Read the syllabus completely and refer to it throughout the semester. If you have any questions about the syllabus, contact your instructor.
The syllabus is in accordion style with nine sections. To read the information inside each section, open the accordion by clicking on the arrow before the accordion title or use the tab and down arrow key if using the screen reader for accessibility.
| Course Title: | Interrogation, Documentation & Testimony |
|---|---|
| Course Number: | CJS 1110 |
| Credit Hours: | 3.0 |
| Lab Hours: | None |
| Prerequisite(s): | ENG 1101 and CJS 1101 |
| Course Description: | Development of communication skills applicable to criminal justice professionals. Emphasis on interviewing, interrogation, documentation of evidence in various documents, forms, reports and oral testimony. |
| Required Text: | Miller, Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals. (2017). 6th Ed. Visit the Sinclair eCampus Bookstore to purchase your course textbooks. |
| Instructor: | Fill in text here... |
|---|---|
| Department: | Fill in text here... |
| Sinclair Email: | Fill in text here. |
| Phone: | Fill in text here... |
| Office Location: | Fill in text here... |
| Office Hours (campus): | Fill in text here. you may choose to say "By appointment" |
| Office Hours (online): | Fill in text here. you may choose to say "By appointment" |
General Education Outcomes:
Oral Communication Competency, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Competency, Values/Citizenship/Community Competency, Computer Literacy Competency, Written Communication Competency, Information Literacy Competency
Course Outcomes:
Interviewing: Apply interviewing techniques given a case scenario or crime scene.
Interrogation: Demonstrate basic foundational skills in interrogation techniques given a minimum of five case simulations.
Report Writing: Prepare written reports that are accurate, complete and consistent with legal requirements.
Case Documentation: Document a case from initial incident to disposition by completing all forms and legal requirements given a minimum of five scenarios.
Testimony: Demonstrate professional oral evidence (testimony) offered by a sworn witness on the witness stand given a criminal trial simulation.
You will work with your success coach to create a schedule to help keep you on track. There are no weekly deadlines in a FlexPace course, but you do have to make Satisfactory Progress. You can see the milestones in the table below and learn more about progress in the Grading Information section of the syllabus.
This course is structured into units. Each Unit contains a list of the readings, activities, assignments, and assessments you will complete located at the top of the Unit opening page. After completing the Course Overview Survey, the first XX Units out of XX total Units will be available to you. For subsequent Units to open, you must achieve at least 80% on all graded assignments in each Unit. Your scores on these assignments trigger the release of additional content.
This course includes the following graded activities. Again, you must score 80% or higher on each graded activity.
- Pre-Assessments - You can take pre-assessments only one time. You must get 80% on the pre-assessment to receive credit for the unit/topic without reviewing the content. However, if you receive 80%, you can opt to complete the readings, activities, and assignments to improve your grade.
- Post-Assessments - You may take post-assessments two times but must score 80% or higher. If you do not reach 80% after your first attempt, it is highly recommended that you contact your instructor BEFORE your second attempt to receive suggestions on better preparation. Contact your instructor or success coach for options if you do not reach 80% on your second attempt.
- Practice Assignments – This course contains assignments that you must complete to open your Post-Assessment. These do not count towards your final grade, but are required if you want to open the Post-Assessment. They are intended for practice and to help you prepare for graded assignments.
- Required Assignments – This course contains required assignments. These are required of all students regardless of their Pre-Assessment score.
