IN 20
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 65-69% Grades calculated as a percentage
D 60-64% (Total earned points/Total possible points)
F Below 60%

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CCJ/PSC 274 Syllabus Fall 2023

Course Schedule: CCJ/PSC 274 Fall 2023

Week Date Topic Reading Due
1 07 Sept Welcome Syllabus Welcome Activity & Syllabus Quiz
(available until 9/15)
2 12 Sept Crime and Criminal Justice Ch. 1 Ch. 1 Review
2 14 Sept Crime and Criminal Justice Ch. 2 Ch. 2 Review
3 19 Sept Law and Justice Ch. 3 Ch. 3 Review
3 21 Sept Law and Justice
4 26 Sept Catch Up/Review Day
4 28 Sept Exam 1 Exam 1
5 03 Oct Policing and Law Enforcement Ch. 4 Ch. 4 Review
5 05 Oct Policing and Law Enforcement Ch. 5 Ch. 5 Review
6 10 Oct Columbus Day Make Up – No
Class
6 12 Oct Policing and Law Enforcement Ch. 6 Ch. 6 Review
7 17 Oct Catch Up/Review Day
7 19 Oct Exam 2 Exam 2
8 24 Oct Courts Ch. 7 Ch. 7 Review
8 26 Oct Courts Ch. 8 Ch. 8 Review
9 31 Oct Courts Ch. 9 Ch. 9 Review
9 02 Nov Courts
10 07 Nov Catch Up/Review Day
10 09 Nov Exam 3 Exam 3
11 14 Nov Corrections Ch. 10 Ch. 10 Review
11 16 Nov Corrections Ch. 11 Ch. 11 Review
12 21 Nov Corrections
12 23 Nov Thanksgiving Day – No Class
13 28 Nov Corrections Ch. 12 Ch. 12 Review
13 30 Nov Catch Up/Review Day
14 05 Dec Exam 4 Exam 4
14 07 Dec Final Essay Assignment Day
15 12 Dec Help Day
15 14 Dec Finals Final TBD
16 19 Dec Finals Final TBD
Week Date Topic Reading Due
Note: Course schedule is a guide. The instructor reserves the rights to change and modify dates. All readings and
assignments are to be completed for the date listed. Students are expected to come to class prepared and having
read or viewed all materials.

Technology Requirements: A Desktop, Laptop, or Tablet with internet access (preferably with Chrome
or Firefox) and Microsoft Word or another text-based program are required to complete this course. Your
computer and internet browser must be able to access all course materials on Brightspace, including
videos and .pdf documents. Please note that if your computer cannot access these currently, there are a
number of free and inexpensive programs that you can download from the Internet to view such
documents/videos. Computers are available to all students in the Library and other locations on campus,
listed here: https://its.uri.edu/services/94530c3ec21b9cf7a94c7f44afbf2123ddc2f7f9c6/ You will also
need access to Microsoft Office and Adobe Reader. These programs are all free – you will need to log-in
using your URI single sign-on (SSO) to utilize the Microsoft license that URI provides for free to
students. See more here: https://its.uri.edu/services/

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CCJ/PSC 274 Syllabus Fall 2023

Brightspace: Brightspace access is required to complete this course. It is also considered best practice to
check Brightspace regularly for messages and announcements, and to not only rely on college emails
triggered from Brightspace. URI IT does not recommend using Chromebooks, as they often encounter
several issues with programs and technology used by URI and students. Please see URI Information
Technology Services for assistance at https://its.uri.edu/ and additional information on minimum
technology requirements.

Zoom: Virtual meetings may be used of office hours or in cases where in-person instruction is not
feasible. If you have not yet set up your Zoom account, it can be accessed through the Office 365 Portal
using you URI email.

COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Learning: Students are expected to thoughtfully engage with the class and course material. I strongly
encourage students to challenge themselves and share their informed positions. Students should come to
class having completed and thoughtfully considered the assigned reading. Students should come to class
prepared to share and listen to a variety of perspectives.

Performance: Students are expected and required to academically perform (including have a reading
comprehension and write) at the college level and the specific level of the course. Read and follow all
assignment instructions and handouts.

