Soc 321: A1 Youth, Crime and Society Fall 2020
T-R 4:00 – 5:20 Remote delivery
Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Brassard Office Hours: On Zoom by appointment Email: [email protected]
Course Prerequisite: Prerequisite SOC 225 or consent of the instructor.
Past or Representative Evaluative Course Material Available
Example exam questions will be discussed in class prior to each exam Course Description and Objectives:
This course will introduce students to the sociological study of youth and crime. The course will examine the history of youth crime and societal response to it. The course will also examine the sociological theories having to do with the study of youth and crime. The final part of the course will examine criminalized youth and the different approaches to them.
By the end of the course students should be able to:
1.) Describe and compare core sociological and criminological theories as they apply to Youth and crime.
2.) Identify key characteristics of the Youth Criminal Justice system.
3.) Interrogate forms of power, inequality, and social change and their intersection with youth experience of the criminal justice system
4.) Understand the ways in which power contributes to marginalization and the implications of these processes for criminal justice system practices.
5.)
Assess social practices, programs, and policies as they relate to youth and criminal justice systems.
Texts:
Winterdyk, J., Gorkoff, K., Antonowicz, D., & Smandych, R. (2020). Youth Justice: A Canadian Overview.
Oxford University Press.
Grade Distribution:
Mid-Term Exam #1: 33.3% October 1st Mid-Term Exam #2: 33.3% November 3rd
Final Exam: 33.4% (December 20th Tentative)
EXPLANATORY NOTE ON COURSE REQUIREMENTS:Mid-terms:
Mid-Terms will be composed of 30 Multiple Choice and 4 Short answer questions.
Final Exam:
Final exam will be composed of 30 multiple choice and 6 Short answer questions. The Final is not cumulative.
Course Format
The course material will be delivered online in an asynchronous manner. Recorded lectures will be posted to Google Drive and made available on e-class.
There will be bi-weekly live Q&A sessions offered via Zoom for students to interact with the instructor and ask questions. These sessions will be during class time. Attendence is encouraged, but optional.
Sessions will be Sept 1, Sept 15, Sept 29, Oct 13, Oct 29, Nov 12, Nov 26, and Dec 3
GRADING:Marks for graded course requirements are given in percentages, to which letter grades are also assigned, according to the table below. The percentage mark resulting from all graded components produces the final letter grade for the course. Marks for grades are not curved or scaled.
Letter % Pts Descriptor
A+ 95-100 4.0
Excellent
A 90-94 4.0
A- 85-89 3.7
B+ 80-84 3.3
Good
B 75-79 3.0
B- 70-74 2.7
C+ 66-69 2.3
Satisfactory
C 62-65 2.0
C- 58-61 1.7
D+ 54-57 1.3 Poor
D 50-53 1.0 Minimal Pass
F 0-49 0.0 Fail
ATTENDANCE,ABSENCES,ANDMISSEDGRADECOMPONENTS:
Students are expected to view online lectures. Attendance in online Q&A’s is optional but highly recommended.
Absence from Term Work
Students are required to contact me within two working days following the missed exam or term work (or as soon as you are able, with regard to the circumstances) to apply for an excused absence. Excused absences are not automatic and are at my discretion. Below is a list of acceptable documentation to support an absence:
● For incapacitating medical illness, students can present one of the following:
o “University of Alberta Medical Statement” signed by a doctor (this cannot be required, but must be accepted if provided in lieu of other documents).
● o “Request for Excused Absence or Deferral of Term Work/Examinations "
https://www.ualberta.ca/arts/student-services/undergraduate-student-services/forms-for-students
● o Statutory Declaration" (to be obtained from the Office of the Registar).
● For all other cases, such as domestic afflictions or religious convictions, the student should submit documentation appropriate to the situation. This could include the following:
o For a death in the family – a copy of the death certificate o For a religious conflict – a letter from the church or pastor o For a car accident – a copy of the accident report
o For other serious afflictions – consult the Instructor or Department about appropriate documents
Policy for Missed Term Exams:
Students who have an excused absence from a mid-term will be required to write a make-up exam. For a make-up exam, the student is required to write an equivalent exam at a time set by the instructor. If the student does not write the assigned make-up exam at the prescribed time, a raw score of zero will be assigned for the missed term exam
Absence from Final Exam
A student who has missed a final exam because of incapacitating mental and/or physical illness, severe domestic affliction or for circumstances as described in the University's Discrimination, Harassment and Duty to Accommodate Policy (including religious belief) may apply for a deferred exam. Where the cause is incapacitating mental and/or physical illness and most other cases including severe domestic affliction, a student must present supporting documentation pertaining to the absence to their Faculty office within two working days following the scheduled date of the exam missed, or as soon as the student is able, having regard to the circumstances underlying the absence.
I cannot approve or deny requests for deferred final exams. Refer to the Absence from Final Exams information provided in the Attendance section of the University Calendar for full details.
Date of Deferred Final Exam: Students approved for a deferred final exam will write on on a day arranged with the instructor
ACCESSIBILITYRESOURCES:
If you have special needs that could affect your performance in this class, please let me know during the first week of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are not already registered with Accessibility Resources, contact their office immediately (1-80 SUB; Email [email protected];
phone 780-492-3381).
LEARNINGANDWORKINGENVIRONMENT:
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate
behaviour that undermines that environment. The Department urges anyone who feels that this policy is being violated to:
• Discuss the matter with the person whose behaviour is causing concern; or
• If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or threatening, discuss it with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the Office of the Student Ombuds . Information about the University of Alberta Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures is described in UAPPOL.
REQUIREDNOTES:
Academic Integrity
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.
Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism,
misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”
Audio or Video Recording
“Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the Instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or Instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).”
Course Outline Policy
"Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar."
LECTURESCHEDULE:
Tentative Subject and Reading outline (subject to change)
Date Topic Reading
Week 1 Sept 1- 4
History, Trends, and Legislation Winterdyk et al. Chapter 1 Week 2 Sept 6-
10
Measuring Youth Crime in Canada Winterdyk et al. Chapter 2
Week 3 Sept 14-18
Understanding the YCJA Winterdyk et al. Chapter 3 Week 4 Sept
21-25
The Youth Jusitce System in Action Winterdyk et al. Chapter 4 Week 5 Sept 28
– Oct 2
The Youth Jusitce System in Action / Midterm October 1st
Winterdyk et al. Chapter 4 Week 6 Oct 5 –
9
Challenges in Hearing Youth Voices Winterdyk et al. Chapter 5 Week 7 Oct 12
- 16
Youth Deviance and the media Winterdyk et al. Chapter 6 Week 8 Oct 19
– 23
Canadian Girls and Crime Winterdyk et al. Chapter 7 Week 9 Oct 26
- 30
Theoretical Perspectives on Youth Crime Winterdyk et al. Chapter 8 Week 10 Nov 2
- 6
Midterm #2 November 3rd / Substance use and crime in adolescence
Winterdyk et al. Chapter 10 Week 11 Nov
9-13
Reading Week No readings
Week 12 Nov 16 - 20
Racialized Youth Crime and Justice in Canada Winterdyk et al. Chapter 12 Week 13 Nov
23-27
Youth involvement in systems of sex work Winterdyk et al Chapter 14 Week 14 Nov
30 – Dec 4
Keepting youth out of jail Winterdyk et al. Chapter 15 &
16
