Introduction to Criminal Justice

Dr. Denise Paquette Boots

Summer 2009 Course Syllabus & Calendar
Course number: CRIM 1301 0IA/CRN 10593

Days & Times Summer A (May 26th-June 30th) Online course administered via Web CT
Students required to log in to class on Web CT on May 26th

Note: Tutorial guide for new Web CT users included at back of syllabus or at:
http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8057

Web CT Class may be logged in directly through URL:

http://webct6.utdallas.edu/webct/logon/680947883111

Professor Dr. Denise Paquette Boots

Faculty Webpage: http://www.utdallas.edu/~deniseboots/
Email Address deniseboots@utdallas.edu (see Email Use section below for more info)
Office Location Green Hall 2.204
Office Hours by appointment

Course Description
This course is an introductory-level course designed to provide students with an overview of the American criminal
justice system. Material in this course is presented from a legal, criminological, historical and social systems
perspective. The goal of this course is to provide students with the knowledge to critically evaluate and discuss crime
and justice-related issues. Upon completion, students will be able to explain how the criminal justice system evolved,
how it presently operates, current problems, and be able to offer ideas for improvement.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students who take this course will be able to:
1. Understand the structure and functions of the various components of the criminal justice system.
2. Analyze criminal justice policy changes and legal rulings as they affect the criminal justice system.
3. Compare and contrast the rationales for punishing those persons who break the law.

Required Textbooks and Materials

1) Criminal Justice In Action by Larry Gaines & Roger Leroy Miller 5th Edition AND a Passcode for Web CT
WebTutor (text and access key bundled= ISBN 0495658146). Please buy your textbook and passcode at Off
Campus books on Campbell Road in Richardson (just east of campus). If you buy the text somewhere else
you still MUST purchase the access key separately from Off-Campus Books to be able to access the online
course via Web CT.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE ON TEXTBOOKS: If you opt to purchase your textbook online, make sure to
order only the 5th edition and to get your book and passcode PRIOR to the class starting. If you have ANY
doubt it will arrive in time, I encourage you to purchase the text at Off Campus Books in Richardson. I will
not make extensions on graded assignments if you do not have your book or passcode in time and the class
moves very fast as it is a summer course. Please do not ask me to borrow my text if yours has not arrived or
ask to borrow another student’s book via our email or discussion boards. It is CRITICAL that you have
your text and passcode in hand no later than the end of the first day of class on May 26th!!!

Course Policies & Requirements

FIRST DAY OF CLASS INFORMATION: All students are required to log onto Web CT on the first day of
Summer A classes (May 26th) between 6am and 10pm to:
1) RETRIEVE, DOWLOAD & THOROUGH LY READ a copy of this syllabus,
2) REVIEW ALL COURSE DEADLINES CAREFULLY, and

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 1

 3) COMPLETE YOUR FIRST POSTING ON OUR CLASS DISCUSSION BOARD
ACKNOWLEDGING TH AT YOU H AVE REVIEWED TH E COURSE DEADLINES AND
AGREE TO TH E TERMS WITH IN TH E SYLLABUS FOR TH IS COURSE .
You will receive 5 points for your participation on this first discussion board posting simply for
completing this first task and posting your reply! * Students who do not log in and post on this first
discussion board by 10pm on May 26th will not get these points—no exceptions!!!

An email will be sent to all enrolled students prior to class welcoming them to the class and letting everyone know
about this first assignment on May 26th. This course is completed within a five-week time frame and will wrap up on
June 30th; please note that although it is abbreviated, the course load is the required to be the same as that as a
semester-long course! Be prepared to do a significant amount of assignments and reading to complete the course
successfully. With that being said, I have worked hard to make this an enjoyable course. You will find many study
tools and online study aids to facilitate your learning and no papers or group work will be required for the class. I will
be online and responding to your posts frequently and available to you via email if you have any questions as you get
through the course material. You will have weekly discussion board postings and a quiz for each chapter. You will
have two online exams. Detailed and comprehensive information on the course policies, deadlines, and virtual
classroom are located here within your syllabus. It is critical for each student to read this syllabus carefully and email
me if they are not clear on the grading requirements at the outset of the class.

