William Holmes 
Office Hours: M, 11:30-12:30;
Wheatley 4/144-31 Tue, 10:-11;

Text: American Corrections, fifth edition, by Clear and Cole.

PURPOSE
To describe the correctional system in the United States, its history and current practices. It will examine major issues in corrections and discuss alternative strategies for dealing with these issues. Upon completion, students will be able to explain different theories of correction, how they are implemented, and the tradeoffs of different strategies. They will also be able to describe the history of the correctional system, how it operates now, and what are the current major problems that it faces.

REQUIREMENTSStudents will have to complete the following requirements:

• Analysis of a correctional related web page from the Internet. The analysis will describe who is responsible for the page, what issues(s) the page addresses, and what is the basis for the positions presented on the web page. Three pages maximum, plus printed copy of web page. The format of the analysis must be in some recognized style and printed or typed. 10 percent of grade.
• Midterm Paper. The student will have to select a specific type of sentence, explain how it is supposed to serve restorative and retributive justice, identify conflicts between restorative and retributive justice it produces, and propose how these conflicts should be resolved. This paper should be at least five pages in length and have at least five references from a professional research source. Professional research sources include journals, books, government publications, or web sites that present the results of original research or governmental statistics. Information for news media, magazines, or personal opinion on the Internet may be cited, but not counted as a professional research source. Criminal justice majors must submit their paper in ACJS format (see instructional web site for an explanation with examples of its use at the web page http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~holmes/acjstyle.htm). 25 percent of grade.
• Term Paper. The student will have to select a specific issue or problem in correctional management or operation and write at least eight pages describing that issue, alternative solutions, and argue for a specific strategy to deal with the issue. At least five reference citations must come from a professional research source. Professional research sources include journals, books, government publications, or web sites that present the results of original research or governmental statistics. Information for news media, magazines, or personal opinion on the Internet may be cited, but not counted as a professional research source. Criminal justice majors must submit their paper in ACJS format (see instructional web site for an explanation with examples of its use at the web page http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~holmes/acjstyle.htm). 35 percent of grade.
• Final Paper. Choose as a topic either capital punishment, racial disparity in sentencing, or long-term prisoner isolation. Write a paper in which you describe the history of the issue in the United States, what the situation is with that issue today, and what you think the future will hold for that issue. Express your own opinions about what you think should be done (if anything) concerning the issue. 30 percent of grade. The paper should be at least eight pages in length. At least five reference citations must come from a professional research source.
• Extra credit may be earned by being the first person to identify a broken link in the instructional web site. One point may be earned for each broken link, up to a maximum of 10 points. The first person will be whoever first sends me e-mail regarding the broken link.
  

Students will have to read sections of the text assigned, do course assignments, and attend and participate in class discussions. Copies of assignments are on the Holmes instructional web site: http://omega.cc.umb.edu/~holmes/. Students earning a competency must complete assignments 1 through 4 and participate in class discussions to earn the competency. Students earning a grade must complete assignments 1 through 4 to avoid an incomplete. Students who turn in assignments late without prior authorization by the professor will lose points (if graded) or be held to a higher standard of performance (if evaluated for a competency). The grades will be calculated on total points earned. Competency will be awarded upon successful completion of all course assignments and requirements.

CPCS students working on a competency will be allowed to redo assignments for which they get a "progress." Non-CPCS students will be allowed to redo assignments for which they get less than a C.

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

1 Introduction, Overview of Correctional System

Reading: C&C, chapter 1

2 History and Development of Corrections

Reading: C&C, chapter 2,3

3 Theories of Punishment

Reading: C&C, chapter 4

ANALYSIS OF WEB PAGE DUE

4 Legal Foundations of Correction

Reading: C&C, chapter 5

5 Correctional Clients

Reading: C&C, chapter 6, 10

6 Jails and Prisons

Reading: C&C, chapter 7, 11

7 Probation

Reading: C&C, chapter 8

MIDTERM PAPER DUE

8 SPRING BREAK, NO CLASS

9 Intermediate Sanctions and Community Corrections

Reading: C&C, chapter 9

10 Institutional Management and Administration

Reading: C&C, chapter 13

11 Institutional Programs

Reading: C&C, chapter 14

TERM PAPER DUE

12 Parole and Release

Reading: C&C, chapter 15, 16

13 Juvenile Corrections

Reading: C&C, chapter 17

14 Women and Minorities

Reading: C&C, chapter 12 & 19

15 Future Challenges

Reading: C&C, chapter 18 & 20 & Epilogue

FINAL PAPER DUE