Criminology Program

Course Syllabus
CRIM 6348.0I1 (50928) Drugs and Crime
Summer Semester 2011 Online section
Room: N/A eLearning Syllabus revision date: 04/3/11

I. Course Navigation: Before you begin work, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this web-based course.
The course is totally online in an asynchronous format. You do not have to come to campus and you do not have to be
online at the same time as your professor or classmates. You can complete your course by navigating around the
eLearning CRIM 6348 homepage and reading the materials specified on it and through the materials in the organizers on
that page. We will utilize the assessment, discussion, mail, announcement, who’s online, and my grade tools which are all
available to you on the menu on your course homepage. All requirements for course completion are listed in Section XV
of this syllabus along with the due dates for the completion of the various requirements. A summary calendar is provided
for all graded events at the end of Section XV of the syllabus. I strongly encourage you to print out the summary calendar
and enter the due dates on your personal calendar to ensure that no late submissions occur to avoid the late penalties
associated with submitting graded work later than the due date. If you have any questions whatsoever about how to
access any of the course materials or assignments please email me using the email link located on your course
homepage. You must check your UT Dallas email and the eLearning course site at least three times per week for emails,
announcements, and updates. Remember this is your classroom so please feel comfortable asking me any questions
which you would ordinarily ask in class. Please be aware that exams will be accessible for a period of one week
beginning seven days prior to the due date. Because of this large amount of time, make-up tests are not
permitted unless university requirements are officially met. All written work and required postings may be submitted
early and I encourage you to start such written requirements right away. Only the due dates in the syllabus are official due
dates. Please do not confuse any other date including the exam accessibility dates on the eLearning site as due dates!

II. Professor Contact Information: Dr. O. Elmer Polk, Green Hall, Office #2.408. elmer.polk@utdallas.edu, telephone
972-883-2983. Students are strongly encouraged to use the email link on the course homepage as the primary method of
communication. Your professor checks email several times per day and you can normally expect a response within one
day or sooner.
Office Hours: Students may feel free to contact the professor at any time by email. Hours for Summer Semester 2011
are continuous for online questions and by appointment for those who require an in person visit.

III. Graduate Teaching Assistant: None.

IV. Pre\Co-requisite: None.

V. Technical Support: If you experience difficulties with your UTD account you may send an email to
assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at 972-883-2911.

VI. Course Description: Drugs and Crime (3 semester hours):

This course provides students with a survey of the historical context of the legislative initiatives utilized in order to attempt
to combat the use of drugs, the relationship between drug use/abuse and crime and the public policy problems
surrounding that control of drugs.

VII. Learning Outcomes:

A. The student will become familiar with the jargon and concepts of criminal justice.
B. Students will understand the processes and inter-agency cooperation and/or lack thereof in the
justice system.
C. The history and evolution of criminal justice thought will be presented and analyzed for
patterns of societal response to criminal conduct.
D. The student will become familiar with criminal justice databases and their purposes.
E. The student will learn crime rates and measures.
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F. Students will be reintroduced to basic constitutional rights with emphasis upon those rights most often involving
criminal justice agencies.
G. Enhancement of students' understanding of the impact of politics, sociology, economics, and other dynamics upon the
role of Criminal Justice in the social order.
H. Students will be able to properly categorize human acts as moral, ethical, or legal violations.

VIII. Required Text and course materials: Drug Use and Abuse: A Comprehensive Introduction, 7th ed. (2011) by
Howard Abadinsky. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN# 978-0-495-80991-3.

Additionally, students are required to read appropriate, current criminal justice journal articles and internet materials as
assigned in Section XV of this syllabus or as required for Discussion Board Postings and completion of assigned library
research papers.

IX. Grades will be posted based on the following scale:

Graduate: A=94-100, A-=90-93, B+= 87-89, B=84-86, B-=80-83, C+=77-79, C=70-76, F=0-69

Grades are based on the following events (due dates are in the course calendar and assignment schedule in Section XV
of this syllabus). Please note that there is absolutely no extra credit work available in this class and each student
should strive to do his or her best work on each and every grading event as the course progresses. The mathematical
rule of rounding will apply to the computation of the final grade in the course based on the grades received in the
following events.