Please note: I will NOT make exceptions for on grading or test deadlines if a student does not follow the
directions in the syllabus!!!! Please do not email me until you have consulted your syllabus for
information provided here. Students with a verified disability through the University, who have a
university-sponsored event on test days, or who have a conflict due to religious holidays are required to
contact the instructor via email the FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES to make arrangements to accommodate
these issues.

Web CT Issues or Technical Problems

This course is offered completely through the internet using Web CT and the publisher passcode that you will purchase
with your textbook. All students are required to log in to the class via Web CT sometime on the first day of
classes for the summer 2009 term, May 26th and contact the UT Dallas Web CT Helpdesk immediately at 866-
588—3192 if you are having issues accessing the class. If students do not follow these directions and
subsequently have issues meeting deadlines, the instructor will not delay grade deadlines. Student must have
reliable access to a computer with an internet connection such as a cable modem, DSL, or a T-1 connection.
Information on minimum computer connection requirements can be found on the UT Dallas eLearning website at:
http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8057
Students with Web CT issues or problems should contact: UTD Web CT Helpdesk 24 hours a day/7 days a week at
866-588—3192 or access a live chat session for help at: http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8057

The instructor is able to verify and track all log in activity on our class site and will first verify all logon information if a
student claims to have technical issues beyond their control . If students contact the Help Desk and still are unable to
get into the class site, please email Dr. Boots directly from your email account at: deniseboots@utdallas.edu and copy
me in on all trouble tickets and correspondence that you have had with the Help Desk. If you do not have a fast
and/or reliable internet connection at your home, you MUST to do your class work at an alternate location such as at
UTD in the library or computer labs. This rule especially applies for your EXAMS, as once you log in to the exam you
will not be allowed to retake it if your internet connection is lost. Please do not risk it!!!

Please DO NOT email ME for technical support- you must contact the UT Dallas Helpdesk to resolve any user
problems you have. For additional student instructions and tips on using Web CT please see attached student
tutorial from eLearning attached at back of this syllabus.

Virtual Classroom Access/Citizenship/Participation and Discussion Boards

The key to doing well in any online course is having the self-discipline to complete your reading,
assignments, learning aids, and lectures on time. Procrastination will only cause you problems with your grades in
this class and all deadlines will be fairly and uniformly enforced. I strongly encourage you to treat this just like any
other live class—set aside a dedicated time that you do your coursework, review this syllabus regularly to ensure that
you are on task, and meet your deadlines early for all assignments. DO NOT wait until the last minute to try to get

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 2

your assignments and tests submitted—any loss of internet connection or miscalculation on your part may will result in
a zero for that requirement. As this class is exclusively taught online, your class participation will come in different
forms as you navigate the discussion boards, assignments, and other course content in this class.

While online classes give you great flexibility in taking classes that will conform to your schedules and lifestyles, do not
assume that this equates to an “easy” class. For you to succeed in this class, you will need to be an active and
intellectually engaged participant. Please use appropriate language, write in complete sentences, and use
proper grammar and punctuation for your posts and assignments. Text messaging language is NOT appropriate
anywhere in our virtual classroom, so please act and speak as you would in a live class knowing that I will be
monitoring class correspondence. Do not abbreviate or use profanity, slang, or incomplete sentences in any of your
postings or emails with the instructor or on any assignments for the class. Any student who abuses these privileges will
have their final grade penalized accordingly and at my discretion. Please do not use the discussion boards or email
system in this class for anything not related to the course. Any modifications or changes to the course will be posted as
an announcement in Web CT—it is YOUR responsibility to check these announcements frequently and keep updated
on any changes to our course calendar.

Email Use
This class is an online course, so email correspondence is vital to its success and to ensure good communication.
While you may email me via the course in Web CT, I encourage you to email me directly from your email
account at: deniseboots@utdallas.edu for a quicker response time to your emails. The University of Texas at
Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic
mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email
exchange. The university states that all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas
email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student
account. As such, I will not respond to emails from anything other than a UTD email account for your
protection.

