UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-DALLAS INSTRUCTOR: KRISTINE HORN

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

CJS 3300 SPRING 2006

CRIME AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

http://home.comcast.net/~lit8gater/index.html

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The primary goals of the American criminal justice system can be broadly categorized into two very
distinct missions: 1) the need to enforce the law and maintain social order, and 2) the need to protect
people from injustice. In a free society, the conflict that frequently arises between these two goals
raises difficult questions: Do we define freedom as being free from the predations of others, or free
from the oppressive force of government? To what extent are these goals compatible, or are they
mutually exclusive?

This course will examine the components of the criminal justice system, how constitutional rights
and civil liberties affect the functioning of the system, and the extent to which these rights and
liberties constrain or limit the effectiveness of the system. To this end, we will examine the genesis
of rights and liberties in a historical context, and then examine the competing goals of the system
using a framework of two competing theoretical models on polar ends of the spectrum. We will also
examine the extent to which contemporary forces of society should and do shape the direction in
which the pendulum swings on the continuum, ultimately seeking to define the construct of an ideal
system of justice.

REQUIRED READING:
1. Weinreb, Lloyd. Leading cases on Criminal Justice, 2004 Edition. Published by Foundation
Press.

2. Web Site Documents. http://home.comcast.net/~lit8gater/index.html

Indexed to the weekly schedule in Syllabus.

RECOMMENDED READING:
1. Tracy, Paul E. Who Killed Stephanie Crowe? The Anatomy of a Murder Investigation.
(2003). Brown Books.

Both books are available at Off Campus Books.

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USEFUL LINKS:

a. http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html
b. http://usscplus.com/
c. http://www.oyez.com/
d. http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/
e. http://www.aclu.org/issues/cyber/hmcl.html

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Regular attendance and substantial participation in class discussion and debate- 5%
2. Successful performance on the following assignments:
A. Essay Assignment One- 20 %
B. Essay Assignment Two- 30%
C. Debate- 20%
D. Case Briefs- 10%
E. Readings/Notes Quizzes- 15%

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION:

ASSIGNMENT 1:
Paper. Graded on a 100 point scale, worth 20% of grade. A separate assignment sheet will be posted
on the web site. Due February 20, 2006.

ASSIGNMENT 2:
Paper. Graded on a 100 point scale, worth 30% of grade. A separate assignment sheet will be posted
on the web site. Due April 17, 2006.

DEBATE/PERSUASIVE PRESENTATION:
A collaborative group effort with an individual grade, worth 20% of course grade. A separate
assignment sheet will be posted on the web site. April 3, 2006.

CASE BRIEFS:
Graded on a 100 point scale, worth 10% of grade. During the first class period, a sign up sheet will
be distributed so that each student can sign up for one class period of briefing/ discussion. ALL
students are expected to read the material for each class and be prepared to participate in a
meaningful manner in class discussion. However, for the class period on which a student has signed
up for briefing/ discussion, he/she will be expected to have read the materials in depth and to discuss
the cases assigned for that class period. A short case brief for each of the assigned cases should be
handed in at the BEGINNING of class. (Save a copy for yourself. Typed summaries are strongly
encouraged.) I will not necessarily call on each student who signed up for the day, so it is imperative
that you hand in the case summaries/briefs.

QUIZZES:
Graded on a 100 point scale, collectively worth 15% of the course grade. There will be at least four
short, scheduled, quizzes over the reading material and notes. (See attached course calendar for
dates). I anticipate that the quizzes will be open book/notes, but reserve the right to change this

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policy if I get the sense that a large majority of the class is not reading the material. THERE WILL
BE NO MAKEUP QUIZZES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Students who miss a quiz may
elect to do the extra credit assignment.

PARTICIPATION: 5% of the course grade will be based on meaningful participation and effort in
the class.

