4/19/2024 5:35:54 AM	AJ 70 Course Outline as of Fall 2017	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AJ 70	Title:  INTRO TO CORRECTIONS
Full Title:  Introduction to Corrections
Last Reviewed:2/22/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the history and trends of adult and juvenile corrections including probation and parole. It will focus on the legal issues, specific laws and general operation of correctional institutions. The relationship between corrections and other components of the judicial system will also be examined.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the history and trends of adult and juvenile corrections including probation and parole. It will focus on the legal issues, specific laws and general operation of correctional institutions. The relationship between corrections and other components of the judicial system will also be examined.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AJ 200	Introduction to Corrections	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AJ70

Certificate/Major Applicable: Certificate Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Explain how correctional agencies fulfill the mission of protecting society.

2.  Compare and contrast federal, state, and private corrections, probation and parole systems.

3.  Describe the challenges facing female prisoners and other specialized populations in a correctional setting.

4.  Explain the impact on California's criminal justice system with the implementation of the prison realignment.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the history of punishment and corrections.

2. Discuss the development of prisons, including California's prison system.

3. Define the term corrections and know how correctional agencies fulfill the mission of protecting society.

4. Identify laws relating to liability in the correctional setting.

5. Discuss the daily operations of a jail.

6. Explain the organization and operation of a modern probation system.

7. Identify and explain intermediate sanctions in the correctional setting.  

8. Compare and contrast the federal and state prison systems.

9. Describe inmate classification and custody levels in jails and prisons.

10. Define the prison subculture, including gangs and security threat groups.

11. Describe the challenges facing female prisoners in a correctional setting.

12. Define specialized population offenders and describe how they require special handling under correctional supervision

13. Discuss the challenges of juveniles in a correctional setting.

14. Define unit management and describe the role it plays in the management of a prison.

15. Describe the benefits of prison education for inmates.

16. List and describe prison programs which address therapeutic, recreational and religious philosophies.

17. Discuss parole and reintegration, including the California Realignment process.

18. Discuss issues for and against the death penalty and its application.

19. Describe the philosophy and application of best practices in corrections.

Topics and Scope

I. History and Evolution of Punishment and Corrections

II. Development of Prisons in the United States

III. California Prisons

IV. Ideology and Theory of Corrections

V. Correctional Law and Liabilities

VI. Jail and Detention Facilities

VII. California Realignment  

VIII. Probation

IX. Intermediate Sanctions

X. Correctional Facilities

    A.  Federal

    B.  State

    C.  Private

XI. Classification and Custody Levels

XII. Prison Subculture

XIII. Gangs and Security Threat Groups

XIV. Female Offenders in Correctional Systems

XV. Specialized Inmate Populations

XVI. Juvenile Correctional System

XVII. Correctional Administration and Management

XVIII. Prison Education, Services, and Programs

XIX. Prison Therapeutic, Recreational and Religious Programming

XX. Parole and Reintegration

XXI. California Realignment and Parole

XXII. Death Penalty

XXIII. Program Evaluation and Evidence Based Practices

Assignments:

1. Small group discussion and activities

2. Reading 20-40 pages a week

3. Weekly, chapter quizzes, mid-term and final exam

4. Term paper or research project.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Written homework, critiquing of reports and case scenarios, term paper/research project
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 30%
Small group activities
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Mid-term and final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

1. Corrections: An Introduction, R.P. Seiter, Prentice Hall, current ed.

2. Corrections in America, Latessa Allen, Ponder & Simonson, Prentice Hall, current ed.

3. Essentials of Corrections, L. G. Mays & L. T. Winfree, Wadsworth, current ed.

4. American Corrections, T. Clear, G. Cole and M. D. Reisig, Wadsworth, current ed.

5. Introduction to Corrections, Hanser, R., Sage Publications, current edition.

6. Instructor-prepared materials.

Print PDF