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RACE, CRIME, AND JUSTICE

CRM/SO 3353-01
FALL 2014
TR 12:30 1:45 PM
HILBURN 350

Instructor: Makeela J. Wells
Email: mjw101@msstate.edu
Office: Bowen 360
Office Hours: W 11:00-1:00 pm, TH 2:00-4:00 pm, or by appointment


COURSE DESCRIPTION
Course Catalog Description
Juvenile Delinquency (CRM/SO 3353) explores racial differences in criminal behavior,
victimization, and criminal processing, emphasizing the unique experiences of racial
minorities in these areas. Three hours lecture.

Expanded Course Description
The goal of the course to examine the complex intersections, race/ethnicity, crime and the
justice system in the United States. The course begins with defining race and ethnicity as
well as providing a historical overview of race relations in the United States. Next, the
course explores the role of race in the three aspects of the justice system, policing, courts,
and sentencing. The course is intended to integrate critical thinking and discussion with
current research and statistics on the importance of race and ethnicity in relation to the
criminal justice system.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
To define and explore the history associated with race and ethnicity
To develop a comprehensive understanding of race/ethnicity, crime and justice
To gain exposure to both sociological and criminological explanations of the race and
ethnicity in the criminal justice system
To facilitate students interest in critically assessing the issues associated with the
relationship between race/ethnicity and the criminal justice system

REQUIRED TEXT
Gabbidon, S.L. and H.T. Greene. (2012). Race and Crime: A Text/Reader. California: Sage
Publications, Inc. (ISBN-10: 1412989078; ISBN-13: 978-1412989077)

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
MSU has an approved Honor Code that applies to all students. The code is as follows:

As a Mississippi State University student I will conduct myself with honor and
integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those
who do.

Upon accepting admission to MSU, a student immediately assumes a commitment to
uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy
and rules of the Honor Code. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the
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MSU community from the requirements. If you have any questions concerning this policy,
please refer to the related web page: http://www.honorcode.msstate.edu/policy/

DISABILITY SERVICES
MSU is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students and
assisting students in making their college experiences successful and positive. Recognizing
that at times generalized student services are inadequate for meeting the unique needs of
students with disabilities, and to comply with federal and state laws, regulations, and
guidelines, the university has established Student Support Services to provide supportive
services for its students with disabilities. If you anticipate needing any type of
accommodation in this course, please let me know as soon as possible. Please refer to the
related web page: http://www.sss.msstate.edu/disabilities/.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Mississippi State University is committed to assuring that the University and its programs
are free from discrimination and harassment based upon race, color, ethnicity, sex,
pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,
genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by state or
federal law. For more information, see
http://www.policies.msstate.edu/policypdfs/0303.pdf.

RESPECT FOR OTHER STUDENTS
MSU policy states: Mississippi State University recognizes students as adults who are
expected to obey the law and the rules and regulations of the university, to take personal
responsibility for their conduct, to respect the rights of others, and to have regard for the
preservation of state and university property, as well as the private property of others. If
you have any questions concerning this policy, please refer to the related web page at:
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/audit/91100.html

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
The following is a list of expectations that I have for students taking this course:
1. Check the course homepage, calendar and assignment page, and email several times
a week.
2. Complete all the readings for EVERY week.
3. Prepare by reading, researching, and reviewing whenever time permits, and NEVER
wait until the last day to submit your assignments
4. Write notes when you read and study. You learn by doing and taking notes and it is
an activity that helps you with the recall of information.
5. DO YOUR BEST!

MAKE-UP POLICY
I will allow make-up exams only in extenuating or legitimate circumstances and with my
prior approval. Extenuating or legitimate circumstances include the following: (1)
participation in an authorized university activity; (2) death or a major illness in a students
immediate family; (3) illness of a dependent family members; (4) participation in legal
proceedings or administrative procedures that require a students presence; (5) religious
holy day; (6) required participation in military duties; and (7) mandatory admission
interviews for professional or graduate school which cannot be rescheduled. In the case of
a medical or family emergency, I expect you to email me as soon as possible to discuss your
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situations. If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to complete the exam on the
specified date, let me know as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.
Assignments cannot be made up.

