Course Syllabus

Course Information CRIMINAL LAW, CRIM 2306i FALL 2011

Instructor Contact Information

Michael D. Frazier Lecturer michael.frazier@utdallas.edu (281) 546-5638 Alternate E-mail: mfrazier@bop.gov

Students are strongly encouraged to use email as the primary method of communication. Your professor checks email several times per day and you can normally expect a response within one day or sooner. Office Hours: Students may feel free to contact the professor at any time by email. Hours for Fall Semester 2011 are continuous for online questions and by appointment for those who wish to visit in person.

Course Description CRIM 2306 examines the statutory basis of crime and the legal requirements surrounding mens rea and legally permissible defenses permitted under criminal due process. Emphasis is placed on both criminal statutes and case law.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes Introduce students to the basics of criminal law by guiding them through the statutory and case law underpinnings of the criminal justice system. This course will proceed from determining when a crime has been committed to an examination of aspects of criminal law involved in the confinement of convicted individuals. Students should expect to engage in class discussions on case studies, hypothetical situations and current events in criminal law.

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I.

Course Navigation Before you begin work, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this webbased course. The course is totally online in an asynchronous format. You do not have to come to campus and you do not have to be online at the same time as your professor or classmates. You can complete the course by navigating around the eLearning CRIM 2306 homepage and reading the materials specified on it and through the materials in the organizers on that page. We will utilize the assessment, calendar, assignments, syllabus, discussion, mail, announcement, whos online, and my grade tools which are all available to you on the menu on your course homepage. All requirements for course completion are listed in Section VI of the syllabus. I strongly encourage you to print out the summary calendar and enter the due dates on your personal calendar to ensure that no late submissions occur to avoid the late penalties associated with submitting graded work later than the due date. If you have any questions whatsoever about how to access any of the course materials or assignments please email me at michael.frazier@utdallas.edu. You must check your UT Dallas email and the eLearning course site at least three times per week for emails, announcements, and updates. Remember this is your classroom so please feel comfortable asking me any questions which you would ordinarily ask in class. Please be aware that exams will be accessible for a period of one week beginning seven days prior to the due date. Because this large amount of time, make-up tests are not permitted in most cases.

II.

Required Textbooks and Materials Criminal Law Today (4th Ed.), Frank Schmalleger, et al., 2010, Prentice Hall. ISBN# 9780-13-504261-8. Additional reading will be provided via eLearning or below in Section VI.

III. IV. V.

Graduate Teaching Assistant: None. Pre/Co-requsite: None. Technical Support: If you experience difficulties with your UTD account you may send an email to assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at 972-883-2911.

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VI.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

(Topics, Reading Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates)

Changes may be made to this schedule. I will announce changes via the eLearning page. YOU are responsible for all changes (e.g. reading assignments, assignment deadlines, etc.) Due dates for Assignments are set on the eLearning page.

Week August 24-26

Assignment Read Chapter 1 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 2-37) Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and eLearning page View Lesson 1 (eLearning Page): Purpose and Sources of Criminal Law on eLearning page Complete Assignment 1.1 Participate in the Discussion Forum: Purpose and Sources of Criminal Law Read Chapter 2 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 38-57) Read Chapter 3 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 58-77) View Lesson 2: Criminal Liability Participate in the Discussion Forum: Medical Misdiagnosis Discussion Complete Assignments 2.1 & 2.2 Read Chapter 4 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 78-111) View Lesson 3: Extending Criminal Liability Participate in the Discussion Forum: The

Exam, Quiz or Assessment Complete Quiz 1 under Assessments Tab

August 29-September 2

Complete Quiz 2 under Assessments Tab

September 5-9

Complete Quiz 3 under the Assessments Tab

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Crime of Attempt Complete Assignments 3.1 & 3.2 September 12-16 September 19-23 Read Chapter 5 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 112-134) Read Chapter 6 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 136-189) View Lesson 4: Defenses Participate in the Discussion Forum: Entrapment by Government Agents Complete Assignments 4.1 & 4.2 Read Chapter 6 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 136-189) View Lesson 5: Insanity Participate in the Discussion Forum: The Case of Andrea Yates Complete Assignments 5.1 & 5.2 Read Chapter 7 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 190-221) View Lesson 6: Personal Crime - Homicide Participate in the Discussion Forum: Assisted Suicide and the Law Complete Assignments 6.1 & 6.2 Read Chapter 8 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 222-251) View Lesson 7: Personal Crime Assault, Battery, and Other Personal Crimes Participate in the Discussion Forum: Exam I (Chapter 1-4/ Lessons 1-3) Complete Quiz 4 under the Assessments Tab

September 26-30

Complete Quiz 5 under the Assessments Tab

October 3-7

Complete Quiz 6 under the Assessments Tab

October 10-14

Complete Quiz 7 under the Assessments Tab

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Consensual Sex Versus Rape Complete Assignment 7.1 October 17-21 October 24-28 Read Chapter 9 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 252-303) View Lesson 8: Property and Computer Crimes Participate in the Discussion Forum: Elements of a Crime Complete Assignments 8.1 & 8.2 Read Chapter 10 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 304-339) View Lesson 9: Crimes Against Public Order and the Government Participate in the Discussion Forum: Cross Burning Complete Assignments 9.1 & 9.2 Read Chapter 12 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 362-397) View Lesson 10: Crimes Against Public Decency and Morality Participate in the Discussion Forum: Prostitution and the Law Complete Assignments 10.1 & 10.2 Read Chapter 13 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 398-433) View Lesson 11: Victims and the Law Participate in the Discussion Forum: Profiting from a Crime Complete Assignment 11.1 & 11.2 Exam II (Chapter 5-8/ Lesson 4-7) Complete Quiz 8 under the Assessments Tab

October 31- November 4

Complete Quiz 9 under the Assessments Tab

November 7-11

Complete Quiz 10 under the Assessments Tab

November 14-18

Complete Quiz 11 under the Assessments Tab

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November 21-25

November 28- December 2 December 5-6 December 9

Read Chapter 14 in textbook Criminal Law Today (pp. 434-477) View Lesson 12: Punishment and Sentencing Participate in the Discussion Forum: Sentencing and the Eighth Amendment Complete Assignment 12.1 Read Chapter 11: Terrorism and Human Trafficking Review

Complete Quiz 12 under the Assessments Tab

Exam III (Final Exam) Chapter 9-14/Lessons 8-12

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VII.

