SOC 35S.01 COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Emphasis: Speaking
Prerequisite: Intro to Criminal Justice Meeting Time: MWF, 2-2:50pm
Instructor: Dr. Zoran Milovanovich Phone: (610) 932-8300, x3548
Fax:(610) 932-1880 Email:milovanovich@lu.lincoln.edu
Office Location: DH 362

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Course examines and compares the legal and criminal justice systems of different nations. It focuses on historical, political and social factors, and explains their influence on legal institutions and systems of justice. Discusses points of divergence between other societies and the United States in perceived causes of crime and differing approaches to rehabilitation and crime prevention. Countries representing Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America are included.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

 COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

METHOD OF EVALUATION

Grade Distribution

Quiz

15%

Midterm Exam

25%

Final Exam

40%

Oral Presentation

15%

Class Participation

5%

 

Oral Presentation

You are required to prepare class presentation focusing on the criminal justice system of the country of your choice. Before you make your choice, check the list of countries already selected by other students. You are encouraged to focus on nations with history of human rights abuse (authoritarian regimes, countries in conflict and countries in transition). Your primary source of information should be data bases, reports, current on-line news releases and other research related material widely available on the Internet. An introductory part of your presentation should provide a brief background information about the selected country, including elements of geographic, demographic, historical, political, and cultural nature. Main part of your presentation should concentrate on human rights practices in a particular country. Length of your presentation should be approximately 20-25 minutes.

Evaluation of the oral presentation is based on the following criteria: selection of subject (relevant to assignment, interesting, appropriate level); content and organization (necessary components: introduction, development, supporting material, conclusion); language (clarity, vividness, grammar correct, oral style); delivery (body control, voice); attitude toward an audience (urge to communicate); the degree to which the class was involved; and overall effectiveness.

Percentage to Letter-Grade Conversions

A

95-99%

A-

91-94%

B+

86-90%

B

81-85%

B-

76-80%

C+

71-75%

C

66-70%

C-

61-65%

D+

56-60%

D

51-55%

F

0-50%

 

Tests

Students are expected to take all tests at the regularly scheduled time. If a student cannot do so, he/she should inform the professor before the test. If the reason for being absent is valid, the student will be given the opportunity to take a make-up test. Because of the difficulty of developing a second test, make-up test will consist entirely of essay questions. Students who miss test without informing the professor beforehand will not be permitted to make up the test unless they can provide proof of having had to leave the campus unexpectedly for a hospital stay or serious family emergency.

Attendance

Students in this class will be expected to adhere to the University regulations on absence from class. Students are advised to keep in mind that four absences may result in an automatic failure in the course, and that three tardy arrivals will be counted as one absence.

Academic Ethics:

Students are reminded that they must adhere to the standards of academic ethics of the University. These include standards of honesty for such activities as submitting assignments and essays, taking tests and examinations and doing project assignments.

REQUIRED TEXT

Due to specific nature of the course, it does not rely upon a single source. Instead, the students are expected to combine the extensive use of lecture notes and Internet research.

 

COURSE OUTLINE

AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEMS
  • Why Study the Criminal Justice Systems of Other Countries
  • Approaches to an International Perspective

 CRIME ON THE WORLD SCENE
  • Crime Problem
  • Comparing Crime Rates
  • Crime Trends and Crime Theories

 AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE ON CRIMINAL LAW
  • The Development of Law in America
  • Essential Ingredients of Justice Systems

 LEGAL TRADITIONS
  • Major Legal Traditions
  • Comparing Legal Traditions
  • Models of Criminal Justice System

 SUBSTANTIVE LAW AND PROCEDURAL LAW IN MAJOR LEGAL TRADITIONS
  • Substantive Criminal Law
  • Procedural Criminal Law

 AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON POLICING
  • Classification of Police Structures
  • Centralized Single Systems
  • Centralized Multiple Coordinated Systems
  • Centralized Multiple Uncoordinated Systems
  • Decentralized Multiple Uncoordinated Systems

 AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON COURTS
  • Professional Actors in the Judiciary
  • Judges
  • Prosecutors
  • Defense Attorneys
  • Jury

 AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON CORRECTIONS
  • Punishment and Sentencing
  • Correctional Institutions

 AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE
  • Delinquency as a World Wide Problem
  • Models of Juvenile Justice

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE WEB SITES

Return to The home page of Dr. Zoran Milovanovich

Go to Requirements for Criminal Justice Majors

Go to Suggested Course Sequence for Criminal Justice Majors

Go to Requirements for a Criminal Justice Minor

Email: milovanovich@lu.lincoln.edu