OFFICIAL EMAIL
I require students to check their email often. You are responsible for emails that I send
you, even if you dont check your account. An official MSU email account is established for
each registered student, each faculty member, and each staff member. All university
communications sent via email will be sent to this MSU email address.

COURSE CORRESPONDENCE POLICY
1. Any email correspondence regarding the course must include the specific course ID
(CRM/SO 3353) as the first letters of the subject line. Use CRM 3503 as the first
letters of the subject line.
2. The course ID (CRM/SO 3353) should be followed by a space and a distinctive
subject (e.g., CRM/SO 3353 Weekly Assignment Question 1).
3. You are required to use your MSU assigned email address. This will ensure that you
receive all course information in a timely manner. If you choose to use another
email address, it is your responsibility to make sure that you receive all course
information. Use of an email address other than the MSU assigned email address is
strongly discouraged.
4. All course assignments must be submitted within Blackboard. Assignments
submitted as email attachments will NOT be accepted.
5. Barring unforeseen circumstances where we are not able to access the Internet,
your facilitators and I will respond to any questions or concerns within 24 hours.
6. I expect you to be both professional and respectful in your email correspondence
during this course. Use proper grammar, avoid texting language, and, in general, try
to structure your correspondence in a manner similar to what you would if you
were addressing your boss at your place of employment.

Instructor Feedback
All grades for this course will be posted on our class Blackboard site (available at
mycourse.msstate.edu) in the grade book. Please utilize this resource to maintain an
accurate account of your grade. I strive to provide students with timely feedback regarding
their work in this course. Additionally, if at any time in the course you feel that you are not
doing well, I strongly encourage you to contact me. I have an open door policy, which
means that I welcome students to contact me to discuss class-related issues, current
criminology topics, or just to say hello. To minimize your wait time and increase the
likelihood that I will not be tied up with someone else when you drop by, please make an
appointment if you can. This will insure the most efficient use of both of our time. In
addition, I will also be posting Announcements periodically throughout the semester.

Attendance, Participation, and Classroom Expectations
This class will use an interactive lecture format, where you will be encouraged to
contribute to the lectures and the overall learning process of the class. All students
should be well prepared and ready to participate in discussions and group activities.
There will be several group discussions where you will help your classmates, as well as
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yourself, get a more concrete grasp on different objectives discussed in your textbook
and presented in class.

I expect all students to behave in a respectful manner toward me and other students in
the class. This means that you should not speak while others are speaking, you should
not leave class early or arrive to class late without prior permission from me, and in
general you should not do anything to disrupt the class. Tardiness is extremely rude to
the professor and your classmates. Insure that you arrive to class on time. If you are not
present when the attendance is checked, you will be counted as absent. If you leave the
class early, without prior permission from the instructor, you will also be counted as
absent. In other words, be courteous to your instructor and your classmates; arrive on
time and do not leave early.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend class regularly as many test questions will
come from the material discussed in class but not covered in the text. Students who are
up to two points away from the next highest grade will receive the higher grade if they
have good attendance (less than four absences or late arrivals). Any student late to class
or absent from class more than 8 times in the semester will receive a 0 for their class
participation grade (10% of final grade). Given the number of times you are allowed to
miss class before you are penalized, I do not distinguish between excused and
unexcused absences. Attendance will be taken daily.

Electronics: MSUs AOP 10.08 prohibits the use of cell phones, messaging devices, and
other electronic devices in the classroom except when permitted by the instructor. MP3
players, PDAs, Blackberries, cell phones and any other electronic devices are to be
turned off (or at least to silent/vibrate mode in case of an emergency). Text
messaging is not allowed for any reason, nor is the use of the camera phone option.
Laptop Computers are not permitted to be used either. Violation of this policy will
results in a verbal reprimand the first time. For any subsequent violations you will be
asked to leave the classroom for that period, you will be counted as absent, and you will
be reported to the Dean of Students for causing a classroom disruption.

