CRJS 3765 01: Human Relations < Youngstown State University

CRJS 3765 - Human Relations

Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43769,
Credit hours: 3

Course Meeting Times

Instructor

Mark Shannon

Public Instructor Information

Professor: Mark J. Shannon

Qualification: 15 years of comprehensive field experience, including 4 years as a U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Officer and 8 years as a Probation Officer. M.S. in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University.

Office: By appointment

Email: mjshannon@ysu.edu

Preferred Contact Method: Email

Private Instructor Information

Course Description

3765. Human Relations. Methods of coping with conflicts arising from law violation intervention; programs for improving interpersonal relations between police and the community. 3 hours of lecture per week Prereq.: SOC 1500 or PSYC 1560 or CRJS 1500. 3 s.h.

This class will discuss Conflict Resolution: Methods and strategies for coping with and de-escalating conflicts that arise specifically from law violation interventions; Police-Community Relations: Analyzing, developing, and evaluating programs designed to improve interpersonal relations, communication, and trust between law enforcement/justice agencies and the public; and Interpersonal Dynamics: Exploring the psychological and sociological factors that drive human interactions within the criminal justice system, bridging the gap between practitioners, offenders, and the community.

Course Readings

Group	Title	Author	ISBN
Required	Police Community Relations and the Administration of Justice 9th edition	Hunter, Ronald D.	9780134548043

The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.

Additional Course Materials

Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives/Goals

How to Succeed in This Course

Attendance Expectations

Late Work Submission Policy

Additional Course Expectations

Artificial Intelligence Policy Statement

Assignments/Assessments

Grading and Grading Scale

University Policies

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of	Reading(s)	Proposed Topic	Due/To Prepare for Class
8/24	Chapters 1 & 2: Administration of Justice, Police Role Concept	Foundations & The Police Role	Syllabus & Policy Quiz (10 pts) • Discussion Board 1 (15 pts) Due date: 8/30
8/31	Chapters 3 & 4: PCR Overview, Public Relations & Opinion	Relations Overview & Public Perceptions	• Reading Quiz 1 (15 pts) • Discussion Board 2 (15 pts) Due date: 9/6
9/7	Chapters 5 & 6: Internal PCR, Police & Minority Communities	Internal Dynamics & Diverse Populations	Chapters 5 & 6: Internal PCR, Police & Minority Communities • Short Essay 1: Internal Culture (50 pts) Due date: 9/13
9/14	Chapters 5 & 6: Internal PCR, Police & Minority Communities	Internal Dynamics & Diverse Populations	Short Essay 1: Internal Culture (50 pts) Due date: 9/20
9/21	Chapters 7 & 8: Special Demographics & High-Risk Groups	Special Demographics & High-Risk Groups	• Midterm Exam (100 pts) • Discussion Board 3 (15 pts) Due date: 9/27
9/28	Chapters 11 & 12: Moden Outreach & Collaborative Programs	Modern Outreach & Collaborative Programs	Discussion Board 4 (15 pts) Due date: 10/4
10/5	Chapters 13 & 14: Ethics, Civilian Oversight, Future TrendsNo Readings this week	Accountability, Ethics, and Oversight	o Short Essay 2: Accountability (50 pts) o Final Reflection (50 points) Due date: 10/11

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.

CRJS 3765 01: Human Relations