IMPORTANT: Please include your full student name and the class name in the subject matter so I can
identify quickly it is from a student. I will promptly respond to all emails within 48 hours (but usually
immediately upon receipt). While I will make every effort to respond to your emails promptly, please plan
your work accordingly to allow for a reasonable response time from me. This means that you will be held to
the deadlines set forth on your assignments and exams unless you contact me 48 hours prior to the deadline
missed via email about any problems you are having . This provides me with enough time to help rectify the
issues within your due date guidelines. This policy allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in
the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of
Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other
accounts.

Course Assignments and Deadlines

The course is paced along with the term and allows students to work independently. This accelerated course is split
into two sections (Intro to Midterm; Midterm to Final), with coursework made available to students in advance-- you
are free to work ahead on any released chapters and assignments as you wish. The first section and all 7 assignments
are available as of the first day of class on May 26th. The second section and the last 7 assignments will be released to
you immediately after your midterm on June 9th. Again, there will be NO EXCEPTIONS made if a student fails
to meet the date and time deadline set forth on your course calendar, regardless of the excuse given. Potential
excuses include, but are not limited to: Web CT being down, illnesses, forgetfulness, falling behind, work, family,
friends, housing, sports, scheduling, relationships, and/or computer or internet access problems. Please note that
being sick is NOT a valid excuse, even with a doctor’s note. In other words, please do not try to use your issues as
an excuse for not getting your assignments submitted by their due dates. I will hold to this policy as written
here to ensure that EVERY student is treated equally and fairly.

Also be aware that I am able to track in detail your access to the Web CT system by time and date as well as the length
of time you were logged in each time. Please do not make statements which are patently dishonest about dates and
times you were in the system or problems that actually did not occur to try to make a case for late submissions—this
will be considered as an act of academic dishonesty and cheating.

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 3

The only clock that counts in the course is the one within Web CT, so set your clocks appropriately. PLEASE DO
NOT WAIT UNTIL CLOSE TO THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS, TAKE
QUIZZES, OR TO TAKE YOUR EXAMS.

For each of the 14 chapters you will have a post practice chapter quiz AND a discussion posting due for each
chapter as illustrated below. Please read this section COMPLETELY and then follow this same template for
EACH chapter. If you do not follow the directions you will get a zero for your discussion board posting—I do not
give partial credit. The deadlines for all chapters are included in this syllabus under the COURSE CALENDAR
section that follows:

1. Read Chapter 1 in your textbook and review the CHAPTER OUTLINES and POWERPOINTS for this
chapter by clicking on the icons on your Web CT course home page. Next, click on the COURSE
CONTENT icon or the LEARNING MODULES link on your main menu (left side of home page), click
on Chapter 1, and use the study aids and media to ensure that you have comprehended this material (e.g.,
crossword puzzle, flashcards, glossary, learning objectives, Stories from the Street, Chapter Media, etc.) to
practice your reading and key term comprehension. IMPORTANT: Under the Chapter Media
section for each chapter (except Chapter 5), you will see a section titled “Writing Activities”—DO
NOT DO TH IS ASSIGNMENT IN TH IS AREA AND SUBMIT IT! I H AVE COPIED
TH ESE ACTIVITIES TO YOUR DISCUSSION BOARD AND YOU ARE TO SUBMIT
TH EM AS DESCRIBED BELOW. IF YOU COMPLETE TH E WRITING ACTIVITIES
UNDER CH APTER MEDIA YOU WILL NOT GET CREDIT. Please follow the directions below and do
not access this one area of the Chapter Media section in your online study aids- feel free to use the other components under this
title.

2. Once you are confident that you understand the material for that chapter, you must complete TWO
different activities for each chapter. First, you will take a QUIZ for each chapter and submit it
within Web CT. To do this, you simply access the COURSE CONTENT menu for each chapter, and
then click on the last link under each chapter labeled “POST TEST” and take the quiz provided. There
are 20 questions to answer with each correct answer worth .25 points (for a total of 5 points maximum for
each quiz). You must save your answers and submit them to be graded- you will see SAVE ALL at the
top of the quiz as an option. Once you save your answers, you must click FINISH at the bottom of the
quiz. A box will pop up asking if you would like to submit your grade and you must click OK. Your total
score will then come up showing you how many questions out of 20 you got right. If you scroll down,
you can view your responses (with a checkmark) and the correct answers (with a green check). Students
may retake the quiz an UNLIMITED number of times until they have a perfect score. However, once
the time and due date has expired, you will no longer be able to access the quiz. Your LAST quiz
grade submitted will be your FINAL score for this quiz and show in your gradebook as Practice
Quiz 1.