| TOPICS/UNIT | CHAPTERS | ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Course Overview |
Assignment | Course Pacing Plan Assignment | Describe Yourself Quiz | Course Overview Survey |
|
|
Unit 1 | Mechanics of Writing English Overview, Punctuation, Capitalization & Spelling English Review, Active Verbs, Confused Words & Word Choices English Review & Sentence Structure Starting to Write |
Chapters 10 - 13 Chapters 9 - 12 Chapters 8 & 9 Chapter 2 |
Four (4) Assignments (If needed) Unit 1 Post-Assessment (If needed) Required Assignments Assignment | Editing for Word Choices and Spelling Assignment | Correct the Following Narrative Assignment | Sample Writing Exercise Assignment | Identify a Court Case for Your Final Research Paper NOTE: Completion of this Unit is the 25% milestone for this course. |
|
Unit 2 | Interviewing & Interrogation Reading Reports, Correcting Reports & Interrogation Proofreading |
Chapters 1 & 7 Chapter 7 |
One (1) Assignment (If needed) Unit 2 Post-Assessment (If needed) Required Assignments Assignment | Open-Ended Interview Assignment | Proofreading Nightmare |
|
Unit 3 | Law Enforcement Reports and Documentation The Face Page The Narrative | The What, Where, When & How Describing People, Places & Things Habits that Make for Speedy Writing Formatting Memos and Letters | Part I |
Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 |
Seven (7) Assignments (If needed) Unit 3 Post-Assessment (If needed) Required Assignments Assignment | Missing Person Report Assignment | Robbery at Habib Metropolitan Bank Assignment | Writing a Job Application Letter Assignment | Final Report Outline NOTE: Completion of this Unit is the 50% milestone for this course. |
|
Unit 4 | Corrections Documentation The Pre-Sentencing Investigation Report Courtroom Testimony Formatting Memos and Letters | Part II |
Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 |
Three (3) Assignments (If needed) Unit 4 Post-Assessment (If needed) Required Assignments Assignment | Write a Memo Assignment | Write a Letter NOTE: Completion of this Unit is the 75% milestone for this course. |
| Final Report | Assignment | Final Report |
How are course materials, assessments, and outcomes all connected?
Visit the Course Alignment document. If you have questions, contact your instructor.
Where are the course materials coming from?
Unless otherwise cited, content in this course is from the Sinclair College Criminal Justice Studies Department.
All PowerPoints and accompanying PDF versions are used with the publisher's permission, Routledge.
Unless otherwise cited, all icons are from the Sinclair College eLearning Division, and all images are from Thinkstock or Dreamstime (Sinclair subscriptions).
In this FlexPace course, in order to have the higher of your Pre- or Post-Assessment scores be applied towards your final grade, the grade book is set to "Treat ungraded items as 0." This means you start with 0% in the grade book, and it is up to you to build your grade as you work through each course assessment. Remember, you must pass each assessment with an 80% or higher score.
If you have difficulties with any content or assignment, contact your instructor immediately and arrange for additional help and coaching for what is causing you difficulty.
| ASSIGNMENT | POINTS |
|---|---|
|
Course Overview
|
20 |
|
Unit Final Grades
|
160 |
| Required Dropbox Assignments (12 x 10 points each) | 120 |
| Final Report | 80 |
| Total Points | 380 |
| GRADING SCALE | POINTS |
|---|---|
|
A (90-100%)
|
342 - 380 |
|
B (80-89%)
|
304 - 341 |
|
C (70-79%)
|
Ineligible to take any more FlexPace courses |
|
D (60-69%)
|
Ineligible to take any more FlexPace courses |
|
F (below 60%)
|
Ineligible to take any more FlexPace courses |
Satisfactory Progress
Students must regularly make progress. FlexPace courses allow students to progress through classes on a flexible schedule, which can result in faster completion times. But this does not mean students can stop working on their course for weeks during the term. In FlexPace courses, students must pace themselves to finish by the end of the 16-week (or summer 12-week) term. What does this mean?
- To establish attendance, you must complete at least one graded assignment within the first seven days of your FlexPace course. (Important: Students who have not met this requirement by the stated Sinclair attendance reporting deadlines shall be reported as non-attending to the college.)
- You must regularly make progress in your course(s). Specifically:
- 50% of coursework must be submitted by the midpoint of the term.
- No more than five assignments may be submitted in the week before finals week.
- If applicable, the first attempt on the final exam and/or project must be submitted by Tuesday of finals week.
You can always accelerate beyond these guidelines and finish early at any time during the term - please remember these are meant as the default pace that all students must keep if they choose not to accelerate.
Consequences for not meeting milestones include (but are not limited to) refusal of work submitted after a missed milestone, point reductions, a lower-than-expected final grade, and/or ineligibility for future FlexPace courses. Students who have not completed any graded work throughout the entire course shall receive a Z grade for the term.
