Selected Topics in Crime and Justice Studies

Criminal Analysis
CJS 4396.501
Fall 2006

Instructor: Frank Bradford, III

Telephone 214.497.9409
e-mail address: fbradford3@yahoo.com

Course Description:
Criminal Analysis is a course designed to provide students with an overview of Law
Enforcement as it pertains to criminal investigation. The goal of this course is to provide
the student with the knowledge to understand the internal operations of an investigation
from conception to conclusion.

Course Objectives:

• To help the students understand the basic components and functions of a Law
Enforcement Agency.
• To help the students gain an understanding how each component assists the other
in accomplishing the task of criminal investigation.
• To help the student understand ethical dilemmas that is inherent to criminal
investigations.

Attendance:
Classroom attendance is MANDATORY! In the event of a personal emergency*it is the
student’s responsibility to make arrangements with me regarding absences on test days
and when assignments are due. Written explanations are required and students must
make arrangements prior to the absence. ALL weekly assignments will be due on their
assigned date. NO EXCEPTIONS.* Students will not be allowed to make-up quizzes or
turn in weekly writing assignments after due date. Points can be attained for attending
class.

* Attendance in higher education is extremely important to me. Therefore, students

will be rewarded for class attendance. See examination policy.
 Requirements:

Text: Criminal Investigations- 9th edition Charles Swanson, 2006, McGraw-Hill

ISBN: 007297916X

Examinations:

There will be 5 quizzes during the semester, with a final exam. Failure to take a quiz or
the exam will result in a zero grade. Quizzes are schedule well in advance; it is your
responsibility to plan accordingly. All grades will be posted on Web CT. Please, bring
picture identification to each quiz/exam. Quizzes/exam questions will be taken from
lecture, text and handouts. Your daily attendance and note taking will help you in
quiz/exam preparations. Extra Credit: If extra credit assignments are offered they will be
offered to the entire class to be fair.

Grading System
All quizzes will be graded on the point system. Each quiz will contain 15 questions,
worth 1pt each. There will be 5 quizzes worth a total of 75 pts. Attendance is worth 20
pts. The final project is worth 15 pts. All for a total of 100 pts.

Final grades will be awarded according to the following percentage scale:

A: A= 90-100 B= 80-89 C= 70-79 D= 60-69 F=59 and below

Academic Integrity:

Academy integrity is the pursuit of scholarly free from fraud and deception and is an
educational objective of this institution. For rules and information about Academic
Dishonesty see the following website: www.utdallas/edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html

Academic Dishonesty:

This includes, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarizing (including the failure to properly
cite sources), fabrication of information or citation facilitating acts of academic
dishonesty of others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work
of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering
with the academic work of other students. Please do your own work. ALL violations of
academic integrity will be reported to the Dean of Students.
 Disability Services:
UTD is committed to providing educational opportunities for all persons. If you
anticipate needing accommodations for learning differences, please let me know. If you
require accommodations, please make sure that you are properly registered with the
Disabilities Services Office (972)883-2070. If you have a condition that requires
accommodation in this course, please see the instructor after class the first night. I will
appropriate accommodations provided timely notice is received and the arrangement is
consistent with any recommendations from Disability Services, when applicable.

Course Announcements:

Course announcements will be made via WebCT and in class. You are responsible for
keeping up with all announcements (e.g., schedule changes, cancellations, etc.). Changes
may be made to this schedule. I will also announce changes in class, You are
responsible for all changes (e.g., reading assignments, assignment deadlines, etc.).*
 SYLLABUS*

8/17 Class Introduction and formalities.

• Review of policies and syllabus
• Class discussion (“what’s up with you?”)

Police Operations
8/22 Discussion
8/24 “
8/29 Guest Speaker
8/31 Quiz Review

Components of Criminal Analysis

Intro. Criminal Investigation

9/5 Quiz (police operations) 30min. / Disscussion
9/7 Discussion
9/12 Guest Speaker
9/14 Quiz Review

Forensic Science
9/19 Quiz (Into. C.I ) 30mi. / Discussion
9/21 Discussion
9/26 Guest Speaker
9/28 Quiz Review

Homicides/Suicides
10/3 Quiz (forensic science) 30min. / Discussion
10/5 Discussion
10/10 Guest Speaker
10/12 Quiz Review

Assaults
10/17 Quiz (homicides/suicides) 30mim. / Discussion
10/19 Discussion
10/24 Guest Speaker
10/26 Quiz Review
10/31 Group Project
Fall 2006 Syllabus
Pg. 2

Ethics
11/2 Quiz (Assaults) 30min. / Discussion
11/7 Discussion
11/9 Guest Speaker
11/14 Quiz (surprise!)

Class Review
11/16 Exam preparation
11/27 Final

Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the

determination and commitment to unrelenting
pursuit of our goal, a commitment to excellence,
that will enable you to attain the success you seek.

-Mario Andretti