.ce;.us Sociology 388 / 587 - Hoffman Estates

Sociology 388                             Instructor: Jim Thomas
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Spring, 2005                              Office: 807 Zulauf
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Saturdays (See below)                     Phone: (815) 753-6436 (off)
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Office Hours:  TBA                        (815) 756-3839 (home)
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http://venus.soci.niu.edu/~jthomas/class/388e/388e.html
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email:  jthomas@sun.soci.niu.edu

(NOTE: This class has a substantial interactive Internet component.
You MUST keep up on the internet component, or it will affect your grade 
substantially. Field trips are mandatory. If you cannot attend, there will
be an alternative assignment.

By Spring, 2005, there are nearly  1.5 MILLION people in U.S. prisons, 
and over 670,000 in jails, or over 2 million people in prisons and jails.  
An additional 6 million were on probation or parole.  This has lead to 
problems in prison administration, prison living, and finding money to 
pay for an increasing prison population. This course examines the 
corrections process, culture, and administration. Special focus will be 
given to the question: "What should we do with social offenders?"
 
Required Texts and Readings
 
Clear and Cole:  Corrections in America
Class Handous & Net URLs
Current Events
(Grad students: Jim Jacobs: Stateville)
 
We will be taking several field trips.  Participants will be drawn by lot.
Because of the many trips, class meetings will be adjusted accordingly.

MEETING SCHEDULE - HOFFMAN ESTATES:

February 5:    1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
February 19:   9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 5:       9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 19:      9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 9:       9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
April 23:      (ARRANGED)
May 7:         9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
Grading:
   Two Exams (midterm & final):  100 points EACH
   Pop quizzes: (50 points -- only 5 highest scores will be counted)
   Final term paper:  (150 points)
   WebBoard:  100 points
   (Grad Students: 2 class presentations at 25 points each = 50 points
   Class participation: (50 points)
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  Total:  550 points   (grading will be done on straight 90/80/70 scale)
          600 for grad students
 
It may be NECESSARY TO CHANGE the course assignments listed on the 
assignments page. These changes will be announced in class and posted in 
e-mail. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for knowing what goes on in class.

Final papers will be due on Saturday, May 7.  Late papers cannot be accepted.

The course will be easier (and make more sense) if you keep up on the
assignments.
.PA
.ce;.us ASSIGNMENTS

NOTE: The chapters are not always SEQUENTIAL and we might be reading
some of them "out of order."
Grad students will be expected to give periodic reports, based on
research, and various topics during the semester.
 
FEBRUARY 5 
  --Introduction /handouts (Chapters 1-3: nature and history of prisons)

February 19
  --Morning: Chapter 4 (punishment) and 5 (prisoner litigation)
  --Afternoon: Chapter 6 (Correctional Client)
  --Read chapter 19: Race (we will be discussing this all term)

March 5
  --Morning: Chapter 7 (Jails) and Chapter 8 & 9 
             (probation / Intermediate Sanctions)
  --afternoon: Chapter 10 (Incarceration)
    (MIDTERM DUE THIS WEEK -- TAKE HOME

March 19
   --All day: Chapter 11 (Prison Experience

April 9
   --Morning: Chapter 12 (women)
   --Afternoon: Chapters 13 (Institutional Mgt) and 14 (Prison programs)

April 13
   --Morning: Chapters 15 and 16: release, "making it" 
   --Afternoon: Chapter 17:  juveniles

April 23
    (ARRANGED)
    Responsible for: Chapter 21 (surveillance) 
    & Chapter 22 (community Justice)

May 7
   All day: Death Penalty
   Final exam