Soc 321: A1 Youth, Crime and Society Fall 2021
T-R 4:00 – 5:20 CAB 243 In Person
Instructor:
Office:
Dr. Jeffrey Brassard
Hm-Tory 1-062H (Center for Criminological Research)
Office Hours: Wednesday 11:00-12:00 or by appointment (Zoom meetings also available)
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. Practice questions will be made available via eclass.
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 5th Mid-Term Exam #2: 33.3% November 4th
Final Exam: 33.4% (December 14th 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:
This course is offered in person.
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. Grades will not be rounded.
Letter % Pts Descriptor
A+ 95-100 4.0
Excellent
A 90-94.9 4.0
A- 85-89.9 3.7
B+ 80-84.9 3.3
Good
B 75-79.9 3.0
B- 70-74.9 2.7
C+ 66-69.9 2.3
Satisfactory
C 62-65.9 2.0
C- 58-61.9 1.7
D+ 54-57.9 1.3 Poor
D 50-53.9 1.0 Minimal Pass
F 0-49 0.0 Fail
ATTENDANCE,ABSENCES,ANDMISSEDGRADECOMPONENTS:
Since presence at lectures, participation in classroom discussions and projects, and the completion of assignments are important components of most courses, students will serve their interests best by regular attendance. Those who choose not to attend must assume whatever risks are involved.
Regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult the Attendance section of the University Calendar.
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.
Late assignments will be deducted 5% per day. Once an assignment in 11 days late it will be given a grade of F.
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 a day arranged with the instructor.
Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted.
Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
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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.”
Students are expected to engage in the highest level of honesty in their work. It is possible, however, to violate academic integrity even if you believed you were being honest. The onus is on students to understand the University of Alberta's expectations regarding academic integrity. Not knowing is not an excuse. Resources and more information on the standards of Academic Integrity and the Code of Student Behaviour can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/currentstudents/academic-
resources/academic-integrity/.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.
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).”
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.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE POLICY
It is the policy of the University of Alberta that sexual violence committed by any member of the
University community is prohibited and constitutes misconduct. Resources and more information can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence
TRADITIONALTERRITORIALACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
COURSEOUTLINEPOLICY
"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 2 Intro & History, Trends, and Legislation Winterdyk et al. Chapter 1 Week 2 Sept 7-9 Measuring Youth Crime in Canada Winterdyk et al. Chapter 2 Week 3 Sept 14-
16
Understanding the YCJA Winterdyk et al. Chapter 3 Week 4 Sept 21-
23
The Youth Justice System in Action Winterdyk et al. Chapter 4 Week 5 Sept 28 The Youth Justice System in Action Midterm
September 30th
Winterdyk et al. Chapter 4 Week 5 Sept 30th No class
Week 6 Oct 5 – 7 October 5th - Midterm. Winterdyk et al. Chapter 5
Challenges in Hearing Youth Voices Week 7 Oct 12 –
14
Youth Deviance and the media Winterdyk et al. Chapter 6 Week 8 Oct 19–
21
Canadian Girls and Crime Winterdyk et al. Chapter 7 Week 9 Oct 26 –
28
Theoretical Perspectives on Youth Crime Winterdyk et al. Chapter 8 Week 10 Nov 2 –
4
Theoretical Perspectives on Youth Crime Midterm
#2 November 4th
Winterdyk et al. Chapter 10 Week 11 Nov 9-
11
Reading Week No readings
Week 12 Nov 16 – 18
Substance use and crime in adolescence Winterdyk et al. Chapter 12 Week 13 Nov 23-
25
Racialized Youth Crime and Justice in Canada Winterdyk et al Chapter 14 Week 14 Nov 30
– Dec 2
Youth involvement in systems of sex work Winterdyk et al. Chapter 15 &
16
Week 15 Dec 7 Keeping Youth out of jail Winterdyk et al. Chapter 15 &
16