3. Secondly, click on the DISCUSSIONS icon on the far right side of your menu in Web CT and
post your response to the discussion question I have posted for Chapter 1 regarding the content
from that chapter. You are required to submit a MINIMUM of TWO CONSECUTIVE
PARAGRAPHS (with at LEAST four sentences per paragraph) in your response (with both
paragraphs posted together and written with proper punctuation and grammar) to get credit for
this assignment. This is roughly 2/3 of a page single spaced. You are welcome to write more if you
wish! You must respond with a minimum of two paragraphs in proper format to get credit for this
assignment. Answers that are unclear, illogical, or that show little substantive effort will be assigned a
ZERO with no partial credit. Feel free to supplement your responses with outside information properly
cited from news sources, reliable websites, outside readings, current events, etc. (Properly cited= name of
source, author, date, name of article/story, publisher). Your responses should represent YOUR thoughts,
beliefs, and ideas, not someone else’s! As such, you must cite all sources that you are using to supplement
your answers when an outside source is being used. So, while outside sources are welcomed as they help
make your response more informed, THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR RESPONSE MUST BE IN
YOUR OWN WORDS; USE OUTSIDE SOURCES APPROPRIATELY OR RISK NO CREDIT ON
YOUR ASSIGNMENT. Your answer is worth 5 points per chapter for this section—there is NO
PARTIAL CREDIT for your answer. This item will be posted in your gradebook as Chapter 1

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 4

 Assignment. Students who do not complete the assignment or follow the directions and post
their two paragraphs TOGETHER will receive a zero. Please follow these directions!!
• PLEASE HEED THIS WARNING: DO NOT COPY ANY SOURCE VERBATIM!!! Copying an
outside source is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty (see plagiarism handout posted
on your main page of the course if you have further questions about what constitutes a
plagiarism offense). Any student who commits academic dishonesty in this class will be referred to
Judicial Affairs and the Undergraduate Dean’s Office for disciplinary action. Moreover, it is
considered academic dishonesty for ANYONE other than the registered student in the course to
submit class assignments, quizzes, or tests, or to pose as someone else. I take these issues VERY
seriously, so please do your OWN work.

4. I will be monitoring the assignment responses, responding on the discussion board frequently to your
postings, and will be available via email for you to contact me when you have any questions or concerns.
You are encouraged and able to post responses to each other’s replies and to me. I ask that you please
observe our virtual classroom etiquette rules (complete sentences, proper punctuation and grammar, no
inappropriate language) while on any area of our class Web CT site. If you need spell and/or grammar-
check, I would recommend you do your responses in a Word document first and then cut and paste into
Web CT once they are completed. Always double check that the format and content of your
postings is correct after you post them. If something occurred during the posting that renders them
non-compliant with these instructions you will be given a zero for that assignment unless you correct the
problem—sometimes this will mean having to repost your response!! Personal emails to each other do
not count as valid responses and have no place anywhere on our classroom boards.

5. All assignments are due according to the due dates in your COURSE CALENDAR in this syllabus. Once
the due date and time has been reached within Web CT, assignments will no longer be available for
submission. You may submit all assignments and quizzes earlier than the due date for chapters once they
are released to you in Web CT, however. All assignments will be graded by me in a timely manner and
then posted on your gradebook—it is your responsibility to check your gradebook promptly once these
scores are posted and make sure that your scores are accurate. I will make a Web CT email announcement
to the class when assignments have been graded and posted to notify you that these scores are available
for viewing. Please check your email several times per week on our class Web CT site to ensure that you
are aware of updates and communicate issues to me immediately if there are issues with your grades
please.

