Instructor: Daina D. Farthing
E-mail: farthing@loyno.edu
Office: Stallings 105
Office Phone: 865-2694
Dept. Phone: 865-3323
City College Phone: 865-3530
Office Hours: By appointment. In addition, I will
be available on campus before and after class, and during class breaks.
Class Time/Location: Multimedia Room 2, Library, first floor
- Friday, September 14, 6 - 10pm (please bring hard copy of this syllabus)
- Saturday, September 15, 9 am – 5 pm
- Friday, October 12, 6 – 10 pm
- Saturday, October 13, 9 am – 5 pm
Course Description: This seminar will provide participants with an opportunity to examine policy implementation and programming across the criminal justice system from a perspective of “what is effective in responding to crime.” Within this framework, seminar participants will review the scientific strength/credibility of these studies and apply the findings to assess program options. Seminar participants also will discuss the socio-political basis for continued funding for programs that are not effective in reducing crime.
- Friday, November 16, 6 – 10 pm
- Saturday, November 17, 9 am – 5 pm
Course Objectives:
1. To explore the development of criminal justice policy and the effectiveness of applied practice in order to assess program optionsRequired Text/Reading and Journal Assignments:
2. To examine criminal justice practices and policies from a critical perspective applying sound analysis
3. To gain in-depth knowledge in a selected area of criminal justice programming or practice through individual scholarship
4. To effectively communicate the results of individual research orally with the group
5. To be able to write an effective research paper based on individual research and assessment
Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Promising by Lawrence Sherman, Denise Gottfredson, Doris MacKenzie, John Eck, Peter Reuter, and Shawn Bushway. University of Maryland: 1997, 522 pages.
The text has been ordered through NCJRS in photocopied form. It is also available on-line through www.ncjrs.org/works and can be downloaded in Word or WordPerfect. It also appears it can be downloaded from www.preventingcrime.org/report/ in a “searchable” HTML format.
Additional reserve reading and research assignments are noted below for each seminar session.
Please note that seminar students also will select one journal article per session to update the findings presented in the text, and enhance individual knowledge, class discussion, and understanding of the topics for that session. Students will select a program area of particular interest (within those among the assigned reading for that date) and locate a journal article as noted below; please ensure that each selection is made and each summary is prepared independently of the other students in the class.
Articles should be selected that meet the following criteria:
1. Are drawn from a scholarly journal (e.g., Evaluation Review, Crime and Delinquency, Criminology, Law and Society Review, etc.). In most cases, it will not be possible to obtain sufficient information about the methods or the findings or in-depth, critical review from articles in popular media or publications such as Police Chief. When in doubt, check with the instructor PRIOR to the class and in time to compete the assignment as scheduled.Please photocopy the complete journal article and bring it to class with you (be certain that full citation information is included); turn in the article copy to the instructor at the end of the session with a typed summary and analysis (3-5 pages, sufficient to cover the points appropriately) as follows:
2. Add to the body of evaluation literature examined by Sherman et al. in Preventing Crime (i.e., the article was published after that 1997 comprehensive review) in any program area assigned for discussion that class session.
3. Meet the minimum scientific methods criteria set forth by Sherman et al. (see your text)
1. Your name, course title, and the date submitted.Please remember that journal article summaries are due at the end of each class session in which they are assigned. Late submissions will not be accepted.
2. Full citation information for the article.
3. Clearly indicate the program or type of program assessed in the article (i.e. juvenile employment program; gun buy-back program; DARE program) and the location(s) in which it was implemented/evaluated.
4. Discuss to what extent the evaluation approach described in the article meets or exceeds the minimum criteria for methodological soundness.
5. Indicate what findings or new knowledge the article adds to the assessment completed by Sherman et al.; whether the article findings support the What Works conclusions on such programming; and briefly discuss the implications of the additional research for programming and policy development.
6. Attach a legible photocopy of the entire journal article (including references).
Course Requirements: Students
will be graded on the following:
| Class preparation and participation* | 15% |
| Journal article summaries** | 25% |
| Research Paper** | 40% |
| Class Presentation | 20% |
* Please note that adequate preparation and seminar participation are required at each seminar session. As advanced graduate students in a seminar, please note that students bear responsibility for much of the discussion and analysis in class. At each session, each student should be prepared to:
** Late papers and journal article summaries will not be accepted. Please note that summaries and final papers will be graded upon submission. If you would like feedback on any of the stages of your research paper preparation (focus of research, outline, organization of your paper, quality of writing, comments on a draft, etc.), please speak with me prior to submission of the final paper. If you would like comments on a draft, please talk with me to arrange a mutually agreeable schedule for doing so.
