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California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: March 20, 2009
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ 490 Special Topics: Careers in Criminal Justice
(a.k.a. The Criminal Justice Profession)

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

* * * * *

Our latest class photo with everyone (including Nick)!

Week 10: Week of March 22, 2009

Be sure to read T & C, chapter 8 before Monday, March 23rd.

Topic: The Informal Criminal Justice Organization & Structure

Preparatory Readings

• Susan Takata and Jeanne Curran. Theory, Policy, Practice of a Career. [online] --- Chapters 8 .
  
• J. Scott Harrs & Karen Hess. Careers in Criminal Justice and Other Related Fields, [bundled with free access to the Cengage Learning's Career in Criminal Justice website]. --- Sections 3 (Chapters 12-14) .
• Handouts: a) Blumer on symbolic interactionism, b) Becker on the outsider (labeling theory)
  
  

• Mark Jones. Criminal Justice Pioneers in U.S. History. entire book .
• Spencer Johnson. Who Moved My Cheese? --- entire book

• Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go -- [Thank you, Jeni for suggesting this Seuss book for this class. Unfortunately, there is no video or DVD on this book yet!] .
  
  
• Randy Pausch. The Last Lecture. (optional)
• Richard Bolles. What Color is Your Parachute 2009? (optional)

Lecture related links:



• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
• Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
  
  

Concepts to be covered:



• outsider
• innovator
• revolutionary
• symbolic interactionism
• the label
• societal reaction
• stigma
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• personal performance styles
• interpersonal control styles
• situational context styles
• Weltanschauung styles
• networking
• burning bridges
• thank you ("magic words")
• the primacy effect
• the "first five minutes"
• body language



Discussion Questions:

Note: You need to complete the readings in order to answer these questions.

1. Examine all of the dimensions of individual style in the workplace: a) personal performance styles, b) interpersonal control styles, c) situational context styles, and d) Weltanschauung styles. What are your preferences and why? How do these dimensions match up with your career goal? Why.

2. Try "Testing Your Career Competencies" (in H&H, pages 232-233). What do you think of the results? Why.

3. List 10 contacts you have available right now through which you could begin networking. (H&H, page 238, Q.3)

4. List opportunities you could create to sell yourself besides the traditional resume and interview. (H&H, page. 253, Q.3)

5. What two particular interview questions do you "dread" answering? Why.

6. What techniques could you use to deal with the understandable stress and anxiety that everyone experiences during an interview? (H&H, p. 275, Q.6)



Elements for the Final Career Performance Portfolio:




1. Your Final Course Objective
2. Your Final Resume
3. Your Final Biography
4. Second Half Elective Elements (3 to 5 new pieces with at least one being "visual")
5. (Optional) Resubmit First Half Elective Elements (if they show improvements)
   

   Self-Assessment Questions for Career Performance Portfolio:
   

   
   
   1. Explain in depth, how your career performance portfolio specifically connects to the readings, class discussions, and major concepts discussed in class. Demonstrate how your portfolio relates to "theory, policy, practice". What have you learned at midterm?
   2. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your career performance portfolio, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your career performance portfolio self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Explain why this particular grade.
   
   

   Suggestions for your Career Portfolio:

   
   

   Note: Start thinking about ideas for your career portfolio. Should relate to "the criminal justice profession." Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). No term papers! Allow time to dialogue (i.e. revise and resubmit)!
   
   

   • new Take pictures of yourself (or have a friend photograph you):What you would wear to an interview? What you would not wear to an interview? Explain why for both situations.
   • new Videotape yourself answering interview questions. Constructively critique your "performance."
   • Beyond the OOH, examine other forecasts in your career field. Compare and contrast the OOH with these other sources.
   • Map out where your career path will go after commencement at UWP.
   
   

   Recommended Readings:

   
   
   • Arlie Hochschild. Second Shift.
     
   • Harvey MacKay Sharkproof.
   • Harvey MacKay Swim with the Sharks
   • Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers: The Story of Success.
   • Dennis W. Bakke. Joy at Work.
   • Megan Hustad. How to be Useful.
     

   • Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
     
   • Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.
     
     
     

Course Syllabus for CRMJ 490 "Special Topics: Careers in Criminal Justice" (a.k.a. The Criminal Justice Profession)

takata@uwp.edu