Professionalism: Students are expected and required to exhibit appropriate and professional behavior in
the classroom, on Brightspace, in emails, and in meetings with the instructor and teaching assistant.
Failing to exhibit appropriate and professional behavior will have repercussions as deemed appropriate by
the instructor.

Syllabus: Students are required to know and follow the course syllabus. This syllabus is a working draft.
The instructor reserves the right to make any changes to it when warranted by the instructor. It is the
responsibility of the student to attend class and check Brightspace to keep up to date with the class.

Submitting Assignments: To not be considered late, unless otherwise instructed, assignments are to be
submitted (1) in the designated place (see assignment instructions for details) by the time and date
indicated for the assignment and (2) submitted in the correct format. Assignments submitted anywhere
besides the indicated submission area and on the assigned due date and time will not be accepted for
credit.

Late Assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted for credit. If you miss an assignment (i.e., fail
to submit an assignment by it due date and time, etc.), you will receive a zero for that assignment.
Exception: You were physically/mentally incapacitated on the day an assessment was due, and you
provide the teaching assistant verification of your condition from a health-care professional. In this case,
you must email the professor within 24 hours after class date in question. If you successfully obtain
permission to do so, you must submit the assessment within 48 hours of the missed class date in question
or the assessment will receive a zero. In the case of missing presentations and the like, further instructions
and requirements will be provided. In the case of continued incapacitation, contact the professor as soon
as possible.

Missed In-Class Activities and Other Opportunities: The instructor does not distinguish between
“excused” and “unexcused” absences. A certain number of absences are forgiven regardless of
circumstances. Students who miss a class are responsible for all readings, lecture material, and

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announcements. Missed in-class activities cannot be made up. By missing class, students forgo all
opportunities offered to the class during the class period including, but not limited to, participation, group
work, or add-on activities. See Participation Grade for more information about missed in-class activities.

Missed Exams: In the event you miss an exam, you will receive a zero. Exception: You are missing due
to a University-sanctioned event (e.g., athletics, religious, military) and provided the instructor with
documentation prior to exam date. Additionally, if you were physically/mentally incapacitated on the day
an assessment was due or administered, and you provide verification of your condition from a health-care
professional. In this case, you must email the professor your documentation within 24 hours after class
date in question. In your email, please attach your verification (i.e., scan and attach doctor's note). If you
successfully obtain permission to do so, you must take/submit the assessment by the new date, or the
assessment will receive a zero. In the case of continued incapacitation, contact the professor immediately.

Internet, Brightspace, and Computer Issues: Personal issues with the internet, Brightspace and its
features, your URI email and other accounts, computers and the like will not be taken as an excuse for
failure to prepare for class, assignment/assessments, and the like. Due dates and times will not be changed
due to individual technology problems. It is advisable not to wait until the last minute to submit material
and risk having problems with your internet connection or computer, and to have back-up locations to
access reliable computers and internet. If you need assistance, please contact the appropriate university
technology resources. Exception: Issue is on the side of the university that is beyond the control of the
student (e.g., power outage at university that causes Brightspace to go down, etc.) and is documented, by
appropriate university personnel, for the professor. Said documentation must be obtained by the student
and then provided to the instructor.

Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are made for this course in accordance with URI policies
(e.g., disability/medical, athletics, military commitments, religious commitments, etc.). For disability and
medical related accommodations: Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made to the Office of
Disability, Access, and Inclusion (DAI) who will evaluate circumstances and develop an accommodation
plan. Students with an accommodation plan must discuss the implementation of specific accommodations
in the course. Please notify the instructor of any urgent and documented extreme circumstances when a
student is unable to complete the course requirements (e.g., death in the family, diagnosis of terminal illness,
etc.); appropriate policies will be followed. Accommodations are not retroactive. You must notify and
provide proper and official documentation to professor before any associated assignment.

COVID-19/Viral Illness Precautions Statement: The University is committed to delivering its

educational mission while protecting the health and safety of our community. As members of the URI
community, students are required to comply with standards of conduct and take precautions to keep
themselves and others safe. Students who are experiencing symptoms of viral illness should NOT go to
class/work. Those who test positive for COVID-19 should follow the isolation guidelines from the Rhode
Island Department of Health and CDC. Currently, in this class students are asked to use their best
judgement. Wearing a mask is strongly encouraged. Students who are exhibiting symptoms or testing
positive of contagious illness are asked to remain home. Failure to follow COVID-19 policies may result
in removal from the course. As this is a continually evolving situation, we may need to make instructional
changes during the semester.