6. For each chapter assigned in your syllabus, you will do exactly the same as the above example for the quiz
and the discussion posting for Chapter 1. Chapters and Assignments 1-7 will be available to you on the
first day of class; on the same day of the midterm, Chapters and Assignments 8-14 will be released.
Please note that all quizzes and discussion board postings are due at 6am on due dates. You are
responsible to follow the course calendar and know the appropriate due dates and times for all
assignments!! Note that these quizzes and assignments make up 40% of your grade and you have every
opportunity to get ALL these points. Students who are conscientious and who post their assignments
early see a considerable rise in their final grades by earning 100% of the available points on these
assignments!

Examinations
This class will have a closed book midterm and final that will be administered via the Assessments link on Web CT.
Each exam will become available on test day at 6am and must be completed and submitted within Web CT
no later than 10pm! You will have 60 minutes from the time you log in to take the test to submit your answers. You
MUST log in prior to 9pm to take the exam or you will not have 60 minutes to take the test—the assessment will
automatically become unavailable at 10pm promptly. There will be 70 multiple choice questions on each test and each
question is worth 1.5 points for a total of 105 points per test. You will be able to revisit questions if you want to skip
them and come back. You should read the section below on “How to take assessments” prior to taking the test!!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW AND MAKE PLANS TO TAKE THESE TESTS DURING THE
ALLOCATED TIME AND DATE—I will NOT extend the test deadline or allow students to take exams early.

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 5

Remember that although you are completing exams electronically, these tests are NOT designed to be open note or
open book, thus you are expected to have full knowledge of the material as if you were sitting for a live exam. You will
see one question at a time but can return to a question if you need to before finalizing your exam. Once you finalize
the test and submit your responses your assessment will be forwarded in Web CT for grading. All grades will be
posted by the day after your exams (June 10th and July 1st, respectively). There will be a timer in place via Web CT and
you will have less than a minute per question to answer. The timer on the Web CT system is the only one that counts,
not any others. Exams will account for 60% of your final grade in this class.

Your midterm will cover Chapters 1-7 only. Your final exam will NOT be cumulative—it will only include
Chapters 8-14.

Both the midterm and final exams will include materials covered from your textbook, Power Points, and online study
aids. People, places, things, and highlighted words or sections in your text are the areas of interest you should focus on
in your studying. You should know the important court cases and historical figures that have influenced criminological
theory and the criminal justice system in each chapter when relevant. Know your key terms and definitions and use
your online study tools to review these materials! Recall that your quizzes will not be available to you for review past
the due date. From past experience, I find that students new to criminology tend to struggle the most with the legal
cases and theory sections, so I would strongly suggest that you spend extra time on these areas. Those of you who
have previously taken a strong Introduction to Criminology course should find some overlap with that material that
will help you in this class. To help you streamline your studying of the large number of legal cases in the text (a very
challenging area for most students), I have provided a study guide list for the most important cases that you should
know for your midterm and final exams, respectively. These legal study guides are posted on Web CT under the
COURSE MODULE link.

PLEASE NOTE: I will not offer further study guides or reviews, provide page numbers for the court cases, or
any lists of key terms beyond these two specialized study guides—each chapter and the study aids provided
online offers you a comprehensive review of the materials presented. A large percentage of your grade in this
course is largely based on your performance on timed, objective assessments. If you do not do well on these types of
exams, it is suggested that you choose another type of course. No alternative assignments or bonus points will be made
available for those students that do not perform well on these types of assessments (e.g., writing a paper). NO
EXTRA CREDIT IS AVAILABLE IN THIS COURSE.

Please see the detailed directions below on how to access and take the exam if BEFORE it is test time to
ensure you know how to complete the test in a timely manner!!!!!

HOW TO TAKE EXAMS VIA THE ASSESSMENT LINK IN WEB CT:

The Assessments tool allows you to access any tests, quizzes, or surveys your professor has added to the course. Your
professor determines the availability of each test, quiz, or survey as well as how long you have to complete it. For our
class, your test days will be on Tuesday June 9th and Tuesday June 30th between 6am and 10pm.
IMPORTANT TEST INFORMATION: PLEASE NOTE TH AT ONCE YOU H AVE CLICKED “BEGIN
ASSESSMENT,” YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN ON TH E EXAM. IF YOU ARE DISCONNECTED FOR
ANY REASON OR FORGET TO CLICK “SAVE” OR “FINISH ” AND LOG OUT OF TH E EXAM, YOU
WILL RECEIVE A ZERO ON TH E TEST. Make sure you have saved AND clicked finish on your test
BEFORE you log out!!!!

