Seminar in Correctional Policy

Jan. 11 Class contract and introduction

Jan. 18 Selection of presentation

topics

Exam

Jan. 25 Visit Tuscaloosa County Jail

Feb. 1 David Evans: Chapter 6

Anthony Floyd:Chapter 4

Feb. 8 Michele Bishop: Chapter 5

Lauren Yearout: Chapter 12

Feb. 15 Kathryn LaPorto:

Chapter 13

Joseph Martin: Overcrowding

Feb. 22 Katie Devin: Chapter 8

Crystal Murry: Chapter 16

March 1 Kristen Williams:

Chapter 11

Joseph Martin: Chapter 9

March 8 LaQuita Moorer: Chapter 2

Terri Lantrip: Chapter 3

March 15 Spring break

Paper due

March 22 Lauren Yearout: Condoms in Prison

Kristen Williams: Juvenile Inmates Health

March 29 Michele Bishop: Corrections in 3^rd

World Countries

Kathryn LaPorto: Child Molesters in Prison

April 5 Rebecca Denham: Chapter 15

Anthony Floyd:

April 12 Terri Lantrip: Privatization

Katie Devlin: Mothers in Prison

April 19 LaQuita Moorer: Recidivism among African

American Males

Rebecca Denham: Prison Litigation

April 26 Crystal Murry: Juvenile Corrections

David Evans: Drugs in Prison

May 3 Summary

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

Presentations

Paper 30% Participation 10%

Presentation 30% Preparation 30%

Presentation 30% Content 30%

Exam 10% Organization 30%

Exam

A short exam will be given at the beginning of the second class. It will be designed so that students who have read the book will earn all ten points.

Presentations

Students will be responsible for informing their colleagues about some aspect of institutional corrections or address one chapter in the text. Each student will make two presentations. One of these presentations will present one chapter from the text book. The second will focus on an issue in institutional corrections. You are encouraged to select topics and do preliminary work on them before the second week of class. On the second day of class you will be expected to offer presentation topics. We will have considerable tolerance for overlapping coverage. Those who do not bring a topic will be assigned a topic of interest to the instructor or to the class. If you do not have immediate topics at hand, you should review the text or an intro text in corrections and choose topics from among those that can be found in the tables of contents.

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. Materials to be read should be delivered to your colleagues one week before your presentation.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Provide students with a working knowledge of policy and issues relevant to the management of institutional 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 institutional 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, 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).

POLICIES

Attendance Policy: Graduate Students are expected to attend all classes. There are no excused absences. If a student misses two classes, he or she must meet with the instructor to discuss dropping the course.

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 are dedicated to students taking my courses this semester (you have priority over all others who might want my time). They 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 e-mail or by telephone.