Grading Policy 20% 60% (20% each) 10% 10% 100%

(Including percentages for assignments, grade scale, etc.)

Quiz grades: Examinations (3): Assignments: Discussion Forums: Total:

Examinations: will consist of some combination of multiple choice, true/false, short answer or essay questions. The exams will consist of 25-50 objective items each with a maximum score of 100 points (20% of final grade). Please be aware that exams are rigorous. You will be given a maximum of two hours to complete each exam. Please read and study the text, and any other required materials, in detail before beginning the exams. Please be aware that exams will be accessible for a period of one week beginning seven days prior to the due date. Because of this large amount of time, make-up tests are not permitted in most cases. Quizzes : There will be twelve (12) quizzes which you will be responsible for completing during this semester. As indicated above quizzes will make up 10% of your grade. Discussion Forums: There are twelve (12) Lessons that make up this course. As part of each lesson you must take part in each of the twelve (12) discussion forums that are specified in Section VI. Follow the directions that are outlined for each discussion forum. Typically they will require you to post your answers to a set of questions and respond to at least two other students. Your participation in these forums will be monitored by your instructor and will also comprise a part (10%) of your final grade. Your answers to the questions posed should be at least 40 words or longer. There is no length requirement for the responses to the other students questions. However, your posts and your responses should be based on the substantive content of the chapter and on the substantive content of the posting that you are responding to. DO NOT criticize the other student or make negative references about the student. Attention to proper writing and correct spelling when posting the discussion questions and responses is expected and is a part of the grade received for the assignment. Use proper grammar and spelling and do not use any type of abbreviations not found in a commonly accepted, standardized English dictionary. All comments posted by students must be in formal language with no intolerant, rude, abusive, or obscene language. Violations of this policy will be referred for disciplinary action with the recommendation that the student be expelled from the class! Assignments: Assignments are due for each of the twelve Lessons of this course. Dates that these assignments are available and when they are due can

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be found on the eLearning page. Follow the directions for completing the assignment as they appear on the eLearning page. Your type written responses for these assignments can either be input directly through the eLearning interface in the box labeled Submission, which is the preferred method, or you may attach your response in a Word file. Due to variances in software for word processors, I much prefer that you submit your response via the eLearning interface. The rules regarding grammar, spelling, content, etc., set out above in the Discussion Forum section, apply to Assignments as well. Work on Assignments must be your own and your responses should fully address the questions posed in the assignment. Final grades will be awarded according to the following percentage scale: A+ 98-100 A: 94-97 A-: 90-93 B+: 87-89 B: 84-86 B-: 80-83 C+: 77-79 C: 74-76 C-: 70-73 D+: 67-69 D: 64-66 D-: 60-63 F: 0-59 Please note that there is no extra credit available in this class and each student should strive to do his or her best work on each and every grading event. The mathematical rule of rounding will apply to the computation of the final grade in this course. Incomplete Grade Policy: As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semesters end and only if 70% of the coursework has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Course & Instructor Policies

(make-up exams, extra credit, late work, special assignments, class attendance, classroom citizenship, etc.) Course Announcements:

Course announcements will be made via eLearning. You are responsible for keeping up with all announcements (e.g., schedule changes, cancellations, etc.).
Netiquette:

Please express all posted comments in formal English without street jargon or employment related jargon, acronyms, or abbreviations that will not be understood by all students. (no text chat language, i.e., LOL, BRB, etc.) Avoid being critical of your fellow classmates and focus your responses to the content of what they posted. Do not make emotional outbursts on the discussion page and always remember that anything you post will be retained exactly as you post it for a long time and can be referred to exactly as you post it in the future. Some yes and no rules to follow in the course: o Yes, you can email your professor as often as you like at michael.frazier@utdallas.edu.

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Yes, you can critique postings in your responses in any way you like as long as it is not offensive and not critical of another student personally. o Yes, you can ask the professor any question you have. o Yes, every email is appreciated and answered. o No, you should not use acronyms and jargon in your postings. o No you should not try use humor as it sometimes comes across online with unintended consequences. o Remember that even if you are posting your comments in the privacy of your home, they will be viewed online exactly as comments would be viewed in a live classroom and comment accordingly and with proper respect for fellow students. Be respectful to one another. Much discussion will take place in class. Class sessions will be more beneficial and enjoyable for everyone involved if we hear each other out before launching a response. People are entitled to their opinions. Sometimes, even in the world of criminal law, there is not always a right or a wrong answer to an issue. Be prepared to see things from a different point of view.

Field Trip Policies Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm. Additional information is available from the office of the school dean. Below is a description of any travel and/or riskrelated activity associated with this course.

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the universitys Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391). A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the

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standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as ones own work or material that is not ones own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the universitys policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a students U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the universitys Handbook of Operating Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called the respondent). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondents School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the

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respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Deans decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semesters end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is: The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22 PO Box 830688 Richardson, Texas 75083-0688 (972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY) Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility assistance. It is the students responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the

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instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

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