Crime Prevention Syllabus

CRIME PREVENTION
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Dr. Tom O'Connor or assigned instructor
This is a "master" syllabus and may not be your actual syllabus
Assigned instructors may or may not use this material

Class meets: as scheduled Office hours: as scheduled APSU Center @ Ft. Campbell Telephone: (931) 221-1477, (931) 221-1493 (Fax) Email: oconnort@apsu.edu Web: www.drtomoconnor.com
Textbooks: Lab, Steven (2014). Crime Prevention, 8e. Cincinnati: Anderson. ISBN: 1455731374. Note: the 8th edition of this book differs substantially from the 7th edition. Also, the Howard/Sawyer book has been completely phased out as has the O'Connor book for this course. There is a Student Resource site for this book at: http://booksite.elsevier.com/9781455731374/

COURSE DESIGNATION: CRJ 3440 Crime Prevention (3 semester hours) Note: This course used to be called Terrorism Prevention but had a name change in the summer of 2013.

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PREREQUISITES: This course provides an overview of the various methods of crime prevention, including terrorism. Related topics include target identification, target protection techniques, and information assimilation and analysis. (no prerequisites)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. To acquire an understanding of the causes and consequences of crime, victimization, and fear of crime
2. To understand how contemporary criminal groups, including terrorist groups, are organized, financed, and operate in terms of their victim-offender relationships
3. To examine the historical evolution of criminological and victimological thought on preventive strategies, approaches, and theories as well as penological ideas about the purposes of punishment
4. To analyze different forms and patterns of victimization in various contexts and the challenges of crime prevention in those contexts, especially in preventing terrorism
5. To recognize the need for emergency preparedness protocols and information dissemination
6. To identify effective strategies in crime prevention as part of overall crime control policies
7. To appreciate the need for staying "one step ahead" of trends in criminal victimization

GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:

In addition to the above objectives, the more general goals of this course are to provide the student with the following tools to help develop his or her potential:
1. Development of the student's analytical thinking capabilities through comparison and contrast in the application of theories and concepts to social problems
2. Enhancement of the student's literacy skills through assigned readings, discussions, examinations, and other requirements
3. Utilization of the historical perspective which helps with student understanding of evolutionary developments over time
4. Understanding of the scientific method through research requirements and in-depth case studies
5. Improvement in social interaction skills and understanding human behavior through consideration of the impact legal and social systems have on individuals
6. Increased student awareness of cultural and multi-cultural issues through study of how social problems and social movements are related to, and affect, minority groups
7. Preparation for more advanced study in criminal justice/homeland security

CONTENT OUTLINE:

Week 1: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
1. Introduction to Crime and Terrorism Prevention
1a. Target Hardening and Principles of Crime Prevention
1b. Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis (from 3760 course)

Week 2: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
2. Police Community Relations and Community Policing (from 1030 course)
2a. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
2b. Vigilantism (from 3410 course)

Week 3: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
3. Displacement and Diffusion of Crime

Week 4: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
4. Police, the Media, and Crime Prevention (from 4230 course)
4a. Hoaxes, Rumors, Pranks and Pseudoterrorist Acts

Week 5: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
5. Developmental Prevention of Crime and Terrorism

Week 6: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
6. Deterrence of Crime

Week 7: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
7. Recidivism Prediction
7a. Drug Prevention

Week 8: Textbook chapters as announced, the following (recommended) Lecture Notes, and any other material the Instructor assigns.
8. Rehabilitating Criminals and Terrorists

REQUIRED LEARNING RESOURCES:

Main Textbook/Required Textbook: Lab, Steven (2014). Crime Prevention, 8e. Cincinnati: Anderson. ISBN: 1455731374 which contains the following chapters which should be read in order:
1. Crime and the Fear of Crime
2. A Crime Prevention Model
3. Program Evaluation
4. The Physical Environment and Crime
5. Neighborhood Crime Prevention
6. Displacement and Diffusion
7. The Mass Media and Crime Prevention
8. Developmental Crime Prevention
9. General Deterrence
10. Prediction for Secondary Prevention
11. Situational Crime Prevention (repeat of material in chapters 4 and 5)
12. Community Partnerships (similar to community policing lecture note)
13. Drugs, Crime and Crime Prevention (instructor to add own material)
14. Schools and Crime Prevention (instructor to add own material)
15. Incapacitation and Incarceration
16. Rehabilitation
17. Closing Thoughts

Second Main Textbook(s): none

Supplemental Reference: American Psychological Association. (1994). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5e. Washington DC: APA. Note: students do not have to buy this book, but should have access to it or something similar in order to utilize the correct style or format with writing assignments.

Additional Learning Resources (Internet Links in lectures)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are expected to read and follow the schedule in the course syllabus, to read assigned text chapters, to read assigned Lecture Notes, and to seek and read additional suggested resources as provided by the textbook and Instructor. In addition, students are expected to be alert and attentive with note taking in class and have a demonstrated desire to participate in any discussion. Exams are to be completed within the deadlines given by the Instructor, and any special instructions for the paper assignment are to be followed precisely. The Instructor will announce all deadlines and instructions as well as provide reminders about the pace or flow of the course.

BASIS AND METHODS FOR GRADING: (May vary by instructor):

25% Midterm Examination (objective test with essay questions that may count toward writing)
35% Final Examination (objective test with essay questions that may count toward writing)
25% Writing assignments (single or multiple assignments, the equivalent of 7-8 pages)
15% Participation and Discussion (attendance, logins, discussion contributions)

The grade scale used in this course is normally a 7-point scale, as follows, although instructors are free to make adjustments or modifications as circumstances permit. At times when circumstances permit, the scale may be dropped to a 10-point scale, or slightly more.

A = 93-100
B = 86-92
C = 78-85
D = 70-77
F = 69/below

ATTENDANCE POLICY: An attendance roster is kept (and login records, if this is a web-based course), and students are expected to attend all sessions on time and as scheduled. If a session and/or assignment deadline is to be missed for circumstances beyond the student's control, prior permission of the instructor must be obtained, and arrangements made for submission of the work. Regular late submission of work as well as tardiness and absenteeism will result in reduction of the final grade by at least one letter, depending upon severity. An "Incomplete" can only be given if the student has normally completed at least half the coursework, has a reasonable justification, and makes arrangements with the instructor.

DISABILITY POLICY: Any student who has a disability that may affect his/her academic performance is encouraged to make an appointment with me to discuss this matter, or you may contact Disability Services; telephone 221-6230; voice 221-6278; voice tty.

POLICY ON MINORS: Minors (any non-student under the age of 18) accompanying staff, faculty, students, or visitors on campus are not permitted in the classroom.

ACADEMIC AND CLASSROOM MISCONDUCT: Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Academic and classroom misconduct will not be tolerated. Students must read the "Code of Student Conduct" in the new Student Handbook for an understanding of what will be expected of them within the academic setting. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated, and any student found cheating or plagiarizing will receive an "F" for the work in question, and possibly an "F" for the course, and may be recommended for suspension from the University. Cheating is defined as not working on exams or assignments alone, and plagiarism is defined as taking the work of someone else's as one's own. APSU uses software that will identify plagiarism.

The above schedule and procedures are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

Last updated: May 16, 2013
Not an official webpage of APSU, copyright restrictions apply, see Megalinks in Criminal Justice
O'Connor, T. (2013). "Syllabus for Crime Prevention," MegaLinks in Criminal Justice. Retrieved from http://www.drtomoconnor.com/3440/default.htm.