Assessment Retake Guidelines
To pass the assignments, you must score 80% or higher. If you do not succeed with your first attempt, contact your instructor if a second attempt is not automatically opened to you. If you do not succeed on your 2nd attempt, contact your instructor or success coach for guidance and further instructions.
A FlexPace opt-out policy allows students who cannot obtain a grade of 80% or higher on all assignments to still complete the course and receive a grade and course credit if earned. Students eligible for and accepting an opt-out will no longer be allowed multiple attempts to complete assignments; the first attempt will be the final grade.
How much time and work will this course take?
A FlexPace course takes as much time as a face-to-face course and may take more. While more flexible than classroom courses, FlexPace courses may require additional time reading lessons and preparing for and completing assignments, tests, and quizzes. The estimated time commitment required outside of class in any college course is two to three times the number of credit hours. A FlexPace course may require three to four times the number of credit hours.
Since most communication in a FlexPace course is completed via email, many of these courses require a significant amount of online communication and presence. Be sure to factor this into your schedule.
Participation
For the most part, the course is organized by unit or topic. Each one usually contains one or more graded assignments. FlexPace courses are self-paced; however, you are expected to progress consistently throughout the term. The success coach will contact students who are absent from the course or do not turn in assignments for a while. Students are expected to complete the course within the current semester term, regardless of what date they begin the course.
The Dos and Don'ts of Communication
As a general rule of thumb, you should plan on logging into the course at least three (3) days per week and participating in activities. When you log in, make it a habit to:
- While you can send email messages from the eLearn email system to other students and faculty listed in your eLearn course address book, all emails sent from eLearn will be delivered to users’ Outlook accounts (@sinclair.edu email address). This means to read or respond to an email sent from eLearn, you must access your Outlook account.
- Check the course requirements and progress milestones to ensure you are on track.
- Contact your instructor if you are having difficulties with a concept in your course. Your instructor is available to help you with the course content. Instructor contact info is located at the top of the syllabus.
Student <—> Instructor/Student Communication
Remember that it's easy to misinterpret the meaning of a message when you can't see the person face-to-face. Consider these guidelines:
- Be sensitive and courteous to others when you communicate with them.
- Make your communications as clear as possible.
- Always be respectful of others’ opinions, even when they differ from your own. Remember, we all come to the course with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
- If you disagree with someone, express your differing opinion respectfully.
- Do not make personal or insulting remarks.
- Be open-minded and discerning. Strive to be a skeptic (a doubter) instead of a cynic (a disbeliever). Question yourself and others to find a solution or to search for the truth. We can learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives.
- Use cyberspace etiquette (netiquette); for guidelines, visit The Core Rules of Netiquette (excerpted from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea).
If you have any questions or concerns about course communications, please get in touch with your instructor.
Instructor —> Student Communication
Your instructor must be in regular and substantive communication with you as you progress through the course. Expect the following guidelines to be practiced:
- Email Response Time: Your instructor will respond to your email questions typically within 24-48 hours from Monday - Friday, excluding weekends and holidays.
- Graded Assignments/Assessments: Your instructor will grade your assignments typically within three business days of submission.
- Assistance: If you are having difficulties with a concept in your course, contact your instructor for assistance. You can contact your instructor via email or telephone. Additionally, most instructors also have office hours.
Interaction with the Content
Other course policies I should know about?
Attendance/Withdrawal Policy:
Online courses are considered to begin on the first day of the semester. Within the first seven days of the term (by Sunday at midnight), you must complete the first assignment to establish attendance in your class or you will be reported for nonattendance. Simply logging in to the course shell will not satisfy your attendance during this time. Students who have not established attendance may have their federal financial aid eligibility adjusted. Students reported for nonattendance are typically not withdrawn from the course.
One of the most important roles of participants in the learning community is to be open to growing and to help others grow by naming any biases, oversights, or assumptions they observe. Students are encouraged to discuss any incidents of perceived bias or discrimination, conscious or otherwise, with the course instructor, the division chair, or the office of the Chief Diversity Officer at Sinclair Community College (SCC).