Add/Drop Procedures for Fall 2023: Courses can be added until Sept. 12th on ecampus. Courses
dropped on or after Sept. 28th will reflect a “W” on transcripts, courses require a late drop form after Oct.
18th. For more information about important registration deadlines see: https://web.uri.edu/academic-
calendars/

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INSTRUCTOR FEEDBACK

Assignments Graded/Returned: Assignment due dates are reflected in the syllabus. The instructor will
return work and feedback on the course Brightspace page and is available to discuss grades during office
hours or by appointment.

Discussing Grades: Once a grade has been posted on Brightspace or reviewed in class, you must wait 24
hours before contacting the instructor to discuss your grade and, when appropriate, set up a time to review
your assessment. Please make sure to notify the instructor of your intent to meet with them so that they
can pull and review the assignment/assessment in question prior to your meeting. To maintain the
integrity of the course and assessments, assessments will not be returned to students, meetings to discuss
a test will not occur until after all students have taken said test, and students are not to copy verbatim test
questions and answers.

PLAGARISM AND CHEATING

Academic Honesty: Students must appropriately document and cite all sources used in course work.
Cheating of any kind is strictly prohibited. I take plagiarism and cheating seriously and so does URI.
Those who are caught plagiarizing or cheating will automatically fail the assignment and may also be
removed from the course and be subject to disciplinary action by URI. Use of Generative AI (such as
Chat-GPT and others) are prohibited in this course. Use of these programs or copy-pasting material from
internet sources is considered a violation of academic integrity.

BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM

This class deals with difficult and sometimes controversial topics, materials, and themes.
Appropriate conduct for a University-level course is required at all times in the classroom,
including online discussion boards, emails, etc.

Respect: Be respectful. Individuals will likely have differing opinions on topics covered in this class.
While you may disagree with others, it is not appropriate to be disrespectful. In addition, do not
participate in or encourage disruptive or inappropriate behavior. Do not participate in side-talking or non-
verbal communication. All students are expected to adhere to the student code of conduct while in class.
See the URI Student Handbook for University wide conduct policies at: https://web.uri.edu/wp-
content/uploads/sites/1081/Student-Handbook-FINAL-08.22.2019.pdf

Responsibility: Be responsible. Come to, prepare for, and be actively engaged in class. Be up to date on
all readings and assignments and participate in class discussions. Lectures are conducted under the
assumption that you have prepared for the class by completing assigned reading material. If a student has
questions/issues, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate a discussion with the instructor.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM

Certain activities may be completed on a computer, smartphone or tablet, ONLY if it is being used for
class purposes during the designated time. Use of electronic devices for non-course activities or outside of
designated time is considered disruptive and strictly prohibited. Cell phones may only be used for specific
activities. If you must use your phone, please excuse yourself from the classroom. Students are not
permitted to record any class lectures, activities or discussion using electronic video, still photo, or audio
recording unless the student first obtains permission from the instructor. If the recording is made as a

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recommended, reasonable accommodation or modification for a student with a disability, permission shall
not be unreasonably withheld.

EMAIL POLICY

Email Questions from Students: The instructor will generally respond within 24 hours to emails
received during business hours Monday – Friday. Responses may take longer on weekends and holidays.
Students are expected to check the syllabus, assignment prompts, and course Brightspace page before
emailing questions. Make sure to indicate which course and section you are in when emailing.

Students are expected to use only their URI email address for all correspondence with faculty and staff at
the university. Any correspondence not using college email is subject to quarantine and/or removal from
the URI email server and will not be answered. Students are also expected to check their email regularly
throughout the week. If you need assistance in how to access your URI email contact Information
Technology Services (ITS).

Brightspace is not an email server. You will more than likely receive an email of any messages created by
the instructor in Brightspace. Although the reception of this commensurate email is “more than likely,” it
does not appear to be 100% - therefore, it is considered best practice to check Brightspace regularly for
messages and announcements, and to not only rely on college emails triggered from Brightspace.