Furthermore, as many of you have young children, it is your responsibility to make
arrangements for someone to care for your children during class time. If you cannot
make arrangements for someone to care for your child during class time, do not bring
your children to class.

IMPORTANT DATES
August 18 Classes begin
August 22 Last day to drop a course without a grade (5
th
class day)
August 25 Last day to register or add a course (6
th
class day)
September 1 Labor Day Holiday no classes scheduled
September 29 Last day to drop a course with a W grade (30
th
class day)
October 6 Mid-point semester
October 23-24 Fall Break no classes scheduled
November 13 Last day to withdraw from University (10 days of classes remaining)
November 26-28 Thanksgiving Holiday no classes scheduled
December 2 Classes end
December 3 and 5 Reading Days
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December 4, 8-11 Final Examinations


GRADING
Exam 1 = 100 points
Exam 2 = 100 points
Exam 3 = 100 points
Monthly Points to Ponder 3 @ 25 points each
Participation/Attendance = 50 points
Reading Quizzes = 5 @ 15 points each
Total = 500 points

500-450 points = A
449-400 points = B
399-350 points = C
349-300 points = D
Below 300 points = F



COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Exams
There will be a total of three exams, each worth 100 points. Exams will have multiple-
choice questions and may include true/false questions and/or a matching section. There is
no comprehensive final. Each exam will cover only material discussed prior to that test.

Exam Dates
Exam 1: Tuesday, September 23, 2014: Sections I, II, and III
Exam 2: Tuesday, October 21, 2014: Sections IV and V
Exam 3: Tuesday, December 9, 2014: Sections VI, VII, and VIII (FINAL EXAM)

Please note that you are expected to take each exam during the time period posted in the
course schedule. Make up examinations will only be given under emergency situations. In
order to receive an excuse for an exam (which allows you to make it up), you must contact
me PRIOR TO THE TIME THE TEST IS ADMINISTERED to obtain such approval. Failure
to contact me prior to the test date will result in a grade of 0 for that exam. All make-up
exams will be essay exams and will be administered during the last week of class.

Monthly Points to Ponder (MPP)
Monthly Points to Ponder are written assignments that will be gauge your understanding of
the material covered in the course. Three Monthly Points to Ponder (MPP) will be assigned
throughout the semester. All three MPPs must be submitted through the Turn It In
software via BlackBoard to check the assignment for plagiarism. Each assignment must
follow the format of the American Sociological Association (4
th
edition). All assignments
and discussions must be submitted through Blackboard by the deadline specified in the
assignment guidelines. Any assignment received after the submission deadline specified
but within 24 hours of that time will receive a 25 percent deduction from the final grade for
that assignment; assignments received between 24 and 48 hours after the submission
deadline will receive a 50 percent deduction. Any assignment not submitted within 48
hours of submission deadline will not be accepted. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO
THIS RULE!

Reading Quizzes
To prepare you for each class meeting, there will be reading assignments to be completed
before each class. The reading is required, and you will not be able to participate in class if
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you have not done the reading. Eight reading quizzes will be randomly given to assess both
your understanding of the readings (including both introductions to each sections and the
supplemental readings) and whether you have read before coming to class. Reading
quizzes will be administer at the start of class. Notice will be given in advance to let
students know when to expect a reading quiz. Your performance on these quizzes will be
factored into your course grade. Your lowest three quizzes will be dropped.

GRADE NOTIFICATION
I will provide mid-term grades via the Banner system for all students by the mid-term of
the semester. Additionally, as I grade assignments and exams, I will post them in the
Blackboard website for the course. This will give you some idea where you stand in the
class prior to the withdrawal deadline.

To know where you stand (gradewise) at any point in the class, add your points up and
divide by the total points possible at that time. Your result will be a percentage that can be
applied to the standard 10 point scale (90-A; 80-B; etc.). To keep up with your point total,
you should keep track of your points using the table below.





