CJ 510
Spring 2006
Seminar in Community Corrections
Instructor: Bob Sigler (205) 348-7781 (205) 553-3897
rsigler@cj.as.ua.edu fax (205) 348-7178 home page bama.ua.edu/~rsigler/home
Text Book: Community Based Corrections, latest edition, McCarthy & McCarthy
This seminar focuses on community corrections. The text is comprehensive and well written. You should read the text in the first week of the semester as an exam on the text is scheduled for the second class meeting. It is selected to provide background material. TEN PERCENT OF YOUR GRADE IS DETERMINED BY A SHORT TEST ON THE TEXT WHICH WILL BE GIVEN ON THE SECOND DAY OF CLASS
Course Description
Development, organization, operation, and evaluation of community corrections systems as intermediate sanctions and alternatives to incarceration.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Provide students with a working knowledge of policy and issues relevant to the management of community corrections.
2. Develop skills in collecting information that can be used to make effective convincing presentations.
January 11 Course introduction
18 Exam and schedule of presentations
25 Ashley Cornelius Parenting Skills for Women
Ashley Cornelius Mentoring Programs
February 1 Leigh Ann Shelton Abused Women
Debbie Warner Faith Based Programs
8 Mike Reed Pretrial Release
Nick Johnson Managing Mental Health
15 Sacostia Williams Runaways
Victoria Tomczak Drug Treatment
22 Lakesha Leonard Community Program Recidivism
Patrick Murray Juvenile Drug Treatment
March 1 Mike Reed Furloughs and Work Release
Leigh Ann Shelton Community Programs for Women
8 Sok-ju Park Sex Offenders
Jackie Chavez Independent Living Programs
15 Kelli Mathews Halfway Houses
Lakesha Leonard Restitution
22 Spring Break
29 Bob Sigler
April 5 Patrick Murray House Arrest and Electronic Monitoring
12 Victoria Tomczak Mediation and Dispute Resolution
Jackie Chavez Victim Compensation
19 Nick Johnson AA DA GA
Kelli Mathews Notification
26 Sacostia Williams Community Service
Debbie Warner Wilderness Programs
May 3
Class Format
The class will have a discussion/presentation format. Students will make presentations and lead discussion for a range of topics to be selected by the students. Specific topics will be selected and assignments made during the second day of class.
Grading Presentation grading
Paper 40% Organization
Presentation 20% Time
Presentation 1/2 25% Preparation
Participation 10% Presentation
Exam 10% Content
Grading presentations: grades will be assigned by the instructor based on his assessment of how well the presenter has prepared, how well the presenter understands her or his area, and the extent to which the presentation maintained the interest of and was a learning experience for the class.
Presentations
Students will be responsible for informing their colleagues about some aspect of community corrections. Less than 15 minutes should be devoted to "mechanics" in most cases. The remaining time should be devoted to issues, ideal and practical functions, goals, potential for goal accomplishment, and impediments to goal accomplishment.
Each student will make two presentations of approximately one hour in length. You are encouraged to select topics and do preliminary work in advance. On the second day of class you will be expected to offer three possible presentation topics. You will be able to present at least one of the topics that you offer. Ideally you should be able to present two of the three topics that you offer. Those who do not bring topics will be assigned topics of interest to the instructor or to the class. If you do not have immediate topics at hand, you should read the text or an intro text in corrections and choose topics from among those that can be found in the tables of contents.
Student Learning Objectives
1. Provide those students with a working knowledge of policy and issues relevant to the management of community corrections.
2. Develop skills in collecting information that can be used to make effective convincing presentations.
Paper
The paper will be a substantial review of some aspect of community based corrections. An adequate review of the literature will be worth a C. In order to earn higher grades something new must be included. New means original and can be a proposal for a new or modified program; a policy or issue position with justification (a logical discussion of why you are right); a solid critique of existing programs or policies; or, an assessment of where the program/area/issue fits in the overall corrections structure with identification of overlap and/or missing need areas. The paper should be a minimum of 5000 words (about 25 pages).
Exam
The exam will be an easy short fill in the blank type exam designed to provide high grades to anyone who has read the text. Its only purpose is to insure that you have read the text before we begin our presentations.
Additional University Policies
Attendance Policy: Graduate Students are expected to attend all classes.
Academic Misconduct Policy: All acts of dishonesty in any work constitute academic misconduct. This includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, fabrication of information, misrepresentation, and abetting any of the above. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policies will be followed in the event of academic misconduct, including the right to appeal any decision or action taken under this policy.
Missed Work Policy: Students who fall behind in their work are at risk of not completing the course or of producing inferior work. Keeping up to date is strongly encouraged. If you fall behind, I will work with you to develop a plan to bridge short term delays.
Challenged Students: To request disability accommodations, please contact Disabilities Services (348-4285). After initial arrangements are made with Disabilities Services, please contact Bob Sigler at rsigler@cj.as.ua.edu, 348-7781, or 553-3897.
Office hours: Office hours dedicated to students taking my courses this semester (you have priority over all others who might want my time) are posted on my office door. I will be pleased to talk with you any other time that I am in my office. I also can be reached by email or by phone.