Syllabus

Description:

An examination of the criminal justice interview process including the history of criminal justice interviews, the use of Miranda and other court cases in structuring police interviews, oral and written statements, non-verbal listening, and the rules of testimonial evidence.

Course Objectives:

"Interviews and Interrogations in Criminal Justice" is an advanced course in the study of crime investigation through interviews and the role of the investigator as interviewer. By the completion of this course, students should be able to identify and explain:

The history of interviewing as a method of criminal investigation;
deception and verbal and non-verbal signs of deception;
testimonial evidence, the rules of Miranda and other landmark court cases;
structured, semi-structured, and non-structured interviews;
rapport building between interviewer and interviewee; and
kinesics in the interview process

Grading Policy:

Your course grade will be computed on a scale of 100 total points. Test scores are worth 60 points of your total score. The remainder of your points will be from attendance, class participation, quizzes, and class assignments. Assignments and quizzes taken on the internet portion of the course will be clearly labeled with point values. Attendance to face-to-face instruction courses will count for 10 points, random roll will be taken during class to compute this score.

Grading Scale:

Grade	Percentage
A	90 and above
B	80-89.9
C	70-79.9
D	60-69.9
F	Below 60

Grading Considerations:

Examinations: There will be two tests in this class. The exams will be based on required course readings, and required course materials. NO MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE INSTRUCTOR OR A DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY. I will assume that you will be using your book(s) to take these tests, therefore I will ask questions which will require thought and careful consideration of the material covered in the modules. These tests will be timed.

Participation: Each student is required to participate in class discussions and assignments. PLEASE LET THE INSTRUCTOR KNOW IF YOU HAVE MISSED (OR WILL MISS) DISCUSSIONS/ASSIGNMENTS FOR A DOCUMENTED EMERGENCY. Self-tests will be given throughout the semester within modules, and students must complete these tests for participation credit.

Quizzes: Students are required to complete quizzes during this course. Two of these quizzes are listed on the calendar; however, additional quizzes may also be given at the discretion of the instructor. The combined total of pop-quizzes and regular quizzes are worth ten percent of the final course grade. Pay attention to the on-line reading assignments, as quiz information will be given within modules. There will be no make-up quizzes given. You must complete the quiz within a specified amount of time and within certain dates.

The Golden Rule: According to the University of Central Florida "Golden Rule" cheating is: non-permissible written, visual or oral assistance (including that obtained from another student) utilized on examinations, course assignments or projects; plagiarism whereby another's work is deliberately used or appropriated without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student's own; failing to properly credit ideas or materials taken from another. A student who has assisted another in any of the aforementioned breach of standards shall be considered equally culpable. Students found guilty of violating this section of the "Golden Rule" face disciplinary probation, suspension or expulsion.

Disclaimer: Many factors may influence the development of a class. The instructor reserves the right to alter from this syllabus as necessary to assure the attainment of the course objective.