1. Click on Assessments on the far left menu bar.

2. Click on the assessment you want to take.
3. Click the Begin Assessment button.
4. Enter your answer for each question.
5. Once you click on your answer, hit the Save and View Next button.
6. If you want to skip the question and come back to it later, click the Next Question button. You must click
Save and View Next each time to record your answer!
7. Repeat for each question.
8. On the right side of your screen you will see a Question Status box with all 70 questions listed. Those
questions that you have answered will have a checkmark next to the number. Those questions that have not

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 6

 been answered will have a blank circle next to them—simply click on the number in this section to return to it.
Please make sure that you have answered ALL the questions before finalizing your exam!!
9. IMPORTANT!!! When you have answered all questions and saved your answers, click the
Finish button. If you do not click the Finish button, your test will not be submitted for grading.
10 . You should see a yellow box with the following message “You have successfully submitted your Quiz,”
after you click the Finish button. I will verify all grades have posted to your Gradebook no later than one day
after the exam (June 10th and July 1st, respectively). The number posted in your gradebook is your score out of
a possible 105 points on each exam NOT A PERCENTAGE. To calculate your percentage, take your score
and multiply by 100; then divide that total by 105 points to get your corresponding grade percentage. Look at
the grade policy below to determine the matching letter grade for that percentage.

TECHNICAL/RESET ISSUES DURING EXAMS:

Please recall that when taking your tests, you should make sure you do not use a dial-up connection as the test will not
be reset for you and you will be thrown out of Web CT. Failure to use a computer with a high speed connection is not
an excuse for failure to complete an exam on time and I will not reset it for you to retake if you are disconnected for
this reason (see page 3 list of excuses).

VERY IMPORTANT: Make-up exams will absolutely NOT be considered unless there is documented proof
of an extreme emergency (e.g., death of immediate relative or student hospitalization) and I am contacted
BEFORE THE EXAM GOES LIVE AT 6am ON TEST DAY IN WEB CT VIA EMAIL. Documentation
will be required! Your doctor saying you are sick or you feeling sick IS NOT A VALID EXCUSE FOR A
MAKEUP EXAM. The instructor reserves the right for any makeup examination to be full essay. All make-up
exams will be administered in person at my office in Green Hall 2.204 on a date of my choosing.

Grading Policy and Final Grade Scale

First day discussion board posting on Web CT 5 points
Writing Assignments 1-14 (5 points each): 70 points (20% of your grade)
Practice Quizzes 1-14 (5 points each): 70 points (20% of your grade)
EXAM 1- Midterm: 105 POINTS (30% of your grade)
EXAM 2- Final: 105 POINTS (30% of your grade)
TOTAL 355 POINTS POSSIBLE IN CLASS

GRADING SCALE: Take your FINAL POINT TOTAL for all items from Web CT to determine what
your grade is as follows:

Percent Grade Point Range Totals

100% A+ 355
93-99% A 330-354
90-92% A- 320-329
87-89% B+ 309-319
83-86% B 295-308
80-82% B- 284-294
77-79% C+ 273-283
73-76% C 259-272
70-72% C- 248-258
67-69% D+ 238-247
63-66% D 224-237
60-62% D- 213-223
59% and less F 212 and below

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 7

 *********************************************************************
Course Calendar and Assignment Due Dates for Summer 2009 Intro to CJ
PLEASE NOTE: These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor. If any changes are made
students will be notified via the Announcements/email page in Web CT. Please check these areas frequently for updates.

DATE
May 26 First day of online class—students required to sign on to class via Web CT on May 26th --read
syllabus—post acknowledgment of course requirements on our class discussion board for 5
points credit! Between 6am and 10pm!
Note that first assignments on Ch. 1-4 are due ONE week from today!!
Chapters 1-7 Learning Modules/Assignments/Quizzes now available on Web CT

June 2 Reading/Study Aids should be completed for Part One (Crim. Justice System) Ch. 1-4
*Assignments/Quizzes 1-4 due to be completed in Web CT before 6am today!

