Faculty Syllabus

Course Description

 This course is a study of the nature of criminal law; philosophical and historical development; major definitions and concepts; classification of crime; elements of crimes and penalties using Texas statutes as illustrations; and criminal responsibility. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 Attendance:This course will meet weekly on Mondayat the South Austin Campus, Room 1210.Instruction will be provided through both in person discussions and use of the Cengage online course materials. Students are required to attend class and actively participate in discussions. C;assroom discussions may be supplemented by online discussion questions posted in BlackBoard.

Withdrawal Policy:    If the student decides to drop the course, it is his/her responsibility to withdraw.  A student that fails to drop the course will receive a final grade of “F”.

GRADING

75%, a written assignment - 13%, and online assignments - 12%.  Numerical scores earn letter grades as follows:

                                        90  -  100    =    A

                                        80  -    89    =    B

                                        70  -    79    =    C

                                        60  -    69    =    D

                                        Below  60    =    F

There will be no “rounding up” of scores.  You receive what you earn.

If the student misses an examination due to unavoidable reasons, arrangements for a makeup examination may be made with the instructor.  In most cases the exam must be made up within one week of administration of the original exam.  There will be no make up exam offered for the third exam.  If a makeup examination is not taken within the designated time period, the student will receive a grade of “0” for that examination.

             ***  A letter grade penalty may be imposed on late examinations, even if excused. ***

 Students are responsible for all material:  lecture content, guest speakers, handouts, and required textbook readings, even though all material may not be covered specifically in the classroom setting.  It is your responsibility, not mine, to ensure you receive any handouts, etc., from any class period.

Incompletes

An instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course.  An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester.

 Classroom Management Policies

Please turn all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices to silent mode before entering class. Please refrain from answering phone calls and/or texting in the classroom. 

Use of any electronic device is prohibited during exams.  Use of any electronic device during an exam will result in a grade of “0” for the exam.

 Students may use computers and/or tablet devices during class for the specific purpose of note-taking and research directly related to the class.  All other uses, to include but not limited to internet surfing, emailing, chatting, completing assignments from other classes and gaming will result in the loss of this privilege.

 All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php. 

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty

A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution.  Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression.  Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.  Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents.    Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college.  See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.

Statement on Students with Disabilities

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities.  Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).   Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  

Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from OSD before accommodations will be provided.   Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student.  

Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations.   

Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available athttp://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/

Safety Statement

Austin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/.

Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.

You are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities.  

Generative AI Policy

In this course, generative AI (such as ChatGPT, DALL·E, Copilot, Google AI, or similar tools) may be used only for creating personal study materials. Assignments, quizzes, and exams will be completed in a proctored environment without AI assistance, using handwritten responses, scantron, or Respondus Lockdown Browser.

The Constitution of the United States

The Bill of Rights of the United States

Course Objectives and Outcomes

The student will have a basic understanding and will be able to identify the elements of offenses in the Texas Penal Code.

• Employ a working knowledge of the organization of the Texas Penal Code.
• Define the general provisions of the Texas Penal Code.
• Discuss the level of proof required to convict a person of an offense.
• Define terms as they relate to multiple prosecutions.
• Determine the culpable mental states as they relate to the Texas Penal Code and examine the requirement of a causation link between conduct and result.
• Relate when one person is criminally responsible for the conduct of another.
• Recognize general defenses to criminal responsibility.
• Classify offenses and their punishments.
• Identify the elements of preparatory offenses.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against the person as they relate to criminal homicide.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against the person as they relate to kidnapping and false imprisonment.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against the person as they relate to sexual offenses.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against the person as they relate to assaultive offenses.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against the family.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against property as they relate to arson, criminal mischief, and other property damage or destruction.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against property as they relate to robbery.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against property as they relate to burglary and criminal trespass.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against property as they relate to theft.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against property as they relate to fraud.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public administration as they relate to bribery and corrupt influence.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public administration as they relate to perjury and other falsification.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public administration as they relate to obstruction governmental operations.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public administration as they relate to abuse of office.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public order and decency as they relate to disorderly conduct and related offenses.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public order and decency as they relate to public indecency.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public health, safety and morals as they relate to weapons.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public health, safety and morals as they relate to gambling.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public health, safety and morals as they relate to conduct affecting public health.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses against public health, safety and morals as they relate to intoxication and alcoholic beverages.
• Identify and apply the elements of offenses involving organized crime and criminal street gangs.

The student will develop a basic understanding of, respect for and actual application of the legal authorities pertaining to the rights of peace officers and rights of citizens regarding the use of force and means which officers can utilize to de-escalate potential violence.

• Define use of force, custody, escape, deadly force, force, and necessary force.
• List and explain the legal authorities for the use of force.
• Discuss the civil liability of officers and legal remedies available to citizens when excessive/unnecessary force is used.

The student will have basic understanding of the concepts, regarding use of force.

• Identify definitions relating to use of force.
• Describe psychological aspects of the use of force.
• Identify the deciding factors for use of force when effecting an arrest.
• Identify the most common types of shooting incidents involving peace officers.
• Identify the most frequent types of resistance encountered by law enforcement officers.
• Identify moral considerations and forces affecting an officer’s decision to use deadly force.

The student will be aware of various force options or alternatives to increase awareness of various force options or alternative available to peace officers.

• List and discuss force options available to peace officers.
• Identify the principal considerations in applying a force continuum.
• Discuss the impact of an officer’s professional presence.
• Identify the various aspects of communication strategies used when dealing with the public.
• Identify elements that an officer must recognize and control in every encounter.
• Identify some helpful “tools” used in redirecting someone’s behavior using verbal persuasion.
• Recognize criteria relating to a professional peace officer’s use of force.
• Identify typical procedures that are followed after an officer is involved in a shooting.

The student will understand the factors basic to unreasonable force and the possible consequences when excessive force is used.

• Identify the possible consequences that may arise from improper or excessive use of force.
• Identify factors that the courts use to determine if unreasonable force was used in a case.

Students will demonstrate that these objectives have been mastered through the use of class discussions, written assignments, demonstrations, and test taking, (The Instructor may also list additional learning objectives in their “First Day Handout”.)

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this criminal justice program, the student will

• Define the functions and roles of all major components (police, courts and corrections) of U.S.  Criminal Justice System.   
• Differentiate the institutions, law and concepts that compose the Criminal Justice System
• Identify and apply ethical considerations that are intrinsic components of the criminal Justice system
• Differentiate, analyze and apply the constitutional constraints under which police, corrections and prosecutors must operate in a free society.
• Distinguish various career paths and positions available in the traditional criminal justice workforce
• *Integrate academic theory with practical applications of law enforcement   (passing comprehensive examination for the Certificate program)

*Applies primarily in the Level I Certificate Program