AJS 230 The Police Function Course Package Approved February 12, 2010
COURSE PACKAGE FORM Contact Person (s) Michael S. Messner Date of proposal to Curriculum Sub-committee: 02/12/10 Purpose: New _X_ Change Delete If this is a change, what is being changed? (Check ALL that apply) Update Prefix _X_ Title _X_ Learning Units _X_ Competencies Format Change _X Course Description Course Number _X Textbook Credits Prerequisite Effective Semester/Year Fall 2010 Spring 20 Summer 20 COURSE INFORMATION Prefix & Number: AJS 230 Title: The Police Function Catalog Course Description: Examines how the police must comply with a myriad of policies and legal constraints while facing immense pressures from diverse populations and other stakeholders. Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Prerequisite(s) Co-requisite(s) NONE NONE Does this course need a separately scheduled lab component? Yes Does this course require additional fees? If so, please explain. Yes X No _X No Is there a similar course in the course bank? Yes (Please identify.) _X No Articulation: Is this course or an equivalent offered at other two and four-year universities in Arizona? No X_ Yes (Identify the college, subject, prefix, number and title: Eastern Arizona College AJS 266: The Police Function
Writing Across the Curriculum Rationale: Mohave Community College firmly supports the idea that writing can be used to improve education; students who write in their respective content areas will learn more and retain what they learn better than those who don t. Courses in the core curriculum have been identified as Writing Across the Curriculum courses. Minimum standards for the Writing Across the Curriculum component are: 1. The writing assignments should total 1500 2000 words. For example, a single report which is 1500 words in length OR a series of essay questions and short papers (example: four 375-word assignments) which total 1500 words could meet the requirement. 2. The writing component will represent at least 10% of a student s final grade in the course. Is this course identified as a Writing Across the Curriculum course? X Yes No (See addendum for writing rubrics) Intended Course Outcomes/Goals By the end of the semester, students will be able to: 1. The student will be able to discuss the foundations of American policing 2. The student will be able to identify the personnel issues of becoming a police officer 3. The student will be able to describe the routine and specialized tasks of police work 4. The student will be able to discuss the legal issues that confront police officers. 5. The student will be able to explain how the issues of police discretion and use of force challenge the core of law enforcement Course Competencies and Objectives By the end of the semester, students will be able to: Competency 1 Discuss the evolution of policing in America Objective 1.1 Explain the origins of policing Objective 1.2 Identify and describe the main eras of policing Objective 1.3 Discuss the development of state and federal law enforcement agencies Objective 1.4 Summarize some of the controversies associated with private policing.
Competency 2 Describe the policing in a democracy and under federalism Objective 2.1 Show the need to balance due process and crime control Objective 2.2 Illustrate the need for citizen support Objective 2.3 Articulate the influence that the executive, legislative and judicial branches have on the police. Objective 2.4 Critique the media s influence on law enforcement Competency 3 Describe the role of the police within the criminal justice system Objective 3.1 Explain the criminal justice process Objective 3.2 Discuss police-prosecution and police-corrections partnerships Objective 3.3 Cite examples of partnerships with federal agencies Objective 3.4 Critique the militarization of police Competency 4 Discuss the focus and operation of federal, state and local law enforcement Objective 4.1 Describe Centralized and Decentralized state law enforcement agencies Objective 4.2 Discuss the Classical Organizational Theory of police structure Objective 4.3 Portray the Human Relations approach to police structure Competency 5 Explain the process used to hire and train police officers Objective 5.1 Explain the importance of diversity and the problem of discrimination in policing Objective 5.2 Summarize sexual harassment issues in a police department Objective 5.3 Critique residency requirements Competency 6 Discuss the components of police subculture Objective 6.1 Define culture Objective 6.2 Distinguish between culture and sub culture Objective 6.3 Describe the various sources of police subculture Competency 7 Explain the undesirable aspects of police work and issues relating to career advancement Objective 7.1 Discuss the effects of stress, fatigue and labor relations on police work Objective 7.2 Explain the process of career advancement Competency 8 Cite the five functions of police in America Objective 8.1 Identify the elements of preventive patrol, incident response and traffic enforcement Objective 8.2 Distinguish between directed patrol and proactive policing Objective 8.3 Describe the elements of the peacekeeping and order maintenance function Objective 8.4 Identify investigative goals and explain the investigative process Objective 8.5 Describe some significant issues associated with undercover work Competency 9 Discuss the advances in information and communications technology as they apply to policing Objective 9.1 Define intelligence-led policing Objective 9.2 Identify the five special groups that police must increasingly deal with. Competency 10 Describe community justice and problem oriented policing Objective 10.1 Define community policing and list justifications for it Objective 10.2 Distinguish between citizen involvement in policing and civilization Objective 10.3 Define third party policing Competency 11 Explain the constitutional issues involved in police work Objective 11.1 Discuss when Fourth Amendment provisions apply to police activities Objective 11.2 Describe existing rules governing the conduct of search and seizure Objective 11.3 Discuss existing rules concerning interrogations Objective 11.4 Cite the admissibility of obtained confessions.