June 9 Reading/Study Aids should be reviewed for Part Two (The Police and Law Enforcement)
Ch. 5-7
*Assignments/Quizzes 5-7 due in WebCT before 6am today!

Students MUST take and submit answers to Midterm Exam on Ch. 1-7
via Assessments link between 6am and 10pm TODAY!
Chapters 8-14 Learning Modules/Assignments released on Web CT @ 6am!

June 16 Reading/Study Aids should be reviewed for Part Three (Criminal Courts) Ch. 8-10
Assignments/Quizzes 8-10 due to be completed in Web CT before 6am today!

June 23 Reading/Study Aids should be reviewed for Chapter 11 and Part Four (Corrections) Ch. 12
Assignments/Quizzes 11 and 12 due to be completed in Web CT before 6am today!

June 30th Reading/Study Aids should be reviewed for Chapters 13 and 14

Assignments/Quizzes 13 and 14 due to be completed in Web CT before 6am today!
Students MUST take and submit answers to Final Exam on Ch. 8-14 via
Assessments link between 6am and 10pm TODAY!
***********************************************************************************************
Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and
efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be
knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on
student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered
students each academic year.

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 8

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established
due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas
System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook
of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972-
883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected
to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules.
Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off
campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an
academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative
that a student demonstrates a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment
or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general
rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic
records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings and will be referred for any
and all academic proceedings via the Dean of Students Office. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN WORK! For online
classes, letting another person complete your work or take an exam for you or representing them as you is
considered cheating. Only the student registered for the class may participate in class work or assignments.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is
unacceptable and will be dealt with to the fullest extent possible under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general
catalog for details and the plagiarism handout posted to the main course page for this class on Web CT for more
information).

Withdrawals from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and
times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's
responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any
student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you
choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the university’s
Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic
responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor,
supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be
resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s
School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student may
submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student
may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and
convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the
academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties. Copies of these rules and regulations are available
to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting
the rules and regulations.

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 9

 Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester’s end and
only if 70% of the course work has been COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY. You must get the permission of the
instructor and make arrangements for incomplete work prior to this grade being assigned. An incomplete grade must
be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to
complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete
grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their
non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate
discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against
tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing
impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The
college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance. It is
the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services
provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs
accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor during the first
week of classes via email so that any special accommodations may be made for the semester.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and
observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section
11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding a religious absence
and in advance of the assignment. All religious holidays that will be observed should be submitted in writing to
the instructor via email during the first week of classes so that alternative plans can be made regarding
conflicts with due dates. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment
within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week.
A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the
absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given
a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request
a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or
designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the
decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and University policies and
procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found
Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 10
at the website address given below. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm). There will be no live off-campus meetings or instruction
in this course.

Student Guide to WebCT~ Summer 2009

From eLearning website:
http://www.utdallas.edu/oee/distance/resources/handouts/documents/Student%20Guide%20to%20WebCT.htm

This guide will help you with the basics of logging in, getting help, moving around in your courses, and using some basic tools like
email and discussions. It also includes information on configuring your computer to work with WebCT.

Making Your Computer Work with WebCT

There are a few things you will need to configure to make your computer work efficiently with WebCT.

1. Disable any pop up blockers for http://webct6.utdallas.edu.

2. If you are using Internet Explorer, add http://webct6.utdallas.edu to your trusted sites list.
3. Make sure you have ONE, AND ONLY ONE Java Runtime Environment installed, and that it passes the browser
check WebCT 6 runs when you log in.

How to Log In to WebCT

You may access WebCT 6 courses via the following URL: http://webct6.utdallas.edu/

This URL will work even if Galaxy is down or not functioning properly.

You may also access WebCT via Galaxy (http://galaxy.utdallas.edu).

User ID/Password

You will use your normal NetID and password. Remember, you must change your password at least once a year. Make sure that
your password is not expired. If it is, you will not be able to log into WebCT. You can change your password at
http://netid.utdallas.edu/. The Helpdesk can help you if you have difficulties resetting your password.

