Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
This course studies the types of juvenile delinquents, causes of delinquent behavior, social institutions and their effect upon delinquency, prevention, and control of delinquent behavior.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
Prerequisites
UNI students: 980:001
Instructor
Richard Featherstone, Assistant Professor
I was born in Salem, Oregon and I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where I did a lot of outdoor activities like trout fishing and horseback riding. When I was an undergraduate I worked for about two years with the Salem, Oregon Police Department. I served as a police cadet, but quickly discovered that I enjoyed studying laws rather than enforcing them. You could say that criminal justice runs in my family. My father was a corrections officer, my oldest sister is a parole and probation officer and my other sister worked for the Oregon State Police. I also have a couple cousins who have done time in two different state penitentiaries. But my immediate family has always been on the law enforcement side of things.M
I quit working with the police department when I got the opportunity to be an exchange student to Japan. That was a great experience, and I enjoyed talking to the Japanese Police officers I met there. In college I chose to major in sociology because I was interested in how human actions and attitudes were affected by group behavior. I was particularly intrigued by urban riots and courtship practices. I graduated with my Bachelors degree from Oregon State University. Since I love learning, I went on to earn two master’s degrees: one in Comparative Religions and one in Sociology; later I received a Ph.D. specializing in Criminology from Purdue University.
My current hobbies are varied, but I especially enjoy reading about theological and historical issues. I have worked in many different positions but probably my favorite job (besides being a professor) was teaching English to professionals in Japan. I also enjoy outdoor recreation, running, and exploring Iowa with my wife, Kathryn. Kathryn is also from Oregon, so we are adopted Midwesterners.
I started working here at UNI in the fall of 2002. Some of the other classes I have taught include: Criminology, Criminal Justice, Sociology of Policing, Juvenile Justice, Sociology of Religion, Social Psychology, and Urban Sociology. I enjoy researching topics that explore the areas of religion and crime. Recently I had a book published which examines the topic of prison riots and presented a new theory for understanding how they get started. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about my background or interests.
Evaluation
10 assignments, 2 exams
Written assignments
For Assignments 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 you will read all ten chapters of the book, Families, Delinquency, and Crime. Your written assignments will derive from these readings. Basically, you will be asked to respond to several short essay questions per assignment. Each of these assignments should be no longer than six double-spaced pages in length.
For Assignments 2, 4, 6, and 8 you are required to write response papers. Each response paper connects to a specific article in your text, Annual Editions: Juvenile Delinquency and Justice. Response papers are expected to be written in essay form and should be from two to three double-spaced pages in length. In addition, you will also complete and include a specific review form for each reading.
Assignment 10 is to write an 8 to 10-page research paper on a topic related to juvenile delinquency or juvenile justice. Please email me your subject of interest when you decide on a topic. I need to okay your paper before you begin your research. This paper will require you to find, analyze, and write about an issue dealing with juvenile delinquency. It is worth 20% of your grade for this course.
Exams
There will be two exams for this course. These exams will test your knowledge and comprehension of material covered in Families, Delinquency, and Crime. Exam 1 will cover chapters one through five of the required textbook. Exam 2 will cover chapters six through ten. Each exam will consist of 20 questions which will be worth one point each. Exams will be composed of multiple-choice, true or false, and short answer responses.
Grading
The maximum points assigned for each course requirement are:
| Assignments 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 (12 points each) | 60 |
| Assignments 2, 4, 6, and 8 (25 points each) | 100 |
| Assignment 10 | 50 |
| Exam 1 | 20 |
| Exam 2 | 20 |
| Total Points | 250 |
Grading Scale:
A = 250 – 234
A- = 233 – 225
B+ = 224 – 217
B = 216 – 209
B- = 208 – 200
C+ = 199 – 192
C = 191 – 184
C- = 183 – 175
D+ = 174 – 167
D = 166 – 159
D- = 158 – 150
F = 149 – 0
Evaluation
10 assignments, 2 exams
Textbook(s)
Ronald L. Simmons, Leslie Gordon Simmons, and Lora Ebert Wallace. Families, Delinquency, and Crime. Los Angeles: Roxbury Publishing, 2004.
David R. Struckhoff, editor. Annual Editions: Juvenile Delinquency and Justice 06/07. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill Contemporary Learning Series, 2006.
Texts are available from the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu