Criminal Investigation (Justice 221)
Course Syllabus
Instructor: David Freeman
Office: W3-28
Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday 8:30-11:45, Wednesday 11:00-12:00
Telephone: 215-751-8744
Website: http://dfreemanpa.tripod.com/criminalinvestigationtr111220/
Classroom: C2-12
Meeting Dates: Tuesday/Thursday 11:00-12:20
Prerequisites: Justice 101
Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are as follows:
1) To provide students an understanding of the fundamental features of criminal investigations; and
2) To provide students with a grasp structure, rules and operating techniques of a criminal investigation; and
3) To provide students with an understanding of the significance of the Rules of Evidence and the management of evidence; and
4) To gain a familiarity with the techniques of crime scene management.
Textbook: Swanson, Chamelin, Territo & Taylor, Criminal Investigation, Ninth Edition (McGraw Hill, 2006) ISBN: 007321278-4.
Attendance: More than four absences may result in your being dropped from the course or losing points toward the final grade.
Lateness: You must be on time. Failure to be here for the call of the roll will constitute an absence.
Disability Policy: If you require assistance with any condition or disability you should consult the College catalog for direction. The Center on Disability is located at M1-22B and may be reached by telephone at 215-751-8307. I urge you to consult with that office immediately. Unless you are working with the Center, we may not be able to provide the assistance you need.
Counseling Department: The Counseling Department is located in office W2-2. It is a great resource for students that may be struggling with problems of a personal nature. The staff is highly trained and very helpful and is available on a walk-in basis.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a serious offense which has been made easier by the World Wide Web. Very simply, it is a form of theft; that is, stealing someone's work and passing it off as your own. This theft does not require you to physically steal someone's paper, but most commonly, the offense is done using the World Wide Web. While searching, students find an article that covers their topic and then copy it and use it as their own.
If you are discovered having plagiarized, you will: (1) fail the assignment; and (2) fail the course; and (3) I will turn the matter over to the Dean of Student Affairs for disciplinary action. The College and our program take this offense very seriously and so should you.
Evaluation:
Grade scale:
90-100=A
80-90= B
70-80=C
60-70=D
Below 59= F
Grading:
Tests 40 5 Tests (25) Final(15)
Presentations 25
Assignments 20
Participation 15
Course Schedule
1/15-1/22
Section 1: Introductions, Squads, Evidence, Evidence Dynamics
1/24-2/3
Section 2: Investigative Process, The Crime Scene/Chapters 2 and 3
2/5
First Test
2/10
Evidence Dynamics
Return of tests
2/12
Body in the Lagoon Exercise
2/17
Physical Evidence
2/19
Known/Unknown Samples
Bullets, Guns, Gunshot Wounds
2/24
Creating Podcasts/Video and Audio
2/26
Test Chapter 3