CRJS 1500 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 41946,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Monica Merrill
Email: mmmerrill@ysu.edu
Course Description
1500. Introduction to Criminal Justice. Overview of the American criminal justice process with emphasis on its constituent foundations, its constitutional limits, and the rights of the individual from arrest through sentencing and release. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Criminal Justice: An Introduction (14th edition) | Schmalleger | 9780138185312 |
• Textbook- Textbook Reference: Schmalleger, F. (2025). Criminal Justice: An Introduction (14th edition). Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780138185312 (2024 update)
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/19 | Text Ch. 1 Text Ch. 2 |
Introduction What is Criminal Justice? The Crime Picture |
Syllabus Quiz-Wed. 10/21 Introduction DP- Wed. 10/21 Intro DP Comments-Sun. 10/25 A1-Sun. 10/25 DP 1-Sun. 10/25 Quiz 1-Sun. 10/25 Quiz 2-Sun. 10/25 DP 1 Comments-Tue. 10/27 |
| 10/26 | Text Ch. 3 Text Ch. 4 |
Criminal Law Policing: Agencies and Structure |
A2-Sun. 11/1 DP 2-Sun. 11/1 Quiz 3-Sun. 11/1 Quiz 4-Sun. 11/1 DP 2 Comments-Tue. 11/3 |
| 11/2 | Text Ch. 5 Text Ch. 6 |
Policing: Purpose and Organization Policing: Legal Aspects |
A3-Sun. 11/8 DP 3-Sun. 11/8 Quiz 5-Sun. 11/8 Quiz 6-Sun. 11/8 MIDTERM-Sun. 11/8 DP 3 Comments- Tue. 11/10 |
| 11/9 | Text Ch. 7 Text Ch. 8 |
Policing: Issues and Challenges Courts: Structure and Participants |
A4- Sun. 11/15 DP 4-Sun. 11/15 Quiz 7-Sun. 11/15 Quiz 8-Sun. 11/15 DP 4 Comments-Tue. 11/17 |
| 11/16 | Text Ch. 9 Text Ch. 10 |
Pretrial Activities Sentencing |
A5- Sun. 11/22 DP 5- Sun. 11/22 Quiz 9-Sun. 11/22 Quiz 10- Sun. 11/22 Current event draft- Sun. 11/22 DP 5 Comments- Tue. 11/24 |
| 11/23 | Text Ch. 11 Text Ch. 12 |
Probation, Parole, and Reentry Prisons and Jails |
A6- Sun. 11/29 DP 6-Sun. 11/29 Quiz 11-Sun. 11/29 Quiz 12-Sun. 11/29 DP 6 Comments-Tue. 12/1 |
| 11/30 | Text Ch. 13 Text Ch. 14 |
Prison Life Justice Involved Youth |
A7- Sat. 12/5 DP 7- Sat. 12/5 Quiz 13- Sat. 12/5 Quiz 14-Sat. 12/5 DP 7 Comments Sat. 12/5 Current Event Project-Sat. 12/5 Final Exam-Sat. 12/5 |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.