Grading Scale:
A = 95-100Course Outline and Assignments: Please note that all assignments should be read prior to and in preparation for each class as noted:
B+ = 90-94
B = 85-89
C+ = 80-84
C = 75-79
Friday, 9/14; 6-10pm
Research Paper Requirements:Introductions; review syllabus and expectations; Q&A**SUBMIT IN WRITING: RESEARCH PAPER/PRESENTATION TOPICS
Preventing Crime:
Overview
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – Thinking About Crime PreventionSaturday, 9/15; 9am-5pm
Preventing Crime:Journal article/summary selected by student in one of the program areas assigned for 9/15
Chapter 3: Communities and Crime Prevention
Chapter 4: Family-based Crime Prevention
Chapter 5: School-based Crime PreventionFriday, 10/12; 6am-10pm
Preventing Crime:Journal article/summary selected by individual student in one of the areas assigned for 10/12
Chapter 6: Labor Markets and Crime Risk Factors
Chapter 7: Preventing Crime at PlacesSaturday, 10/13; 9am-5pm
In library on reserve -Journal article/summary selected by individual student in one of the areas assigned for 10/13What Works in Policing:On Internet (or on reserve): Go to: preventingcrime.org; Click on Executive Summary for L. Sherman’s “Reducing Gun Violence” Lecture
Chapter 6, Effective Law Enforcement (p. 174-196)
Chapter 7, Street-level Drug Enforcement (p. 197-222)
Chapter 8, Spouse Assault (p. 223-245)Preventing Crime:
Chapter 8: Policing for Crime PreventionFriday, 11/16; 6-10pm
Preventing Crime:Journal article/summary selected by individual student in one of the areas assigned for 11/16
Chapter 9: Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention
Chapter 10: Conclusions: The Effectiveness of Local Crime Prevention FundingIn library on reserve:
Smart Sentencing -
Chapter 7, Boot Camps for Young Offenders (p. 103-122)
Chapter 10, Day Reporting Centers (p. 152-165)
Chapter 19, The Long Road from Policy Development to Real
Change in Sanctioning Practice (p. 307-318)Saturday, 11/17; 9am-5pm: Oral Presentations by Seminar Participants (with written summary and references for all students)
FINAL Research Papers may be submitted anytime between the last class on 11/17 and Monday, 12/3/01. This will give you up to two weeks to incorporate changes based on your presentation, if you choose to do so.
Final papers are due no later than 6 PM on 12/3/01 in my box at City College.
Topic:
Please review the text and reading material so you
begin to think about a topic for your presentation and research paper PRIOR
to our first class session. During the Friday 9/14 class,
I will ask each of you to submit your preferred topic in writing
(i.e., an area of practice or programming that particularly interests you
for which there is sufficient current research and evaluation information;
it is acceptable to pick an area addressed by the text, with your paper
summarizing the What Works findings and then spending the majority
of your focus on updating that literature and analyzing the extension of
prior knowledge). I will review preferences/interests so we can accomplish
final topic approval on Saturday, 9/15. Please note that it may be
necessary to work with students to ensure that topics do not overlap so
that the broadest possible substantive coverage can be accomplished.
Basics:
a. Your paper must be word processed/typed, double-spaced, and single sided.References:
b. Papers must be submitted in hard copy no later than 6 PM on Monday, 12/3/01. Papers should be initialed and dated by department or City College staff and placed in my faculty mailbox.
c. Please note that the University’s regulations on dishonesty and plagiarism are applicable to this assignment. Please conduct original research and organize and write the paper yourself.
d. Remember that the quality and organization of your writing are as important as the ideas and analysis you present. Use correct grammar; check your spelling, punctuation, and so forth. Grading will take these points into account as well.
All reference citations must include the following information: title of article/book/report, etc.; title of journal, as well as issue and volume numbers; author(s) and/or editor(s); year of publication; publisher (if applicable); and page numbers for articles, chapters, etc. References should be listed alphabetically by last name using an acceptable citation format (pick one you know and be consistent – ASA, APA, etc.). Please note that the citation format selected will dictate how you handle quotations in the body of your paper.
Content:
Your research paper should follow the format noted
below -
a. Clearly state and describe/discuss the type of criminal justice program or practice to be examined.
b. Review and summarize the relevant program, policy and evaluation literature (including the substantive, theoretical and/or political basis for development of the program).
c. Apply and analyze the literature reviewed, presenting the basis of your analysis: Is the program effective? Discuss the strength and credibility of the findings to date and what next steps researchers need to undertake.
d. Discuss the implications of your findings and draw your own conclusions. Be sure to support your conclusions with your research, and indicate where you think the CJS needs to go from here.
Length:
A minimum paper length is not stipulated, however,
the length should be sufficient to cover the necessary material appropriately.
It is unlikely that any paper would require more than 25-30 pages to adequately
address the topic.
Oral Presentation: The topic and content of your oral presentation will be the same as that selected for your research paper. Please be aware that it is not acceptable to read your paper to the class. This is an opportunity to continue to enhance your ability to speak in front of a group on a substantive topic; to teach/share the results of your research with your peers; and to discuss reactions and implications of your research with others. All presentations will be made during the final class session on 11/17. The length of each presentation should be approximately 20-30 minutes, including questions and discussion.
Please bring sufficient copies of a one-page, typed summary of
your paper (including your name, title of paper, name/type of program,
key findings and implications) and a copy of your reference list to
distribute to each class member.