Spring 2025
Correctional Systems & Practices
Correctional System and Practices (2313) ONLINE CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: None COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is a survey of institutional and non-institutional corrections. Emphasis will be placed on the organization and operation of correctional systems; treatment and rehabilitation; populations served; Constitutional issues; and current and future issues. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to 1. Describe the organization and operation of correctional systems and alternatives to institutionalization. 2. Describe treatment and rehabilitative programs. 3. Differentiate between the short-term incarceration and long-term institutional environments. 4. Evaluate current and future correctional issues. 5. Identify the Constitutional rights applicable to the correctional setting. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Gregory W. Clark Jr. M.S. Email: gclark@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-273-5909 (no calls after 8:00 pm and weekends). Office Location: Online Format Office Hours: This is an online course. I am available by appointment. Please send me an email to schedule appointment. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS Corrections in America: An Introduction, 15th edition. By Harry E. Allen, Edward J. Latessa, Bruce S. Ponder. ISBN 13:978-0-13-272677-1 ATTENDANCE POLICY Success in this course is dependent on your active participation and engagement throughout the course. As such, students are required to complete all assignments by the due date, and to actively participate in class discussions. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified drop date as listed on the Academic Calendar. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16- week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face- to-face class. COURSE CALENDAR Week Assignment Name Due Date Assignments and /Quizzes are submitted in Blackboard, on the assigned dates, before 10:00 p.m. Record Your Grade 1 - 2 Module #1 February 15, 2025 Practice Discussion/Assignment February 15, 2025 Netiquette Assignment February 15, 2025 Is Distance Right for Me- Test February 15, 2025 Week One Discussion (#1) February 15, 2025 3 - 5 Module #2 (Chapters 1-4) March 1, 2025 Discussion (#1 & #2) March 1, 2025 Quiz #2 & #3 March 1, 2025 Exam #1 (Chapters 1-4) Exam March 1, 2025 6 - 8 Module #3 (Chapters 5 & 6) March 22, 2025 Discussion (#4) March 22, 2025 Quiz #3 March 22, 2025 Course Project/Paper #1 March 22, 2025 9 - 11 Module #4 (Chapters 7-14) April 12, 2025 Discussion (#5) April 12, 2025 Quiz #4 April 12, 2025 Death Penalty Paper April 12, 2025 Exam #2 (Chapters 5-14) April 12, 2025 12 - 15 Module #5 (Chapters 15-19) May 3, 2025 Discussion (#6) May 3, 2025 Quiz #5) May 3, 2025 Course Project/Paper #2 May 3, 2025 16 Final Exam May 4 – May 6, 2025 COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Discussions 10% • Quizzes 15% • Papers/Assignments 25% • Exams 50% GRADING SCALE 90%-100% A 80%-89% B 70%-79% C 60%-69% D 59%-Below F LIT does not use +/- grading scales ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Students found to be committing academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, or collusion) may receive disciplinary action. Students need to familiarize themselves with the institution’s Academic Dishonesty Policy available in the Student Catalog & Handbook at http://catalog.lit.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=80#academic-dishonesty. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum- computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu) STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION I DO NOT accept late work. All assignments are due as scheduled. There are a few exceptions but those will be discussed on a case by case basis (ex. Medical situation such as hospitalization). Preferred means of communication: Email: gclark@lit.edu or phone: (409) 273-5909 Communication Response Time: Expected response time for communications with instructor is 48 hours (except weekends). Grading Response Time: Assignments should be returned with grades within 2 weeks.