EXTRA CREDIT:
A separate assignment sheet will be posted on the web site. The assignment is worth up to 5
additional points added to your overall course grade. To receive credit for this project, it must be
turned in on or before April 24, 2006.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Instructor Availability. I do not maintain regular office hours at UTD, but can typically be found in
the classroom about a half an hour before class. I am also available after class, and I am happy to
meet with you at other times to discuss any problems or concerns you may have. Please contact me
to arrange a mutually convenient time. The best way to reach me is via email:
lit8gater@comcast.net. Or Kristine.horn@utdallas.edu.

Assignment Due Dates/ Makeup Work. All assignments are due on the dates assigned. No late
assignments will be accepted. If you are unable to attend class on the day an assignment is due, it is
your responsibility to send me the assignment by email (Word or Wordperfect format only) by
midnight on the due date.

“The Dog Ate It”. Please keep a copy of your writing assignments. Also, to sidestep easily avoided
problems related to computer failures—keep a copy of your work on a floppy disk or CD and be
ready to make alternative arrangements for last minute printing.

Course Reading/Participation. Students are expected to read the assignments before class and make a
significant effort toward meaningful participation in class discussion. Be advised that lectures
and class debate will supplement the reading material. You will miss important material if you are
not in class, and this is likely to have an adverse impact on your overall course grade. Moreover, the
instructor reserves the right, in the case of students on the borderline between letter grades, to
consider significant and meaningful class participation, effort, and attendance in determining
whether to award the higher letter grade.

Academic Dishonesty. The UTD academic dishonesty policy is incorporated herein by reference.
You are responsible for knowledge of and adherence to the policy. Cheating will not be tolerated,
and will be addressed according to University rules and regulations. Your signature on your work is
the equivalent of an oath that the work is your own.

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TENATIVE COURSE CALENDER AND ASSIGNED READINGS: (Subject to modification as
deemed necessary by instructor. Significant modifications will be announced in advance and posted
on the web site).

WEEK 1 JANUARY 9 Course Introduction. Assignment: Access Web Site, review,

Bookmark site, review/print assignments.

WEEK 2 JANUARY 16 MLK DAY. NO CLASS.

WEEK 3 JANUARY 23 Competing Models of Justice--Packer

READ: Packer Documents posted on web site.

WEEK 4 JANUARY 30 Fourth Amendment--QUIZ

READ: (Weinreb) Mapp v. Ohio, U.S. v. Leon, Katz v. U.S.

WEEK 5 FEBRUARY 6 Fourth Amendment Continued

READ: (Weinreb) Illinois v. Gates, Terry v. Ohio, Chimel
v. California.

WEEK 6 FEBRUARY 13 Fourth Amendment Continued--QUIZ

READ: (Weinreb) California v. Acevedo, Knowles v. Iowa,
Oliver v. U.S.

WEEK 7 FEBRUARY 20 Fifth Amendment

READ: (Weinreb) Escobedo v. Illinois, Miranda v. Arizona
Illinois v. Perkins ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE

WEEK 8 FEBRUARY 27 Fifth Amendment Continued.

READ: (Weinreb) Oregon v. Elstad, Winston v. Lee,
Colorado v. Connelly

WEEK 9 MARCH 6 SPRING BREAK ~ Have fun, be safe.

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WEEK 10 MARCH 13 Fifth Amendment Continued.
READ: (Weinreb) Missouri v. Seibert, Texas v. Cobb,
Pennsylvania v. Muniz

WEEK 11 MARCH 20 Sixth Amendment

READ: (Weinreb) Gideon v. Wainright, Strickland v.
Washington, Nix v. Whiteside, Faretta v. California

WEEK 12 MARCH 27 Sixth Amendment Continued. Film: Gideon’s Trumpet.

QUIZ

WEEK 13 APRIL 3 DEBATE/PERSUASIVE PRESENTATIONS

WEEK 14 APRIL 10 Contemporary Civil Liberties Issues QUIZ

Reading to be announced and posted on web site

WEEK 15 APRIL 17 Contemporary Civil Liberties Issues Continued

ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE

WEEK 16 APRIL 24 Case Study: Tracy

EXTRA CREDIT DUE ON OR BEFORE THIS DATE