“HOPE, ENGAGE, SUCCEED” Academic Career Community: Public Service, Culture, and Society CJ7: Criminal Investigation Instructor: Ana Rosales, MPA, BA Email: [email protected] Phone: Chaffey Office (909)652-6851 Course Term: Spring 2024: Fast Track 2: 8-weeks (Zero Cost Book) Start & End Dates: 3/18/24-5/9/24 Course Section: 37252 Class Location: Online Course is available 24/7 FINAL EXAM: May 9, 2024 (Online via Canvas) STUDENT OFFICE HOURS: STUDENT HOURS: ONLINE Tues/Thurs 9:00 am to 10:30 am & Wednesday 9-11:00 am Invite Link https://chaffey-edu.zoom.us/my/anarosales I warmly welcome you to drop in my office hours or contact me outside of class and student hours. I am available by email, zoom, canvas chat room, cranium café, and telephone appointment. My preferred method of contact is via email. I will check my email daily. To meet “The road to success is always under construction” “Every day is a new day to hope, dream and try again.” ― Heather Wolf,
in person or virtually, please drop in my office hours located on the home page of Canvas or in the “Zoom room”. You can also schedule a Zoom meeting on Canvas upon requested appointment. If you call my office line, and there is no answer, please leave a message. Please review my communication plan and email etiquette page on Canvas for helpful tips. Required Text: ZERO COST CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS: An Open Educational Resources Publication by Madera Community College Compiled by Dr. George Cartwright The free version is available on your Canvas shell, and the print version is available in Canvas PDF file. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of CJ 7, with a grade of “C” or higher, students will be able to identify and list a minimum of 3 different types of physical evidence that are admissible in court in the U.S Criminal Justice System. Upon successful completion of CJ 7, with a grade of “C” or higher, students will be able to list and describe a minimum of 3 different types of testimonial evidence that are admissible in court in the U.S. Criminal Justice System. Students who successfully complete CJ 7 (grade “C” or higher) will be able to draft a major felony report, citing proper chronology, usage of legal terms, and statement of fundamental elements for the identified crime. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course addresses the techniques, procedures, and ethical issues in the investigation of crime, including organization of the investigative process, crime scene searches, interviewing
and interrogating, surveillance, source of information, utility of evidence, scientific analysis of evidence, and the role of the investigator in the trial process. This course also includes the fundamentals of investigation: collection and preservation of physical evidence, scientific aids, modus operandi, sources of information, fingerprints, polygraphs, follow-up, and case preparation. OTHER STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. List, explain, and diagram the steps in the criminal justice investigation process. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of investigative principles and procedures. 3. Describe the value of a thorough crime scene investigation. 4. Select and plan the appropriate course of action as the first investigator to arrive at a crime scene. 5. Analyze a crime scene and prepare a report for court that thoroughly describes what occurred at a crime scene. 6. Discuss the importance of the follow-up investigation in solving a crime. 7. Illustrate, through the use of a flow chart, the chain of custody for evidence, and explain the importance of evidence collection and preserving it. 8. Identify the steps involved in the search warrant process, the affidavit process, and preparing them. 9. Explain the importance of a timely, ethical, and thorough investigation. “There’s no system too big to reimagine-not even the criminal justice system.” Ana Billingsley, assistant director with the Government Performance Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Course Requirements COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS THIS IS STRICTLY AN ONLINE COURSE- You will need a computer/laptop Please complete your written work (papers, discussion posts, exams on a computer rather than the cell phone app) • High-speed internet connection (DSL, LAN, or cable connection desirable) • Access to CANVAS • Access to MS word or similar software • If you do not have access to a computer off campus, there are many computer labs on campus you can use to participate in the course. Most public libraries also have computers with internet access that you can use for free. • You will need to have an up-to-date browser, operating system and some additional software on your computer to take this class. Check this Congratulations for enrolling in an 14-week course. It is essential for students to be organized and stay on top of their work. Below are some suggestions that previous students have recommended for success: 1. Make the course work a priority, failing to keep up is a liability. 2. Make sure you understand the expectations for the class. Ask the instructor for clarification on assignments or expectations in the class. Don’t be afraid to email the instructor questions. 3. Plan when and where you can complete assignments and study for tests. Set aside time each week to do the reading and other assigned tasks. Studying and completing class assignments as soon as possible is a good strategy for learning. Find a time that works for your schedule and make it a routine to study at that time. Use a calendar. Include important dates on your calendar (test and quiz dates, deadlines for essays/projects, etc.). 4. Develop techniques for note taking and retaining information from assigned texts and class materials. 5. Regularly back up all homework and written assignments on a flash drive or memory stick in case data gets corrupted or lost. Save all your discussion posts on a WORD document in case CANVAS experiences issues or your computer dies when you try to submit. 6. Contact your professor if you have a valid excuse for missing assignments or if you are falling behind and need help. Do not be embarrassed to ask for help.