Competency 12 Describe the mechanisms available to ensure public accountability of police activity Objective 12.1 Identify the two main avenues available to aggrieved parties seeking to sue for police liability Objective 12.2 List some of the defenses that law enforcement officials might enjoy Objective 12.3 Discuss procedures for promoting accountability from within police agencies. Competency 13 Discuss the decision making process a police officer uses in a particular situation Objective 13.1 Define police discretion and identify some of its pros and cons Objective 13.2 Explain the differences between the universalistic and particularistic perspective on police behavior. Objective 13.3 Identify four factors that affect police decision making Competency 14 Discuss police behaviors that are not regarded as socially appropriate Objective 14.1 Discuss how various commissions have uncovered police misconduct Objective 14.2 Identify several typologies of police deviance Objective 14.3 Discuss explanations for police deviance and methods to control it. Competency 15 Explain how force can be used legitimately further law enforcement goals and how force can be used improperly. Objective 15.1 Identify the various levels of force Objective 15.2 Explain how force is controlled by policy Objective 15.3 Describe the legal standards associated with the use of deadly force Objective 15.4 Describe the problem of suicide by cop Objective 15.5 Describe the legal standards governing non-deadly force Objective 15.6 List three types of excessive force Competency 16 Summarize how police work has changed since 09/11/01. Objective 16.1 Define terrorism and discuss its causes Objective 16.2 Discuss how international cooperation has affected policing Objective 16.3 Identify emerging crimes Teacher s Guide Course Textbook, Materials and Equipment Textbook(s) Title Policing Today Author(s) Schmalleger, Frank / Worrall, Frank Publisher Pearson / Prentice Hall ISBN -13 ISBN - 10 978-0-20-551551-6 0-20-551551-7 Software/ Equipment
Course Assessments Description of Possible Course Assessments (Essays, multiple choice, etc.) Exams standardized for this course? Midterm Final Other (Please specify): Where can faculty members locate or access the required standardized exams for this course? (Contact Person and Location) Example: NCK Academic Chair Office Essays 20% Student Presentations: 20% Group Projects 20% Chapter Quizzes (Multiple Choice) 10% Midterm & Final (Multiple Choice) 30% Are exams required by the department? Yes _X No If Yes, please specify: Learning Units Learning Unit Topic 1: Origins and Evolution of American Policing Competency: 1 Objectives: 1.1 1.4 Reading: Read Text Chapter 1 Lecture / PowerPoint: Identify the major milestones in the historical development of policing and the three eras of policing in America. Learning Unit Topic 2: Policing in the American Context Competency: 2 Objectives: 2.1 2.4 Reading: Read Text Chapter #2 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how police departments operate in a complex environment that consists of citizens, legislators, the courts and the media. Class Discussion: Discuss how the goals of the media contrast with those of the police and should media coverage of police activity be different from other public agencies. Student Project: Read The Mayor s Daughter (page 38) and state what you would do and the reason(s) behind your decision Learning Unit Topic 3: Police and the Criminal Justice System Competency: 3 Objectives: 3.1 3.4 Reading: Read Text Chapter #3 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe police participation in the pre-trial, trial and post-trial stages and how they interact with prosecutors and corrections. Group Project: Investigate and debate the pros and cons of the police using military tactics. Learning Unit Topic 4: Law Enforcement Agencies and Their Organizations Competency: 4 Objectives: 4.1 4.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter #4 Lecture / PowerPoint: Summarize the mission of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and why the quasi-military organizational model was used for police agencies. Internet Assignment: Visit the FBI s website and describe the ShotSpotter System. Will this technology be effective in high crime areas?