1. Examination I (100 points). 2 hours, online, open-book; questions from textbook and internet sites
2. Examination 2 (100 points). 2 hours, online, open-book; questions from textbook and internet sites
3. Forum 1 grade (100 points) Answers to five of the discussion questions must be posted on the discussion board in
essay format of 350 words or more per answer. Three bibliographic citations and the word count must be posted with
each of the questions – one source can be your textbook.
4. Forum 2 grade (100 points) Answers to five of the discussion questions must be posted on the discussion board in
essay format of 350 words or more per answer. Three bibliographic citations and the word count must be posted with
each of the questions – one source can be your textbook.
5. Responses to five of your classmates’ postings either agreeing or disagreeing and stating why. (100 points)
6. Syllabus Quiz (no credit points) This quiz is required before any student takes any of the exams or posts any
discussion questions. Please email your professor at elmer.polk@utdallas.edu if you have any questions whatsoever
after taking the quiz. Quiz should be repeated until you obtain a score of 100.

Students must complete the above requirements plus the following writing requirements:

7. Library Research Paper 1 on an individual illegal drug or controlled substance. Topic must be approved via email
by the professor prior to commencing work on the paper. Only one or two students will be allowed to write on
each drug – it is up to the student to get permission early if you have individual interest in a particular drug
(details below). Paper must identify where the drug is categorized on the Schedule of Drugs and why.
8. Library Research Paper 2 on any aspect of the history and development of drug control policy and law in the United
States (details below).

Your grades will be posted to the eLearning gradebook in percentage scores with a running average in the Total column.

Incomplete Grade Policy: As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed
at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved
within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and
to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically
to a grade of F.

Examinations: There are two open-book examinations that will consist of 75-100 objective items each with a maximum
score of 100 points on each exam. Questions are taken from your textbook and the internet sites identified in the course
outline section of this syllabus. Your score will be posted in percentage scores in your gradebook with a maximum score
of 100% on each. You will be given a maximum of two hours to complete each exam. Please read and study the text and
required internet sites in detail before beginning the exams. The professor will manually curve the class scores depending
upon the highest grade made on each exam. The manual adjustments will be entered into your gradebook within one
week of the due date for each exam. Each exam will be available to you seven days before the due date.

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Discussion Board Questions: Ten of the twenty discussion items on the discussion board must be answered with each
item worth 20 points for a cumulative score of 100 on each forum. Five of the discussion questions must be posted from
Forum 1 and five more must be posted from Forum 2 by the due dates in Section XV of this syllabus. Discussion Board
items may be posted early and this is highly encouraged to avoid last minute problems. Due dates for the postings are
detailed in the Course Calendar and Assignment Schedule in Section XV of the course syllabus and in the summary
calendar following Section XV. Questions not posted by the due dates will be reduced in grade 10 points per calendar
day. Any questions not received by the last day of regular class will receive a score of zero. Do not post your answers as
an attached file because attached files will not receive a grade ultimately resulting in a zero. Discussion question
answers must be the student’s own original work and must be 350 words or longer. Post the question number
and repeat the question you are answering before writing your answer. Each answer must be followed by the
bibliographic information on two sources of information in addition to the textbook and the posting must be
followed by a word count. The word count does not include the bibliographic information nor the question. The
bibliographic information and word count must be repeated for each and every answer and you should strive to use as
many different sources as possible other than your textbook. In other words, please treat each discussion question as a
mini-paper with three references including your textbook and two additional sources. Answers that are simply blocked and
moved from any other site that are not the original work of the student posting the answer will receive a grade of zero
unless properly cited and the student will be referred for disciplinary action by the university.

Responses: Students are also required to briefly and respectfully comment in five responses to other students’
discussion questions. There is no length requirement for the responses to other student answers. Your responses should
be based on the substantive content of their posting and must address the content of their answer. DO NOT criticize the
other student or make negative references about the student.