Distance Education page for hardware & software requirements. Some of the documents in this course will be available to you in PDF form. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer, you can download it by going to http://get.adobe.com/reader/. CANVAS ACCESS This course will be delivered online through a course management system named CANVAS. It is highly recommended students download the CANVAS application to their smartphones and turn on notifications so announcements can be viewed immediately. To access this course on CANVAS, you will need access to the Internet and a supported Web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari). Login through the MyChaffey Student Portal using your MyChaffey credentials and select the "CANVAS" single-sign-on link from Launch Pad. Technical Assistance Click on the STUDENT SUPPORT HUB for any assistance if you may need regarding online instruction. If you need technical help with Canvas, there is 24/7 Canvas help available! Live chat with Canvas Technical Support. Click on the Canvas Help Button in the Navigation Bar in Canvas. If you need technical assistance via phone, call CANVAS Tech Support at 1 (877) 930- 1129. You may also contact DE Help Desk at (909) 652-6975. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. You can also email the Chaffey College Distance Education Help Desk at ([email protected]) to report a problem. Please include in your message: Name, Chaffey ID, Course Name, Course Section, and a brief description.) ANNOUNCEMENTS: ENABLE YOUR NOTIFICATION SETTINGS Announcements will be posted in CANVAS on a regular basis. They will appear on your CANVAS dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred method of notification from CANVAS. Please make sure to check them regularly, as they will contain any vital information about upcoming projects or class concerns.
DISCUSSION FORUMS Discussion Forums are a way to engage with each other about the course content. Each lesson module will have a question that links to a discussion forum. You can also access each forum by clicking inside the corresponding MODULE of that week’s instruction. In order to get full credit for each discussion, you will need to post a thoughtful, articulate, well-written response to the question and respond to two of your classmates’ answers. Please use complete sentences. Within the ORIENTATION MODULE, there is a page entitled “WHAT IS A DISCUSSION POST.” Please read the Page entitled “What is a discussion post” in the CANVAS orientation module to understand best practices for posting an online discussion. COURSE PARTICIPATION POLICY Participation is essential to your success in this class. In distance education courses, you are required to participate just as if you were in a face-to-face course. To receive full credit for participation, you will have to complete your discussion assignments and quizzes on time. Consistent failure to participate in class will result in a low grade. DROPPING PROCEDURES *** You are responsible for dropping the class if you can no longer participate. *** ***Do Not Expect the Professor to Drop You. *** If you do not drop the course and remain enrolled(idle) in the class, you may receive a failing grade. Please check all drop deadlines in the Chaffey College academic calendar. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Integrity is an essential component of the student's academic experience. Chaffey College does not tolerate academic dishonesty. Please refer to the Chaffey College Course Catalog for all policies. In this class, Cheating, Plagiarism, Fabrication, Retaliation, and Unauthorized Collaboration will result in you failing the assignment (0 points in that assignment!) Or in certain circumstances, removal of the course. For more information, please see your student handbook or call the Office of the Dean of Student Services (909) 652-6506. This means that you should not: 1. Cheat 2. Plagiarize, that is, use another person’s words or ideas as your own without proper documentation. Do not copy and paste from the internet. 3. Collaborate with others unless specifically requested in an assignment or discussion. 4. Let another student login to your CANVAS account
