UMUC-Europe Syllabus

CCJS 352 Drugs and Crime (3) Prerequisite: CCJS 100 or CCJS 105. An analysis of the role of criminal justice in controlling the use and abuse of drugs. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CCJS 352 or CJUS 352.

Course Goals/Objectives:

By the end of the course the student should be able to: * understand the history regarding the causes of drug problems * know the terminology required in reading the literature and research * differentiate between the various categories of drug abuse in terms of medical and legal consequences * distinguish between the illicit and the domestic drug industry * elaborate on the crime factors to include institutional, organized crime and predatory crime * summarize the strategies of combating crime * evaluate the various methods of control

Course Introduction:

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 75% of all individuals incarcerated in state and federal prisons are there due to some drug type offence. Hopefully, this course will enable you to understand the massive problem that drugs cause in our society. We will discuss the history and development of drug use in modern society. In addition, we will examine career criminals with perspectives to the drug world/society, detection, prosecution, sentencing and the impact of drugs on street crime and urban violence. During the class, students are encouraged to participate in debate that is relevant to class material. There is currently no solution that is working to solve the drug problem in the United States.

Grading Information and Criteria:

Final grades will be based on the following: Midterm exam 35% Term paper or project 30% Final Exam 35% Grade Scale: A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F=Below 60 FN= failure due to nonattendance

Other Information:

1. Read the material in the text before coming to class. Each student should be prepared to answer questions about the course material during class discussions. 2. Active participation in classroom discussion is the most effective way to ensure that you will learn from this course. Learning is different than memorizing. 3. We will examine the relationship between drugs and crime. 4. Your personal views are welcome in this academic environment as we discuss sense and nonsense about crime and drugs and drugs in society. 5. To understand the tremendous impact that drugs play in our society, the personal damage to human life as well as the tremendous cost to society in attempting to control the problem. 6. To look around you and see how the use of drugs has affected you in some way or the other. 7. To be alert to news accounts, magazine articles, policy decisions, television stories, that you may see or read about on a daily basis that affects this topic.

Project Descriptions:

A research paper is required. Detailed instructions will be available during the first week of class.

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

Session 1 Introduction Overview of the Course Chapter 1 The Nature of the Drug Problem Session 2 The History of Drug Abuse Chapter 2 Paper Topic Due Session 3 Understanding Drugs of Abuse Chapter 3 Session 4 The Illicit Drug Trade Chapter 4 Session 5 Domestic Drug Production Chapter 5 Session 6 Drugs and Crime Chapter 6 Session 7 Organized Crime and the Drug Trade Chapter 7 Session 8 Midterm Examination Session 9 Domestic Drug Trafficking Organizations Chapter 8 Session 10 Foreign Drug Trafficking Organizations Chapter 9 Session 11 The Drug Control Initiative Chapter 10 Critical Issues in Drug Control Chapter 11 Session 12 The Issue of Legalizing Drugs Chapter 12 Session 13 Understanding of Drug Control Policy Chapter 13 Research Papers Due Session 14 Control Through Treatment and Prevention Chapter 14 Session 15 Presentations Session 16 Final Examination