Syllabus for CJE2340 Liability Issues in Criminal Justice (10014)
Description
This course will cover the issues faced by criminal justice practitioners regarding civil liability
for their actions. Topics will include civil liability under both state and federal tort law,
Section 1983 litigation, risk management and defenses to liability, administrative and
supervisory liability issues, failure to train, use of force, custodial deaths, and personnel issues
as they relate to liability.
Required Materials
Civil Liability in Criminal Justice 5th Edition Author – Darrell L. Ross
OPPTIONAL: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Objectives
1. Develop understanding of civil liability and its impact on criminal justice
system.
2. Develop knowledge of actions that result in civil liability.
3. Develop understanding of Section 1983 and its impact on liability.
4. Develop knowledge of how training issues impact liability.
5. Develop knowledge of Administrative and supervisory duties and
responsibilities pertaining to liability.
6. Develop knowledge of how personnel issues impact liability.
Student Learning
Outcomes (SLOs)
Assessed in this Course:
(what the students take
with them beyond this
course)
1. Demonstrate ability to recognize situations involving civil liability issues.
2. Demonstrate understanding and applications of Section 1983 to criminal
justice situations.
3. Demonstrate ability to recognize situations where training issues may result in
civil liability.
4. Demonstrate appropriate understanding of the duties and responsibilities of
administrators and supervisors pertaining to civil liability.
5. Demonstrate understanding of how personnel issues impact civil liability.
Teaching Methods
Classroom and online (Blackboard)
Research Project
Case Law Reviews
Contact
Week 1 August 26, 2010
**Meet in Classroom** 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Room LA-4
Review COURSE SYLLABUS
CASE LAW ASSIGNMENTS
Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF CIVIL LIABILITY
Week 8 October 14, 2010
**Meet in Classroom** 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Room LA-4
Mid-Term
Guest Speaker
Week 16 December 09, 2010
** Meet in classroom ** 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Room LA-4
Class Presentations and Final Exam
Attendance/Withdrawals
Attendance / Withdrawal
Policies:
LSCC Policy In Student Handbook.
Withdrawal Deadline: The withdraw deadline for the course will be November 01, 2010.
Method of Evaluation
Case Laws 15%
Research Project 25%
Mid-Term Exam 30%
Final Exam 30%
Total Final Grade 100%
Grading Scale:
A = 100-90, B = 89-80, C = 79-70, D = 69-60, F = 59-0
Notes
Research Project
The research project will consist of a compare and contrast paper of a written pursuit policy against current court decisions. Students will obtain a City Police Department, County Sheriff’s Office or State Law Enforcement Agencies pursuit policy. Students will then compare it to recent court rulings to see if it is compliant. Students will then identify potential problems or expand on the current policy to improve it or bring it in to compliance with court rulings to limit liability.
Papers will be in APA format. Papers will be a minimum of seven pages, which does not include title page, abstract page or reference page. Students will use a minimum of five scholarly references.
Papers will be turned in by midnight of Wednesday on week fifteen. Students will also present their papers to the class on the last day of Class
Schedule
COURSE MEETING AND EXAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1 August 26, 2010
**Meet in Classroom** 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Room LA-4
Review COURSE SYLLABUS
CASE LAW ASSIGNMENTS
Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF CIVIL LIABILITY
Week 2 September 02, 2010
Chapter 2 FOUNDATIONS FOR LIABILITY
Week 3 September 09, 2010
Chapter 3 CIVIL LIABILITY UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL TORT LAW
Week 4 September 16, 2010
Chapter 4 CIVIL LIABILITY AND FEDERAL LAW: SECTION 1983
LITAGATION
Week 5 September 23, 2010
Chapter 5 DEFENSES TO CIVIL LITAGATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Week 6 September 30, 2010
Chapter 6 ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY LIABILITY
Week 7 October 07, 2010
Chapter 7 LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO TRAIN
Week 8 October 14, 2010
**Meet in Classroom** 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Room LA-4
Mid-Term
Guest Speaker
Week 9 October 21, 2010
Chapter 8 OPERATIN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES UNDER A CONSENT
DECREE
Week 10 October 28, 2010
Chapter 9 USE OF FORCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS
Week 11 November 04, 2010
Chapter 10 SECTION 1983 AND CORECTIONAL LIABILITY
Week 12 November 11, 2010
Chapter 11 SECTION 1983 ACTIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Week 13 November 18, 2010
Chapter 12 LIABILITY AND WRONGFUL CUSTODIAL DEATH
Week 14 November 25, 2010
Chapter 13 PERSONNEL ISSUES AND LIABILITY
Week 15 December 02, 2010
Chapter 14 CONCLUSSIONS; SHIFTING DIRECTIONS IN CIVIL LITIGATION
Week 16 December 09, 2010
** Meet in classroom ** 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Room LA-4
Class Presentations and Final Exam