Diversity Statement We must treat every individual with respect. We are diverse in many ways, and this diversity is fundamental to building and maintaining an equitable and inclusive campus community. Diversity can refer to multiple ways that we identify ourselves, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, language, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Each of these diverse identities, along with many others not mentioned here, shape the perspectives our students, faculty, and staff bring to our campus. We, at Chaffey College, will work to promote diversity, equity and inclusion not only because diversity fuels excellence and innovation, but because we want to pursue justice. We acknowledge our imperfections while we also fully commit to the work, inside and outside of our classrooms, of building and sustaining a campus community that increasingly embraces these core values. Thank you in advance for your commitment to diversity. I look forward to your professionalism in this class. I look forward to gracefully and respectfully learn from each other’s perspectives, opinions and personal journey. MY LATE WORK POLICY Late assignments, make-up quizzes and examinations are at the discretion of the Professor and student. Please report concerns or medical/ family emergencies. Work schedule conflicts or conflict with other classes need to be disclosed immediately. Technical difficulties on the day the assignment is due are very common so please submit early and be prepared. If you miss your final exam or experience technical difficulties during the final but contact me after the course is closed by CANVAS is a challenge. This is a difficult problem to resolve and this may lower your grade. EXAMPLE: Your final exam is due at 11:59pm and your computer froze while taking it. You waited until the last hour to submit it and you decide to email me at 12:30am; after the test closed. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE IT UP. Please submit your work early. Even 1 day before will allocate time for me to help you. It will be very difficult for me to help you after the course closes. *If you need additional help or an extension for your school work, please ask me beforehand. There is always a solution to an issue if you communicate ahead of time and not 1 or 2 weeks after. It will not hurt to ask. Always seek help if you need it. It is okay to ask for help. I am here for you!
GRADING ELEMENTS: This course is 8 weeks Every student will have access to view their progress in the CANVAS grade book. Course is based on a (350-point scale): Points Description 10 Ice Breaker Activity: Extra Credit 60 6 Discussion Board Essay Threads, 10 points each 190 19 Critical Thinking Assignments/Real-World Application 100 Final Exam 315-350 A A 96-100% A- 90-95% 280-314 B B+ 87-89% B 84-86% B- 80-83% 245-279 C C+ 75-79% C 70-74% 210-244 D D+ 67-69 % D 64-66% D- 60-63% 209 or below will be an F 59% Course Outline Week 1- Module 1 Start with the orientation module. Read “What is a discussion Post” and “How to email your professor” pages in Canvas. Complete Module 1 Week 2-Module 2 Complete Module 2
Complete Module 3 Complete Module 4 Week 5 - Module 5 Complete Module 5 Week 6-Module 6 Complete Module 6 Week 7-Module 7 Complete Module 7 Week 8-Module 8 Complete Module 8 FINAL EXAM IS ON MAY 9 Please double-check Canvas module 8 for the exact final date and time. ****Please follow modules in order- and refer to Canvas for all deadlines**************** **NOTE** Discussion posts are a significant portion of students’ final grade. Students will be queried by the instructor several times during the semester, and students will be required not only to respond appropriately and relevantly to the instructor’s inquiries but will also be required to inquire about issues covered within that particular class session. Each week, as designated on the online format, students are required to enter an initial 200, 300- or 400-word relevant post by Thursday night and respond with a 100-200-word post to two classmates by Saturday night. THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Week 3-Module 3 Week 4-Module 4
Important Note: This syllabus, along with course assignments and due dates, are subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to check CANVAS for corrections or updates to the syllabus. Any changes will be clearly noted in Course Announcement or through MyChaffey email. Students must check their MyChaffey email accounts daily. Chaffey College Mission Statement Chaffey College inspires hope and success by improving lives and our community in a dynamic, supportive, and engaging environment of educational excellence, where our diverse students learn and benefit from foundation, career, and transfer programs.