Introduction to Corrections

Curriculum guideline

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Course
CRIM 1170
Discontinued
No
Course code
CRIM 1170
Descriptive
Introduction to Corrections
Department
Criminology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201630
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
35
Contact hours
Lecture: 4 hrs. per week / semester
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
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.

Course description
This course involves a historical review of Canadian, European and American correctional systems and the current theory and practice of Canadian Corrections. Topics will include sentencing, alternatives to incarceration, the incarceration process, correctional workers, institutional programs (e.g., work, education, security, social rehabilitation, community-based corrections programs, community involvement in Corrections, and issues in Corrections.
Course content
  1. Aspects of Corrections
    • Purpose and principles
    • Correctional jurisdiction in Canada
  2. History 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. Correctional Treatment Programs
    • The classification process
    • The problem of measuring treatment success
    • The delivery of correctional treatment
  6. Community-Based Corrections
    • Justifications for community-based programs
    • Types of community-based programs
    • Controversies surrounding community programs
  7. Correctional Issues             
Learning outcomes

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

 

  1. Identify the philosophy and purposed 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.
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:

Seminar Attendance & Participation         10%
Term Paper  20%
Debate  10%
Midterm exam  30%
Final exam  30%
Total 100%
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A bibliography of materials/resources and a Coursepack of relevant selected readings will be available.  Subject to copyright approval, the manual may include readings from:

 

Griffiths, C. (2010). Canadian Corrections.  Toronto: Nelson Thompson.