Main Content
Syllabus
CRIMJ 430 Alternatives to Incarceration (3 credits): Control and treatment of offenders in the community, probation and parole organizations, diversion programs, innovative sentences, supervision techniques.
Overview
This course provides students with an in-depth analysis of the purposes, public policy consideration, and societal attitudes toward non-incarcerative criminal sanctions. The course begins with an overview of the purposes of utilizing sanctions in a community setting and considers the political, economic, and social ramifications of such practices. Special populations such as drug offenders, sexual offenders, young offenders, violent offenders, and mentally challenged offenders are singled out for particular emphasis. This is accomplished using the texts as well as assigning refereed journal articles and using films and collaborative assignments. Gender issues in terms of contact with and supervision by the justice system are addressed considering children, race, education, and family background. New challenges such as treatment of sex offenders, predatory sexual offender statutes, and mandatory drug treatment are viewed from a research and policy perspective. Administrative and operational issues within community corrections are viewed from management, union, correctional officer, gender, and offender perspectives. Students will leave the course having been exposed to the costs and benefits associated with the treatment and supervision of criminal offenders in a non-institutional setting.
What will be covered in this course
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to those components of the criminal justice system that deal with convicted criminal offenders in community-based settings. The material covered in this course can be roughly divided into three distinct sections. Covered first are topics that provide the foundation for understanding the role of corrections in the justice enterprise. They include a history of non-institutional sanctions in the United States, an analysis of the trends and issues affecting correctional supervision over the past several decades, and an overview of the various non-incarcerative sanctions available to the courts for sentencing offenders (e.g., fines, community service. Next, the issue of offenders serving sentences in the community under justice system supervision is examined. There is an in-depth consideration of probation, the most frequently used correctional disposition, and its various forms. Also addressed in this second section are the various treatment regimens and programming options used in a rehabilitative model. Lastly, the course considers supervision of offenders who have been released from a correctional institution on parole. In addition, this final unit of the course addresses a ‘hot-button’ issue in criminal justice today – the role of the system in easing the transition of former prisoners back into communities. Known collectively as reentry, the discussion illustrates the multi-faceted, multi-agency strategies that have been developed to guide ex-inmates in their adjustment to life in the “outside world,” and the measures being taken to help reduce recidivism among this high risk group.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Be familiar with the history, purposes, and development of community-based sanctions;
- Understand the variables considered by the justice system when deciding to sentence an offender to a community-based or institutional sanction;
- Recognize the important role probation plays in offender punishment and treatment;
- Discuss the challenges faced by ex-inmates when they reenter mainstream society.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
| Module 1 - Introduction to Community-Based Sanctions (Lesson 1-4) |
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| Module 2 - The Responsibilities of Community Supervision (Lessons 5-8) |
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| Lesson 5: Pre-Sentence Services | |
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| SEMESTER BREAK | |
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| Exam 2 | |
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| Module 3 - Special Offenders and Special Programs (Lesson 9-12) |
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| Lesson 11: Residential Community-Based Sanctions | |
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| Lesson 12: Non-Residential Community-Based Sanctions | |
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| Exam 3 | |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
- Weekly Assignments
- Discussions: Each week, students will receive a grade for participation in discussion forum and/or blog postings. Discussion grading is based on the following criteria: significance of ideas, Originality of thought, clarity of expression and organization of ideas, timeliness, and appropriate language (civility, excessive jargon, etc.). If, at the end of the semester, your participation is less than 50% in any one activity (discussions, writing assignments, homework, tests) you will receive a failing grade for the course.
- Directed Research Assignments and Response/Position Papers: At the end of many lessons students will be required to demonstrate their proficiency with the assigned material by drafting an original paper expressing their viewpoints/interpretations regarding material from that particular lesson.
- Discussions: Each week, students will receive a grade for participation in discussion forum and/or blog postings. Discussion grading is based on the following criteria: significance of ideas, Originality of thought, clarity of expression and organization of ideas, timeliness, and appropriate language (civility, excessive jargon, etc.). If, at the end of the semester, your participation is less than 50% in any one activity (discussions, writing assignments, homework, tests) you will receive a failing grade for the course.
- Exams
There will be three exams throughout the semester that will be of an objective (multiple-choice, matching, etc.) format. The total possible points for each exam will be 100. All exams will be non-cumulative, focusing exclusively on the topics covered in the previous class sessions. Exams will be completed online through CANVAS.
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement
B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement
C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement
D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement
F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit.
Grading Items
| Grading Item | Description | Points |
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| BLOG Discussions | 12 Discussions each worth 15 points each | 180 |
| Directed research assignments | 4 Assignments each worth 70 points each | 280 |
| Response/Position Papers | 4 Assignments each worth 35 points each | 140 |
| Exams | 3 Exams each worth 100 points each | 300 |
| Total | Points | 900 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.