JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The City University of New York
COURSE SYLLABUS
GOVERNMENT/LAW 259
COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS
SPRING 2007
INSTRUCTOR:
Professor Matthew Zommer
E-mail Address: mzommer@jjay.cuny.edu
Office Hours: T & TH: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
REQUIRED TEXT:
Dammer, H. and Fairchild E. (2006). Comparative Criminal Justice Systems. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Buy this book; it will be required for class, exams, and assignments.
RESERVE READINGS:
1. Moore, R. (1996) “Islamic legal systems: Traditional (Saudi Arabia), contemporary (Bahrain), and evolving (Pakistan)" in C. Fields and R.H. Moore, eds., Comparative criminal justice: Traditional and nontraditional systems of law and control, Prospect Heights (Illinois), Waveland Press, at pp. 390-410.
2. Dubriske, Steven, Maj. (2003) International Criminal Court: An American perspective. IDF Law Review. Volume 1, p. 129-180
3. Hood, Roger. (2001) Capital Punishment: A global perspective. Punishment and Society. Volume 3 (3), p. 331-354
Note: These readings are on e-reserve and can be accessed and printed from the Lloyd Sealy Library internet home page.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This course will examine and address the criminal justice system and criminal justice institutions among a number of political systems (democratic, communist, modernizing, and Islamic). Special emphasis will be placed on comparative crime rates, the various stages of the criminal justice process and specific contemporary issues pertaining to comparative criminal justice. Specific criminal justice systems that will be addressed for comparative purposes include: England, France, Germany, China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES:
1. ARRIVE ON TIME. Late arrival is disruptive to the students and the professor.
2. REMAIN IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD. Once you have entered the classroom you may only leave for an emergency or with the professor’s permission.
3. PAY ATTENTION TO THE LECTURE OR DISCUSSION GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM. Classroom activities are centered on teaching and learning. Any activity, which does not contribute to these processes, is not allowed.
4. FOOD MAY NOT BE BROUGHT INTO OR CONSUMED IN THE CLASSROOM.
5. NO CELL PHONE CALLS
Violating any of the above listed rules may result in a reduced grade.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Assigned Country: Every student will be randomly assigned a country selected from the World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems. This assigned country will be the main focus of your second research paper and country reporting project.
You will be receiving a separate handout detailing the specific requirements for the research papers.
Country Reporting Project: We will be spending the first few minutes of every class reviewing current news events that relate to each assigned countries criminal justice system. Students are expected to keep abreast of the current affairs of their country and participate in class discussions.
Attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Students who have been absent more than four times will have their grade lowered. Students who miss more than one third of classes will be given a failing grade.
GRADING:
Two in class exams (mid term & final) worth 25% each
Two 5 to 7 page papers worth 20% each
Country reporting project 10%
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
If I have good evidence that you have engaged in any form of cheating on a quiz or test or have committed plagiarism in writing your papers, I will refer you to the Dean of Students. You will automatically fail my course and your academic record will show that you cheated. In case you are not aware, cheating is frowned upon by employers and graduate schools – especially in the criminal justice field.
Note: I will be using online plagiarism prevention software to cross reference all research papers.
COLLEGE POLICY ON PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s ideas, words, artistic, scientific, or technical work as one’s own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permitted only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations require citation to the original source.
Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.
It is the student’s responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (and do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure of how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Date Assignment Reading
Jan 30 Overview of the Course No assignment
Feb 1 Introduction & Research Sources Chapter 1
Feb 6 Measuring and Comparing Crime Chapter 2
Feb 8 Families of Law (Civil & Common) Chapter 3
Feb 13 Families of Law (Socialist & Islamic) Chapter 3
Feb 20 England, France & Germany Chapter 4
Feb 22 China, Japan & Saudi Arabia Chapter 4
Feb 27 Islamic Legal Systems Reserve Reading 1
March 1 Law Enforcement Chapter 5 (105-117)
March 6 Law Enforcement Chapter 5 (117-134)
March 8 Criminal Procedure Chapter 6 (135-148)
March 13 Criminal Procedure Chapter 6 (149-159)
March 15 Criminal Procedure Chapter 6 (162-170)
March 20 Mid Term Exam
March 22 Legal Actors Chapter 7 (171-179)
March 27 Legal Actors Chapter 7 (180-195)
March 29 Courts Chapter 8 (197-210)
April 10 Courts Chapter 8 (211-228)
April 12 International Criminal Court Reserve Reading 2
April 17 Sentencing Chapter 9 (230-250)
April 19 Capital Punishment Reserve Reading 3
April 24 Prisons Chapter 10
April 26 Terrorism Chapter 11 (289-308)
May 1 Terrorism Chapter 11 (309-319)
May 3 Transnational Organized Crime Chapter 12
May 8 Juvenile Justice Chapter 13
May 10 Laws of War
May 15 Future Considerations
May 17 Review
Papers Due
May XX Final Exam