Learning Unit Topic 5: Becoming a Cop Competency: 5 Objectives: 5.1 5.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter 5 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe the hiring process, the police academy and the field training requirements which all police candidates must successfully complete. Class Discussion: Discuss the pros and cons of residency requirements. Group Projects: Examine the phenomenon of Double Marginality. Is this still an issue for black police officers today? Learning Unit Topic 6: Police Subculture Competency: 6 Objectives: 6.1 6.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter #6 Lecture / PowerPoint: Discuss how the danger and unpredictability of the job along with the organizational factors and the street environment leads to the development of a police subculture. Class Discussion: Read Cover My Back (page 133) and tell what you would do in that situation. Learning Unit Topic 7: Career Concerns Competency: 7 Objectives: 7.1 7.2 Reading: Read Text Chapter 7 Lecture / PowerPoint: Examine personnel issues that occur once a police officer is on the job Class Discussion: Do college educated individuals make better police officers? Learning Unit Topic 8: Patrol, Peacekeeping and Investigations Competency: 8 Objectives: 8.1 8.5 Reading: Read Text Chapter #8 Lecture / PowerPoint: Examine the patrol, peacekeeping / order maintenance and investigatory functions of police work Video: Show P.U.R.S.U.E. and discuss whether or not pursuits should be banned. Video: Show Maine Trooper and discuss the troopers actions. Did he escalate or deescalate the situation? Learning Unit Topic 9: Intelligence, Information and Special Problems Competency: 9 Objectives: 9.1 9.2 Reading: Read Text Chapter 9 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain the concept of intelligence-led policing and the special tactics that are needed when dealing with children, the mentally ill, the drug trade, gangs and domestic violence. Student Project: Do you favor mandatory arrest laws for domestic violence cases? Give at least two arguments that support your position.
Learning Unit Topic 10: Community Policing and Community Involvement Competency: 10 Objectives: 10.1 10.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter #10 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how police departments built relationships and established rapport with the citizens. Also, show how police departments are relying on these initiatives to assist them in providing police services to the community. Class Discussion: Are foot patrols effective? Group Project: Explain why there is a high level of police dissatisfaction among African Americans. Is it because of race or is it because most African Americans live in neighborhoods that are affected by crime? Learning Unit Topic 11: Policing and the Law Competency: 11 Objectives: 11.1 11.4 Reading: Read Text Chapter #11 Lecture / PowerPoint: Discuss the requirements for searches and seizure to be constitutionally sound and the due process issues surrounding confessions. Class Discussion: Discuss when Miranda warnings are required. Student Project: Analyze the constitutionality of school locker searches. Do you support the majority opinion? Learning Unit Topic 12: Civil Liability and Accountability Competency: 12 Objectives: 12.1 12.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter #12 Lecture / PowerPoint: Explain how the prospect of civil liability affects all law enforcement officials at all level of government. Class Discussion: Are civilian oversight boards an effective method to ensure police accountability? Case Study: Read Mapp v. Ohio and give the details of the case and the reasoning behind the court s opinion. Learning Unit Topic 13: Police Discretion and Behavior Competency: 13 Objectives: 13.1 13.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter 13 Lecture / PowerPoint: Discuss whether or how a police officer decides to act can be in many different directions and the resulting decision can be viewed as an action that all police officers will make or can be associated to a particular officer. Class Discussion: How might the socioeconomic status of a neighborhood influence the style of policing it receives? Should it? Group Project: Read A Minor Incident (Page 319) and come to a consensus on the proper action. Present the findings to the class.
Learning Unit Topic 14: Deviance, Ethics and Professionalism Competency: 14 Objectives: 14.1 14.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter 14 Lecture / PowerPoint: Summarize the varying degrees of deviance and corruption found in police work and the control methods developed. Class Discussion: Read No Free Lunch (Page 333) and explain how you would respond. Learning Unit Topic 15: The Use of Force Competency: 15 Objectives: 15.1 15.6 Reading: Read Text Chapter 15 Lecture / PowerPoint: Describe the applications of force in police work Student Project: Is Excited Delirium a real medical condition or is it being used to cover-up deaths that occur during the arrest process? Learning Unit Topic 16: The Future of Policing Competency: 16 Objectives: 16.1 16.3 Reading: Read Text Chapter 16 Lecture / PowerPoint: Discuss how future technologies and the threat of terrorism will be complex problems for future law enforcement officers.