44.493 Issues in Criminal Justice and Technology

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Instructor: W. David Stephenson
Class Schedule: MWF 11:00-11:50, 103 Coburn
Office Hrs: none -- I don't have an office. However, I will try to be easily available by phone and may be able to meet before or after class
E-Mail: D.Stephenson@stephensonstrategies.com
Tel: 1-508-359-5112
Web Site: http://faculty.uml.edu/dstephenson/index.html

Course Overview
Issues in Technology and Security course will expose students to the range of new technologies being used in the criminal justice system and the issues surrounding those technologies. Most important, it will also help them develop sound criteria to evaluate current and forthcoming technologies. The final project for the course will be a paper in which the student will choose a single technology, evaluate it by the criteria developed in the class, and make a final recommendation whether or not it should be employed at this time.

Course Requirements

  • Grading:
    There will be a mid-term examination (March 11) and a final paper. The mid-term will be 30%, and the final paper, 50% of your total grade. 20% of your grade will depend upon your class participation in this course, which includes in-class and/or online participation. Grading will be as follows: A=95-100; AB=89-94; B=84-89; BC=78-83; C=72-77; CD=66-71; D=60-65; below 59 =F. There will be no retakes of examinations due to poor grades. Make-up examinations will only be allowed in cases of medical and other emergencies.
  • Attendance:
    All students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. If you must miss a class, you must e-mail the instructor with your reason for doing so. Attendance is an important component of this course and will affect your final grade. The instructor reserves the right to drop any student from the class due to excessive absences (more than four unexcused).

Text:
There is no text. However, two major on-line documents in .pdf form will be read throughout the course and should be downloaded immediately:
Making Smart IT Choices: Understanding Value and Risk in Government IT Investments
The Evolution and Development of Police Technology

Other readings will be available on the Internet the week before each class.

Reading schedule:
A
reading schedule for the following week will be posted at the end of the preceding week (it is not possible to give these readings out earlier, since the course deals with current technology issues and therefore is subject to change at the last minute). It is expected that all students will come to class prepared. Additionally, current events will be discussed during each class so it is important that you keep informed of current issues in the media.

Students are responsible for obtaining any missed lecture notes from others in the class. The instructor will not release his lecture notes.