SCC is committed to providing equitable educational opportunities and a safe learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
A bias incident is any conduct, speech, or expression that demonstrates conscious or unconscious bias and targets individuals or groups that are part of a federally protected class (i.e., race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, or disability). Bias-based behavior can also be identified as when someone treats another person differently or makes an offensive comment because of their membership in a protected group, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.
What is Expected of All
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” Maya Angelou
The work to recognize our own human biases opens the door to engaging with others on a whole new level. This work can only be done with conscious purpose, including awareness of ourselves and others, self-reflection, a willingness to listen and learn with humility, authenticity, and compassion, and a determination to take action once we "know better.”
To be successful, this work must be done within a context of mutual care, respect, and trust, with an assumption of innocent ignorance (unconscious bias) on the part of others but with an emphasis on the real impact of the behavior or comment. Gentle but firm persistence in this effort will lead to lasting and effective change.
What about privacy and accessibility on websites?
You may come across many websites or web-based applications linked within this course. Many websites will have a policy or statement regarding privacy and/or accessibility. For example, Sinclair's website has a Privacy Statement and a Web Accessibility Policy Statement. eLearn, the Learning Management System Sinclair uses for its courses is owned and maintained by D2L/Brightspace. The D2L website has a Privacy Statement and an Accessibility Compliance statement.
If a website has such policies/statements, they are typically located as links on the bottom of the website's homepage. If not noticeably present, you might find them by searching within the website. If you have any concerns about such policies/statements (or lack thereof) on an external website/web-based app linked in this course, please contact your instructor.
What about the accessibility of content within the course?
Sinclair Community College (SCC) prioritizes the accessibility of our course materials, content, and other components by following federal law and other applicable statutes.
SCC respects these guidelines when creating web-based content, documents, images, audio, video, and other course materials. Companies that provide educational content in SCC courses must also explain how their products or services meet accessibility standards.
When materials do not meet accessibility standards, SCC can sometimes edit or modify those products to improve accessibility. However, some materials are produced or regulated by local, state, or national agencies that grant professional certificates or accreditation. SCC cannot legally make changes to materials produced by these agencies, or the certification/accreditation will not be valid.
Due to specific regulations, some of the content in this course might not be accessible. Please see the Alternate Formats Available in eLearn Courses under Student eLearn News on your eLearn homepage to learn how to generate different formats for these materials. Also, please contact your course instructor ASAP, as they may be able to provide different formats as well. If you need accommodations for this course, contact Sinclair's Accessibility Services.
Sinclair Academic Policies:
Click the link below to view policies such as dropping a course, withdrawing from college, late registrations, change of schedule, administrative withdrawal, grades, student behavior guidelines, safety and security, and academic and other counseling. Understanding these policies is the responsibility of every student.
Sinclair College Policy Library
Here are some policies you may want to pay close attention to as a SinclairOnline student:
- Student Code of Conduct Handbook, which includes the Sinclair Academic Integrity Policy
- Financial Aid Policies, which include the Student Attendance policy
- Equal Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Policy, which applies to educational, work, and service environments at Sinclair. For more information on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Sinclair, visit the Diversity Office website, which includes resources, events, workshops, and student organizations.
- An academic policy related to the Recording of Lectures and other Classroom Sessions.
- Student Religious Accommodation Policy: Ohio law requires each state institution of higher education to “adopt a policy that reasonably accommodates the sincerely held beliefs and practices of individual students with regard to all examinations or other academic requirements and absences for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system.” Hence, a student shall be permitted to be absent for up to three (3) days each academic semester to take holidays for reasons of faith or religious or spiritual belief system. Instructors must provide students with alternative accommodations regarding examinations and other academic requirements missed due to an absence described under this Policy provided both of the following apply:
- The student’s sincerely held religious belief or practice severely affects the student's ability to take an examination or meet an academic requirement.
- Not later than fourteen (14) days after the first day of instruction in a particular course, the student provides the instructor with written notice of the specific dates for which the student requests alternative accommodations.
To view the full policy, please visit the Campus Ministry page or the Course Catalog. For more information about the Policy, students may contact the Associate Provost at 937-512-2522 or email Provost@sinclair.edu.