STUDENT SUPPORT AT URI

Anti-Bias Statement: We respect the rights and dignity of each individual and group. We reject prejudice
and intolerance, and we work to understand differences. We believe that equity and inclusion are critical
components for campus community members to thrive. If you are a target or a witness of a bias incident,
you are encouraged to submit a report to the URI Bias Response Team at www.uri.edu/brt. There you will
also find people and resources to help.

Title IX Statement: URI Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Assistants have a legal obligation to report
information concerning sexual misconduct, violence and exploitation of individuals per federal statute
and in compliance with established policies and procedures at URI to the Title IX Coordinator. For more
information, see: https://web.uri.edu/titleix/

Disability, Access, and Inclusion Services for Students Statement: Your access in this course is
important. Please send me your Disability, Access, and Inclusion (DAI) accommodation letter early in the
semester so that we have adequate time to discuss and arrange your approved academic accommodations.
If you have not yet established services through DAI, please contact them to engage in a confidential
conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations in the classroom. DAI can be
reached by calling: 401-874-2098, visiting: web.uri.edu/disability, or emailing: dai@etal.uri.edu. We are
available to meet with students enrolled in Kingston as well as Providence courses.

Technology Help for Students: If you are having any problems with Brightspace, URI email, or have
other computer related questions or problems please contact the ITS Student Technology Center:
https://its.uri.edu/

Academic Enhancement Center: The Academic Enhancement Center (AEC) offers face-to-face and
online services to undergraduate students seeking academic support beginning Monday, September 12th,
2022. Services are based out of Roosevelt Hall, the Carothers Library room LL004, and online. Peer
tutoring is available for STEM-related courses through drop-in centers and small-group tutoring. The

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Writing Center peer consultants offer feedback focused on supporting undergraduate writers at any stage
of a writing assignment. The UCS 160 course and one-to-one Academic Skills Consultations offer
strategies for improving studying and test-taking skills. Complete details about each of these programs,
up-to-date schedules, contact information, and self-service study resources are all available on the AEC
website, uri.edu/aec.
• STEM Tutoring helps undergraduate students navigate a variety of 100 and 200 level STEM courses
and a limited selection of BUS, STA, ECN, and CSC courses. The STEM Tutoring program offers
free peer tutoring in-person and online. Students can select occasional or weekly tutoring sessions
through the TracCloud system or visit the Drop-In Center, located in the Carothers Library lower
level room LL004. The TracCloud application is available through URI Microsoft 365 single sign-on
and more detailed information and instructions can be found at uri.edu/aec/tutoring.
• Academic Skills Development programs teach students how to manage time, study effectively, and
address common academic challenges. UCS 160: Success in Higher Education is a one-credit course
focused on developing strategic approaches to planning and studying. Academic Consultations are 1
to 1 meetings that help students to identify and address individual academic challenges. Students can
schedule an in-person or online consultation with David Hayes on Starfish. Study Your Way to
Success is a self-guided web portal connecting students to tips and strategies on studying and time
management related topics. For information or help with scheduling, contact Dr. Hayes directly
at davidhayes@uri.edu.
• The Undergraduate Writing Center provides peer writing support to students in any class, at any stage
of the writing process: from understanding an assignment and brainstorming ideas, to developing,
organizing, and revising a draft. Writing consultations are available through: 1) 25- or 50-minute in-
person appointments, 2) synchronous online appointments, and 3) asynchronous written feedback.

Additional Support Resources: URI offers many additional support resources to students:
• Community, Equity, and Diversity: https://web.uri.edu/diversity/
• Counseling Center: https://web.uri.edu/counseling/
• Gender and Sexuality Center: https://web.uri.edu/gender-sexuality/
• Health Services: https://web.uri.edu/healthservices/
• Multicultural Student Services Center: https://web.uri.edu/mcc/
• Rhody Outpost Food Pantry: https://web.uri.edu/rhody-outpost/
• URI Police: https://web.uri.edu/police/

More information on support resources is available at: https://www.uri.edu/gateway/students/ and

https://web.uri.edu/deanofstudents/

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