How to Get Help

If you need help with WebCT, contact the UTD helpdesk. Their contact information is on the next page. They will be able to
help you with basic problems in WebCT. If they are unable to resolve the issue, they will log a ticket and one of the expert support
team will contact you. Additionally, you are enrolled in a WebCT tutorial course which contains short, step-by-step instructions
for most common tasks in WebCT. The course is listed with your courses on the My WebCT screen. There is also a Getting
Started link on the homepage of most courses that links to instructions and Flash tutorials on performing all the major tasks you
will need to perform as a student in WebCT.

UTD Helpdesk Contact Info

 Phone: 972-883-2911
 Helpdesk Email: assist@utdallas.edu
 eLearning Email: mailto:elearning@utdallas.edu
 Helpdesk Homepage: http://www.utdallas.edu/elearninghelp/
 Office of Educational Enhancement Homepage: http://oee.utdallas.edu

Accessing Course Materials

When you log into WebCT, you will see your courses listed on you My Courses list. Your professor may have arranged your
course a little differently than you have seen before, so you need to give yourself some time to explore your courses at the
beginning of each semester.

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 Navigating in Courses

Click on the course you want to access. When the course opens, you will probably see icons on the right side of the page and a
course menu on the left side of the page.

Click on the item you want to open. Course tools such as the Discussion and Syllabus tools are on the course menu. You can
access them from anywhere in the course by clicking on them on the course menu.

Accessing Learning Modules

Most of your course materials are organized into Learning Modules. You can access all Learning Modules in the course from the
Learning Modules tool on the Course Tools menu on the left side of the screen.

1. Click on the Learning Modules tool on the Course Tools menu.

2. Click on the Learning Module you want to access from the list of Learning Modules on the right side of the screen.
3. Click on the course materials you want to access. They will appear either in a table of contents on the left side of the
screen or as links on the right side of the screen.

Course Tools

You may see different tools enabled in different classes. Your professor chooses which tools to enable or disable in the class. If
you do not see a tool in a particular class, it usually means that a teacher has disabled that portion of the course.

Using the Discussion tool

You can read and post to any discussion threads. However, you will not be able to add or remove threads.

To Read a Post
1. Click on Discussions.
2. Click on the green triangle next to the thread you want to read. This will expand the thread.
3. Click on the message you want to read.

To Compose a Post
1. Click on Discussions.
2. Click on the Compose Message button at the top of the screen.
3. Click on the down arrow next to the Topic.
4. Choose the thread you wish to post to from the drop down list.
5. Type a subject for your message.
6. Type your message.
7. Click the Post button at the bottom of the screen.

Using the Email tool

The Email tool in WebCT is separate from UTD email. It only sends email to other members of the class within WebCT. The
Email tool in WebCT is disabled in all classes until your professor chooses to enable it. If you do not see the Mail tool listed under
the Course Tools menu on the left side of the screen, your professor has not enabled it.

To Read a Mail Message

1. Click on Mail.
2. Click on Inbox.
3. Click on the message you want to read.

To Send a Mail Message

1. Click on Mail.
2. Click the Compose Message button.
3. Click on the Browse… button next to the Send To line.
4. Select who you want to send the message to from the list.
5. Type a subject for your message.
6. Type your message.
7. Click the Send button at the bottom of the screen.
Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 12
 Using the Assessments tool

The Assessments tool allows you to access any tests, quizzes, or surveys your professor has added to the course. Your professor
determines the availability of each test, quiz, or survey as well as how long you have to complete it. Available assessments will
show as blue links. Assessments that are not available will show as regular black text.

1. Click on Assessments.
2. Click on the assessment you want to take.
3. Click the Begin Assessment button.
4. Enter your answer for the question.
5. Click the Save and View Next button.
6. Repeat for each question.
7. IMPORTANT!!! When you have answered all questions and saved your answers, click the
Finish button. If you do not click the Finish button, your test will not be submitted for grading.
8. You should see a yellow box with the following message “You have successfully submitted your Quiz,” after you click
the Finish button.

Last updated: 5/18/2009

Dr. Denise Boots/Introduction to Criminal Justice/ Summer 2009 Syllabus Page 13