Attention to proper writing and correct spelling when posting the discussion questions and responses is expected and is a
part of the grade received for the assignment. Use proper grammar and spelling and do not use any type of abbreviations
not found in a commonly accepted, standardized English dictionary. All comments posted by students must be in
formal language with no intolerant, rude, abusive, or obscene language. Violations of this policy will be referred for
disciplinary action with the recommendation that the student be expelled from the class!

Introductions: Students should go to the discussion board and post a brief introduction about themselves during the first
week of class. Please do not post addresses or other personal contact information on the discussion board. Give a brief
summary about yourself including what year you are in, your major, and any future career goals if you have formulated
them.

Syllabus Quiz: All students are required to complete the syllabus quiz within the first week of class.

X. In addition to the above requirements, students must complete the following writing assignments:

Library Research Paper 1: Pick a drug or controlled substance of your choice. Get permission to proceed with that topic
from the professor via email. You may request such permission any time after 8 am on the first day of class and only one
or two students (depending on the size of the class) will be permitted to write on any one individual drug or controlled
substance. Topics will be assigned in the order in which the request is received by the professor. Proceed to write an 8 to
10 page paper on the history and development of that particular drug. Discuss the appearance, production, effects, and
health risks of the drug. The paper must state the classification by schedule of the drug. Paper must be in APA format,
double spaced, in font 11 or 12, with one inch margins. Must have eight or more references with a minimum of three
scholarly articles.

Library Research Paper 2: Write a 5 to 8 page paper on the control measures and sanctions imposed for the usage,
sale, or possession of illegal drugs and controlled substances in the United States. You may wish to focus on any of the
particular federal Acts mentioned in your text or take a generalized approach to the changing methods of control used
over the last two hundred years. Paper must be in APA format, double spaced, in font 11 or 12, with one inch margins.
Must have six or more references. You may use the Texas Penal Code as one of them if you wish.

XI. Netiquette: Please express all posted comments in formal English without street jargon or employment related jargon,
acronyms, or abbreviations that will not be understood by all students. Avoid being critical of your fellow classmates and
focus your responses to the content of what they posted. Do not make emotional outbursts on the discussion page and
always remember that anything you post will be retained exactly as you post it for a long time and can be referred to
exactly as you post it in the future. Some yes and no rules to follow in the course:
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  Yes, you can email your professor as often as you like at elmer.polk@utdallas.edu or the course email box.
 Yes, you can critique postings in your responses in any way you like as long as it is not offensive and not
critical of another student personally.
 Yes, you can ask the professor any question you have
 Yes, every email is answered
 No, you should not use a lot of acronyms and jargon in your postings
 No, you should not try to use humor as it sometimes comes across online with unintended consequences.
 Remember that even if you are posting your comments in the privacy of your home, they will be viewed online
exactly as comments would be viewed in a live classroom and comment accordingly and with proper respect for
fellow students.

XII. Academic Integrity: It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Dallas that each student is responsible for
following the Student Code of Conduct and students should read the Code in their Catalog pertaining to all aspects of
academic integrity, especially the provisions regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is a
completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic
dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include
suspension from the University or other resolutions as required by the University. Academic dishonesty includes but is not
limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or
in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, or any act designed to give unfair advantage to a
student.

XIII. University Drop Policy: It is the responsibility of the student to process the official drop and add forms. Faculty/staff
cannot drop students from class. Please be aware the professor cannot drop a student for never attending or missing too
many classes and can only assign grades based on the work submitted. For this reason it is important to your grade that
if, for any reason, you decide to not complete the course, to complete the appropriate paperwork to drop the class
officially or to withdraw from the university.

XIV. Students wishing information on the following topics and policies should visit the website following the list. Student
Conduct & Discipline, Student Grievance Procedures, Incomplete Grade Policy, Disability Services, Religious Holy Days,
Academic Integrity, Copyright Notice, Email Use, Withdrawal from Class, and Off-Campus Instruction and Course
Activities: http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies.

