Instructor: Michelle Meloy, Ph.D.

Office: 405-407 Cooper Street; suite 205

Office Hrs: 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Monday and Wednesday and by appointment

Phone: (856) 225-2724

E-mail: mlmeloy@rutgers.edu

REQUIRED TEXTS

America's Courts and the Criminal Justice System by David Neubauer, 7th edition

Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Legal Issues, by M. Ethan Katsh and William Rose, 11th edition

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a broad brush introduction to the American court system with a particular focus on the criminal courts at both the federal and state level. This class is designed not only to familiarize you with the structure, jurisdiction, and culture of the American court system but also to help you better understand how the operations and decisions that occur within the court room have  implications that extend to society at large. This is especially true of United State Supreme Court decisions. When the Court of Last Resort makes a legal decision on the constitutionality of a criminal issue, its ruling is binding to all courts, criminal justice agencies, and legislatures. We will highlight this process by examining the history of some landmark cases that resulted in how you and I experience "justice" on a daily basis. We will also take a critical look at how "justice" is dealt out in the court system and the potential implications that race, ethnicity, gender, class and sexual orientation have on this process.

Examinations: There will be three examinations in this course designed to test your understanding of the lectures and supplemental materials. Exams may consist of multiple choice, true & false questions, and perhaps an essay question. Exam grades will be computed on the percent of correct answers as follows: 90-100% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; Below 60% = F. The final exam will NOT be cumulative. No make up examinations will be permitted except for emergency situations. Situations that qualify as an emergency are dictated by university standards and must be accompanied by appropriate documentation. The format of make up exams may vary at the discretion of the instructor and may include but are not limited to essay and oral examination.

Grading: Each exam consists of 30% of your final grade. Reaction papers (there will be 5 in total) are worth 10% of your final grade. This means that each reacion paper is worth 2% of your total percentages points for a combined percentage total of 10%.  Each reaction paper MUST be typed, double spaced, and adhere to general formatting requirements. Each reaction paper should be between 1-2 full pages in length. These assignments are an opportunity for you to express your feelings/reactions about the weeks topic and assigned readings. Reactions to you reading assignments MUST be incorporated into each short paper if you expect to receive credit for doing the assignment. If there are current events that correspond to the topic of the week you are encouraged to include a discussion of this along with your reactions to the weeks topic and assigned readings. Points will be deducted for papers that have numerous syntax errors. Proof read your work and/or seek help at the writing center before submitting your reaction papers for a grade.

Reaction Papers	10%
Exam I	30%
Exam II	30%
Exam III	30%

Academic Dishonesty: This includes plagiarism. Under no circumstances will academic dishonesty be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes cheating on exams, helping another cheat in any way or taking someone else's work and passing it off as your own. Recently, plagiarism from the internet has become an increasing problem. Every semester I find students who are in violation of the academic dishonesty standards set forth in the Rutgers University handbook and reiterated on the sociology homepage http://sociology.camden.rutgers.edu. All violations of academic dishonesty will immediately be referred to Rutgers University officials. The specific rules governing academic dishonesty are addressed in the University undergraduate catalog and student handbook. Sanctions range from failing the course to expulsion.

Course Outline and Reading Assignments: This is a general outline and is subject to change based on the discretion of the instructor. Please be mindful of the fact that class lectures are designed to supplement the text as well as raise other issues.  You will be responsible for material contained in the text even if it was not specifically covered in class. Additional readings or websites may be added at the discretion of the instructor.

Week 1: Overview of Course
Neubauer: Ch.1

Check out this web site for additional information: http://www.ajs.org

Week 2: The Legal System and Federal Courts
Neubauer: Ch. 2 & 3
Check out this web site for additional information: http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/99F/polisci140c-1/ps140c-1acss.html
Check out this web site for additional information:  http://www.uscourts.gov/understanding_courts/8994.htm

*Week 3:  Federal (contined) and State Court Organization
Neubauer: Ch. 3 & 4 (continued) 

*Week 5: Courtroom Workgroup: Courthouse Justice & Prosecutors
Neubauer: Ch. 5 & 6

**Week 6: Courtroom Workgroup: Defense Attorneys
Neubauer: Ch. 7

**Friday February 25: Exam I**

Week 9: Spring Break
No class !!!

Neubauer: Ch 11 & 12
**Friday April 1: Midterm Exam**

Week 15: Sentencing Decisions and Appellate Courts
Neubauer: Ch. 16 & 17

Week 16: Monday, May 2 - last day of class
Final Exam Review

Week 17: Final Exam Tuesday, May 10 @ 9:00 am.

The final exam can not be rescheduled. If this time does not work with your schedule, you should drop this course.  The exam begins at 9:00 am. Students are not permitted to enter the room once the exam has started.