Assignment
Possible
Points
Date
Exam 1 100 Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Exam 2 100 Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Exam 3 100 FINAL, Tuesday, December 9, 2014
MPP 1 25 Friday, September 12, 2014
MPP 2 25 Friday, October 10, 2014
MPP 3 25 Friday, November 14, 2014
Reading Quizzes 75
Attendance 50
Total 500
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COURSE SCHEDULE (August 18, 2014 December 11, 2014)*

Week 1
August 19

August 21
Theme: Introduction to the Course and Race & Crime in the United States
Introduction to the Course and Syllabus Overview

Section I Overview of Race, Ethnicity and Crime

Week 2
August 26

August 28

Theme: Race, Ethnicity and Crime in the United States
Section I continued

Section I continued
Week 3
September 2

September 4

Theme: Who are the Victims? Racial and Ethnic Differences in Victimization
Section II Extent of Crime and Victimization

Section II continued

Week 4
September 9

September 11

Theme: Theories and the Link between Race, Ethnicity and Crime
Section II continued

Section III Theoretical Perspectives on Race and Crime

Monthly Points to Ponder 1 due September 12 by Midnight

Week 5
September 16

September 18

Theme: Race/Ethnicity, Juvenile Crime, and Victimization
Section III continued

Wrap-Up/Exam I Review

Week 6
September 23

September 25

Theme: Test Your Knowledge I
EXAM 1

Section IV Juvenile Justice
Week 7
September 30

October 2

Theme: Race/Ethnicity, Juvenile Crime, and Victimization
Section IV continued

Section IV continued


Week 8
October 7

October 9

Theme: Bad Boys, Bad Boys! Race, Ethnicity, and Policing
Section V: Policing

Section V continued

Monthly Points to Ponder 2 due by October 10 by Midnight


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Week 9
October 14

October 16

Theme: Policing continued
Section V continued

Wrap-up and Exam Review

Week 10
October 21

October 23

Theme: Test Your Knowledge II and Mini-Vacay!!!
EXAM 2

Fall Break No classes!
Week 11
October 28

October 30

Theme: In Search of Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and the Courts
Section VI Courts and Sentencing

Section VI continued

Week 12
November 4

November 6

Theme: Courts continued
Section VI continued

Section VII The Death Penalty
Week 13
November 11

November 13

Theme: Race and Ethnicity in reference to the Death Penalty
Section VII continued

Section VII continued

Monthly Points to Ponder 3 due November 14 by Midnight

Week 14
November 18

November 20

Theme: Race, Ethnicity and Corrections
Section VIII Corrections

Section VIII continued

Week 15
November 25

November 27

Theme:
Section VIII continued

Thanksgiving Break no classes
Week 16
December 2

December 4
Theme: The End of the Semester is Finally Here!
Wrap up/Final Exam Review

Reading Day

FINAL EXAM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014, from 12-3 PM

*Information in this course schedule is tentative and subject to change. Students will be
notified of any changes to the course schedule.


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FALL 2014
Monthly Points to Ponder Guidelines

Due Dates: Friday evenings at 11:59 p.m. CST.
Total Points: 75 points possible (25 points each)
Length: 2-3 pages, Double-Spaced, Typed (unless otherwise specified)

You will be asked to complete three assignments this semester. Although the questions to
which you are responding will vary, the following guidelines will apply for each
assignment. Points will be deducted from your total assignment score if you do not follow
these guidelines:

1. Your assignment should include a cover page listing my name, the name of the class,
your name, and the academic integrity statement, which states:

As a Mississippi State University student I will conduct myself with honor and
integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of
those who do.

This page does not count in your minimum or maximum page lengths. Also, ten percent
will be deducted from your grade if you do not include the academic integrity statement.

2. Your paper should be typed and double-spaced and should have one-inch margins on
the top, bottom, and both sides. You should also use a font of 12. The text of your paper
must be a minimum of 2 pages long and a maximum of 3 pages long for you to do an
adequate job discussing the section (unless otherwise specified).

3. Use the American Sociological Association (ASA) publication guidelines for parenthetical
citation guidelines and reference page guidelines.

4. Submit assignments through BlackBoard.










The following syllabus was adapted from Drs. Stacy H. Haynes, Lindsey Peterson, and David May
and Frederick Hunter.