XV. COURSE CALENDAR AND ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Please note that all chapter reading assignments made in this assignment schedule refer to readings in the required
textbook. As per the UTD Academic Calendar, Summer semester classes begin on Monday, May 23, 2011 and end on
Monday, August 1, 2011 with a Final Exam due on Thursday, August 4, 2011 by midnight. Each week in the following
schedule is composed of a seven day period with week one beginning on Monday, May 23. Week 11 is actually only one
day at the end of the semester.

Please be aware that exams will be accessible for a period of one week beginning seven days prior to the due
date. Because of this large amount of time, make-up tests are not permitted in most cases. Early completion of all
graded events is encouraged to avoid late penalties.

Week 1 of Class (May 23-29): Read the preface, introduction and chapter 1 on an introduction to drug use and abuse in
the text as well as the entire class syllabus and introductory materials available on the course website. Welcome to the
class! These readings will introduce you to the course, the professor, and the expectations of you in the course. For those
of you who have not taken an online course before please feel free to email me at elmer.polk@utdallas.edu or at the
eLearning website on the course homepage and ask any questions that you would ask me if we were sitting in class.
Emails to my regular email address must contain the course number – please remember that your course number is
CRIM 6348 and include it in the subject line of emails to my regular email address. This is not necessary if you use
the email box within the course which is my preference.

May 31st TUESAY or earlier: SYLLABUS QUIZ: ALL STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE POSTED QUIZ BY
MIDNIGHT.

May 31st TUESDAY or earlier: Introductions: ALL STUDENTS SHOULD GO TO THE DISCUSSION BOARD UNDER
INTRODUCTIONS and post a brief introduction of themselves. Please do not post any personal addresses or contact

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information. Just tell us a little bit about yourself such as what year you are in, your major, your interests, and future
career plans if you have formulated any at this time.

Required internet site #1: Go to http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/. Scroll down the page to Policy Focus and click
on “Director Declares Legalizing Marijuana a Non-Starter” and then on “National Drug Control Budget.” Read the first one
thoroughly and on the second one, click on 2010 budget summary and read it-- emphasizing Table 1 on Federal Drug
Control Spending by Function. Was more money spent on treatment, domestic law enforcement or interdiction?

Week 2 (May 31 – June 5): Read chapter 2 in the text. Topic: Drug use and abuse and a history of drug legislation.

Required Internet site #2: Go to http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/. Scroll down the page to Policy Focus and click
on National Drug Control Strategy. Click on English version and then on Chapter 2. Read the entire chapter with
emphasis on the section addressing the expansion of drug courts. Know approximately how many drug courts there were
in 2007.

Week 3 (June 6-12): Read chapter 3 in the text. Topic: The biology of psychoactive substances.

Week 4 (June 13-19): Read chapter 4 & 5 in the text. Topics: Depressants & Stimulants.

Required Internet site #3: Go to http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/index.html . Click on publication at left, then click
on D, then scroll down to the publication Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction. Read the preface and
the first five pages in detail.

Week 5: (June 20-26): Read chapter 6 in the text. Topic: Hallucinogens, “club drugs, marijuana, inhalants, and
prescription drugs.

Week 6 (June 27–July 3): Read chapter 7 in text. Topic: The sociology of drug abuse.

JULY 1, 2011 FRIDAY  MID-TERM (EXAMINATION 1) ON CHAPTERS 1- 7 and required internet sites 1-3.

Week 7 (July 5-10): Read chapter 8 in the text. Topic: The psychology of drug use and abuse.

JULY 8, 2011 FRIDAY  MUST POST THE FIRST FIVE DISCUSSION QUESTION ANSWERS FOR FORUM 1 PLUS
TWO RESPONSES TO YOUR CLASSMATES’ ANSWERS BY MIDNIGHT.

Week 8 (July 11-17): Read chapters 9 & 10 in the text. Topics: Drug use and abuse: prevention and treatment.

