Course

Introduction to Corrections

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course code
CRIM 1170
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course examines the current theory and practice of Canadian corrections. Topics include the history of corrections, sentencing, alternatives to incarceration, the incarceration process, correctional workers, institutional programs (e.g., work, education, security, social rehabilitation), community-based corrections programs and , community involvement in corrections. The functions and dysfunctions of corrections will be analyzed and current issues and reform initiatives will be reviewed.
Course content
  1. Aspects of Corrections
    • Purpose and principles
    • Correctional jurisdiction in Canada
  2. An Historical Overview of Corrections
  3. Sentencing and Corrections
    • Options and justifications
    • Sentencing disparity
  4. Correctional Facilities
    • The operation of external and internal influences on correctional facilities
    • Key members of correctional facilities
    • Are institutions meeting their objectives?
  5. Classification, Case Management and Treatment
    • The classification process
    • The problem of measuring treatment success
    • The delivery of correctional treatment
  6. Intermediate Sanctions and Community-Based Corrections
    • Justifications for community-based programs
    • Types of community-based programs
    • Controversies surrounding community programs
  7. Current Issues and Challenges for Reform such as:         
    • Specialized groups: youth, women and  indigenous offenders
    • Mental health
    • Restorative justice
    • Diversity  
  8. Identify Possible Future Trends in Canada
Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:  lectures, seminar presentations, audio-visual materials, small group discussions and research papers.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on some of the following:

  1. Short Answer Tests
  2. Exams
  3. Oral Presentation
  4. Research Project / Term Paper
  5. Class Participation

 An example of one possible evaluation scheme would be:

Attendance & Participation Tasks

10%

Group Presentation or Debate (with written outline)

10%

Annotated Bibliography

15%

Term Paper (e.g. Argumentative Essay, Policy Development for a Corrections  Problem, Case Analysis, Journal, Blogs, Reflective Essay)

20%

Midterm Exam(contains writing component such as short or long essay, critique, case analysis)

20%

Final Exam (contains writing component such as short or long essay, critique, case analysis)

25%

Total

100%
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

 

  1. Identify the philosophy and purposes of corrections in Canada.                                               
  2. Discuss the historical development of corrections in North America, emphasizing the development of prisons.
  3. Describe pre-court diversion and community service as part of court dispositions for youth and adults as practised in Canada.
  4. Discuss the various sentencing options and how they influence corrections.
  5. Describe the philosophy, rationale, operation and evidence of success of probation in Canada.
  6. Identify key groups in (inmates, staff and administration) institutions and the nature of the relationship between them.
  7. Identify the range, rationale, and integrity of programs in correctional institutions, including educational, specialized intervention, prison industry, vocational and programs for specialized offenders.
  8. Describe post-institutional corrections, namely the conditional release process.  Discuss the philosophy, rationale and evidence of success of conditional release programs.
  9. Identify the possible and probable future trends in corrections in Canada.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A bibliography of materials/resources and a Coursepack of relevant selected readings may be required.  

Griffiths, Curt T. and Danielle J. Murdoch, 2014. Canadian Corrections. 4th Ed. Scarborough:  Thomson Nelson.

Winterdyk,John A. and Michael Weinrath.  2013.  Adult Corrections in Canada.  Whitby, Ontario:  de Sitter Publications.

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CRIM 1170
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO CRIM 252 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SOC 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 2214 (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 2315 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC ARTS 1XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 241 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU GENS 1XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO SOCI_O 1st (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV SOCI_V 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC SOSC 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 101 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOSC 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CRIM 241 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
35
Remaining seats:
0
On waitlist
5
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N2203
Times:
Start Time
9:30
-
End Time
12:20
Section notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
34
Remaining seats:
1
On waitlist
7
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S1715
Times:
Start Time
11:30
-
End Time
14:20
Section notes

See Legal Studies (LGST) for other university transferable law and legal system courses

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
7
Currently enrolled
6
Remaining seats:
1
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. B
Room
B2090
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section notes

CRIM 1170 005 is a combined section with CRIM 1170 006. This is a condensed course. This section is restricted to Youth Justice Program students

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
28
Currently enrolled
12
Remaining seats:
16
On waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. B
Room
B2090
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20
Section notes

CRIM 1170 006 is a combined section with CRIM 1170 005 and is a condensed course.