12/27/2024 7:46:29 AM	AJ 25 Course Outline as of Fall 2024	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AJ 25	Title:  COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Full Title:  Community Relations
Last Reviewed:3/11/2019

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		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 examines the complex, dynamic relationships between communities and the justice system in addressing crime, victimization, conflict, and communication. There is an emphasis on diverse populations within the community and within the justice system.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 OR EMLS 100 (formerly ESL 100) or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course examines the complex, dynamic relationships between communities and the justice system in addressing crime, victimization, conflict, and communication. There is an emphasis on diverse populations within the community and within the justice system.

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

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	D G	Social and Behavioral Sciences American Cultures/Ethnic Studies
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: AJ 160	Community and the Justice System	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AJ25

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

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

1.  Describe the structures of the community and the justice system in the context of

    government-community relations.

2.  Identify and describe issues that pose potential barriers and conflicts in

    government-community relations.

3.  Identify and describe strategies that build trust and reduce conflicts in

    government-community relations.

Objectives:

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

1.   Describe the evolution of community relations in the context of government responsibility.

2.   Explain the structure of criminal justice system identifying the policing, judicial, and

      correctional subsystems.

3.   Explain the elements and barriers of effective communication.

4.   Describe the role of effective communication in government-community relations.

5.   Explain the aspects of social justice and its application in government-community relations.

6.   Examine the structure of a community identifying key elements, conflicts, and attitudes.

7.   Identify the effects of trauma in a community.

8.   Analyze conflicts between the community and the criminal justice system.

9.   Explain formal and informal power struggles within the community and between the

      community and the justice system.

10. Analyze aspects of marginalization and prejudice.

11. Describe population diversity in the context of minority members, subcultures, and special

      populations.

12. Analyze the interactions between minority community members, subcultures, special

      populations and the justice system.

13. Analyze interactions of minority community members working within the justice system.

14. Analyze ethical and value-based interactions between community members and justice

      system members.

Topics and Scope

I. History of Community Relations

    A. Defining community relations

    B. Defining quality of life

    C. Government responsibility

    D. Structure of the criminal justice system

    E. Function of law in the community

    F. Structure and evaluation of community relations programs

         1. Program development

         2. Building trust

         3. Effective verbal and nonverbal communication

         4. Building community

    G. Aspects of social justice

II. Community Structure

    A. Elemental structure of a community

         1. Geographical limits

         2. Population diversity

    B. Conflict within the community

    C. Attitudes within the community

    D. Identifying tension within the community

    E. Expectations of government interactions

    F. Coping with trauma within a community

III. Criminal Justice System and Community Interactions

    A. Human relations and the law

    B. Conflicts between the community and the criminal justice system

    C. Recognizing critical community problems

     D. Sharing power

IV. Minority Groups and Special Populations

    A. Prejudice, bias, and discrimination

    B. Formal and informal power struggles

    C. Factors and aspects of marginalization

    D. Subcultures within the community

    E. Cultural and religious values within community groups

    F. Barriers to effective communication

    G. Special populations

         1. Children and youth

         2. Elderly

         3. Mental illness

         4. Cognitive limitations and barriers

         5. Physical limitations and barriers

         6. Lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/genderqueer populations

V. Justice System Practitioners

    A. Minorities working in the justice system

    B. Subcultures within the justice system

    C. Ethics and values

    D. Communication challenges

Assignments:

1. Read 20-30 pages weekly

2. Written responses to case studies, reading, activities, and/or guest speakers

3. Participation in class discussions and activities

4. Research paper (about 8 to 10 pages)

5. Quizzes (2 - 15), midterm exam, and final exam

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 35 - 45%
Written responses and research paper
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
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 50 - 60%
Objective exams: quizzes, midterm, and final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 5%
Class participation in class discussions and activities

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Race, Gender, Class and Criminal Justice: Examining Barriers to Justice. McDonald, Danielle. Carolina Academic Press. 2017 

 

Multiculturalism and the Criminal Justice System. Hanser, Robert and Gomila, Michael. Pearson. 2015 (classic)

 

Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics. 2nd ed. Braswell, Michael and Miller, Larry and Pollock, Joycelyn.  

Waveland Press Inc. 2011 (classic)

 

Multicultural Perspectives in Criminal Justice and Criminology. 3rd ed. Hendricks, James and Byers, Bryan. and Warren-Gordon, Kiesha. Charles C Thomas Pub. 2011 (classic)

 

Women at Ground Zero: Stories of Courage and Compassion. Hagen, Susan and Carouba Mary. Storybook Press. 2008 (classic)

Print PDF