Week 9 (July 18-24): Read chapters 11 &12 in text. Topics: The business of drugs and drug laws and law enforcement.

JULY 18, 2011 MONDAY BY MIDNIGHT. PAPER #1 DUE. MUST BE EMAILED AS A WORD FILE. Professor will send
return email when paper is received.

Required Internet site #4: Go to http://www.samhsa.gov/. On menu at right click on treatment locators, and then click
on Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator. On the facility locator page, click on the word HERE, then click on the
state of Texas, type in Richardson as the city, then click on continue which will pull up a page with a long list of providers.
Know how many facilities there are within a 100 mile range of Richardson.

Week 10 (July 25-July 31): Read chapter 13 in the text. Topic: Drug use & abuse policy #1 –The U.S. Model.

JULY 25, 2011 MONDAYBY MIDNIGHT. PAPER #2 MUST BE EMAILED AS A WORD FILE. Professor will send return
email when paper is received.

Week 11 (August 1): Read chapter 14 in the text. Topic: drug use and abuse policy #2 – decriminalization and harm
reduction. MUST POST FIVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTION ANSWERS FOR FORUM 2 PLUS THREE
ADDITIONAL RESPONSES TO YOUR CLASSMATES’ ANSWERS BY MIDNIGHT. (THIS WILL GIVE YOU A TOTAL OF
TEN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND FIVE RESPONSES THUS FAR IN THE COURSE).

AUGUST 4, 2011 THURSDAY  EXAMINATION 2 (FINAL EXAM) ON CHAPTERS 7-14 DUE BY MIDNIGHT

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 Course Calendar at a Glance
Calendar due dates for all events contributing to students’ course grade
Students are encouraged to complete assessments and postings early to avoid last minute problems, issues and
grade reductions.

Date Exams, Quiz, & Papers Discussion Board Dates

MAY 31, 2011 TUESDAY BY SYLLABUS QUIZ: ALL STUDENTS MUST

MIDNIGHT COMPLETE THE POSTED QUIZ BY MIDNIGHT

MAY 31, 2011 TUESDAY BY POST INTRODUCTION

MIDNIGHT

JULY 1, 2011 MONDAY BY MID-TERM EXAMINATION 1 ON CHAPTERS 1-7,

MIDNIGHT. AND THE REQUIRED INTERNET SITES.

JULY 8, 2011 FRIDAY BY MUST POST THE FIRST FIVE DISCUSSION

MIDNIGHT. QUESTION ANSWERS FOR FORUM 1 PLUS TWO
LATE ANSWERS ARE REDUCED RESPONSES TO YOUR CLASSMATES’ ANSWERS.
IN GRADE BY 10% PER DAY.

JULY 18, 2011 MONDAY BY PAPER #1 MUST BE EMAILED AS A WORD

MIDNIGHT FILE.
LATE PAPERS ARE REDUCED
IN GRADE BY 10% PER DAY
JULY 25, 2011 MONDAY BY PAPER #2 MUST BE EMAILED AS A WORD
MIDNIGHT. FILE.

LATE PAPERS ARE REDUCED

IN GRADE BY 10% PER DAY

AUGUST 1, 2011 MONDAY BY MUST POST FIVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

MIDNIGHT. QUESTION ANSWERS FOR FORUM 2 PLUS
THREE ADDITIONAL RESPONSES TO YOUR
. CLASSMATES’ ANSWERS BY MIDNIGHT. (THIS
WILL GIVE YOU A TOTAL OF TEN DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS AND FIVE RESPONSES THUS FAR IN
THE COURSE).

AUGUST 4, 2011 THURSDAY BY FINAL EXAM ( EXAM 2) ON CHAPTERS 8-14

MIDNIGHT

Please note all exam and participation dates carefully and contact your professor if there are urgent and compelling reasons why you need a date
changed. (Remember that early completion of the exams and assignments is permitted without prior discussion). The final exam date is not flexible
regardless of cause if it is late but arrangements can be made for it to be taken early if required.