Approved by Faculty Senate.

 

COURSE SYLLABUS

SOC 404

LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

3 Credit Hours

Semester and Year

Date Revised

 

PROFESSOR: James R. Kobolt

Office: Minne Hall

Office Phone: 457-5564 Home: 457-3154

E-Mail: jkobolt@winona.edu

Main Internet Page:

http://course1.winona.edu/jkobolt/

Main Class Page:

http://course1.winona.edu/jkobolt/classes/soc404/

OFFICE HOURS: MWF 12:00pm – 1:00pm TTh 11:00am – 12:00pm

Periodically other appointments prevent strict instructor confinement to the office during office hours. To insure proper attention to each student, appointments are encouraged. Appointments need not be confined to office hours.

          COURSE

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce the student to law enforcement communication. The course provides knowledge, skills and practice in the areas of interviewing, interrogation and report writing.

INSTRUCTIONAL

GOAL: To assist the student in developing a basic understanding of American police communication practices.

          METHOD OF

INSTRUCTION: The method of instruction will consist of classroom interaction, audio-visual aids, and outside reading.

 

         LEARNING

ACTIVITIES: Classroom Lecture and Guided Discussions

Individual Testing

Reading Assignments

Discussion and participation

                    Course notebook development

                    Intensive Writing

Note: This course is designated a university flag course for writing. To meet this designation, the course will include practices and procedures that you will need to be successful in writing in your field. You will be required to know the main features and use of writing in law enforcement, and the general expectations of readers of law enforcement documents. The student will be required to use technologies commonly used in law enforcement. These overall outcomes are integrated as activities and requirements in the Course Goals and Objectives.

                  COURSE

REQUIREMENTS: Attendance: Each student is expected to attend all classes. Any absence virtually insures missing important components of the course content, which are supported by lecture and demonstration.

 

Assignments: Each student is expected to turn all assignments in at the time they are due. Failure to do so will result in a reduced grade. Emergency situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Notebooks will be graded on the day of each test.

 

Extra Credit: Extra credit work will be assigned at the discretion of the professor. The student is to focus on meeting the basic student requirements. In the event of a verified medical emergency or prolonged illness that results in excessive absences, a student will be assigned make-up work to ensure proper exposure to information presented in class.

 

Student Materials Needed: The student will be required to have the course textbook, a 1½" to 2" three ring black notebook, and note taking materials. Additionally, for practical application, the student should obtain a small pocket sized notebook and a small, handheld dictation tape recorder with about three to four small dictation tapes. On test days the student should be equipped with two #2 lead pencils, Scantron sheet that will accommodate up to 100 questions and a notebook ready for inspection.

Testing: The student will be required to take tests on the day the test is given. If a test day absence is unexcused, the student will receive no points for the test. If the absence is excused, the student must make arrangements to take the test within 7 calendar days of the original test. Failure to take the test within seven days will result in no points for the test.

ADD/DROP: The Add/Drop Class Policy is the same as that in the current University Catalogue.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Students with special needs may contact the instructor or Nancy Dumke, Disability Services Coordinator (457-5600).

COURSE

GRADING: Grading Scale: The course grading scale is:

 

A = 100 - 90% B = 89 - 80%

C = 79 - 70%   D = 69 - 60%

F = 59 - 00%

 

TEXTBOOKS: Biggs, M. (2001) Just the facts: Investigative report writing, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ

Inbau, F., Reid, J., & Buckley, J. (2000) Criminal Interrogation and Confessions, 3rd Ed, Aspen Publishing: Gaithersburg, MD

COURSE

TEST

SCHEDULE: The following schedule is provided for planning purposes only. Exact dates will be determined as progress is made through the course curriculum.

 

 

Test #1

After Goal #3

Test #2

After Goal #5

Test #3

After Goal #7

Final

TBA

PORTFOLIO: This is a portfolio course. The student will place two writing assignments in their student portfolio.

 

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATION

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

AND

CORRESPONDING READING ASSIGNMENTS

Goal #1:

To know about the communication process.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 1 Objectives
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 5. Communication

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the dynamic roles of verbal, non-verbal and written communication.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the communication process involving the interaction, sender and receiver.

Objective C:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the role of listening in the communication process, and what is necessary for effective listening to occur.

Objective D:

The student will complete a communication self-assessment instrument.

Goal #2:

To know about leadership as a communication tool.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 2 Objectives
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 1. Leadership

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the definition of the term leadership.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the importance of leadership to the organization.

Objective C:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the skills a leader must develop.

Objective D:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the importance of teamwork to a leader.

 

Objective E:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify issues of mentoring.

Goal #3:

To know about investigation.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 3 Objectives
bulletBiggs Chapter 1
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category One, Section 12. Preliminary Investigation

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the definition of the term investigation.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the four sources of investigative information.

Objective C:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify investigative linkages between sources of information.

Goal #4:

To know about field note taking.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 4 Objectives
bulletBiggs Chapter 2
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 6. Report Writing

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the description given in class of a field notebook.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the importance of field note taking.

Objective C:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the basic uses of field notes.

Objective D:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the mechanics of field note taking.

Objective E:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the organization of a field notebook.

 

Goal #5:

To know about report writing.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 5 Objectives
bulletBiggs Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 6. Report Writing

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the intended/potential audience of a police report.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will recognize the difference between facts, inferences and opinions.

Objective C:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the different types of police reports used by police agencies.

Objective D:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the elements of an effective police report.

Objective E:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the steps in police report writing.

Objective F:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will complete a five police reports that meet the elements of a good police report following the steps of report writing.

Goal #6:

To know about interviewing.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 6 Objectives
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 7. Interviewing

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will understand investigative interviewing concepts and methods used to obtain facts.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will practice interviewing concepts and methods on a role-play situation.

 

Goal #7:

To know about interrogation.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 7 Objectives
bulletInbau, Reid & Buckley - Part I
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 7. Interviewing

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify interrogation tactics and techniques.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course text or class notes, the student will practice interrogation tactics and techniques in a role-playing situation.

Goal #8:

To know about the law regulating interviews and interrogations.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 8 Objectives
bulletInbau, Reid & Buckley - Part II
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five: Section 7. Interviewing

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify elements of the law governing interrogations.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify elements of the law governing confessions.

Goal #9:

To know about courtroom testimony.

Corresponding Reading:

bulletSoc 404 Goal 9 Objectives
bulletMinnesota POST, Learning Objectives for Professional Peace Officer Education, Category Five; Section 8. Courtroom Testimony

Objective A:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the typical court hearing or trial participants and their roles.

Objective B:

Without the use of the course texts or class notes, the student will identify the purpose of peace officer testimony.

Objective C:

Without the use of the course text or class notes, the student will identify aspects of effective testimony.

 

Objective D:

Without the use of the course text or class notes, the student will identify aspects of cross-examination.