Course Syllabus

Gavilan College

AJ 20 Juvenile Law/Proceedings

Spring 2022 - Online

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Judge Sam Lavorato, Jr.

Office hours – By appointment.

Email: slavorato@gavilan.edu

Phone: 831- 775-5992

Textbook:

Juvenile Justice Administration in a nutshell, authors Barry Feld and Perry Moriearty, 4^th Edition.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PUBLISHER WILL GIVE A 15% DISCOUNT AND FREE GROUND SHIPPING FOR PAPER BACK BOOK AND ALSO E-BOOKS. Students will need to create an account and place an order directly through us at www.westacademic.com  They will receive this discount by using the promo code: HESTUDENT

Course Description:

This course covers techniques of handling juvenile offenders, and victims; prevention and repression of delinquency; diagnosis and referral; and organization of community resources. The course also includes juvenile law and juvenile court procedure with a strong emphasis on California law, including the California Penal and Welfare and Institution Codes. (C-ID: AJ 220) ADVISORY: Eligible for English 250 and English 260. ADVISORY: AJ 10 and Eligible for English 250 and English 260.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Critically analyze and describe the juvenile justice system and its context in the criminal justice system.
2. Apply California laws pertaining to juvenile delinquency and dependency to case studies.
3. Critically distinguish between delinquency, status offenses, and dependency.
4. Critically analyze the distinctions between the adult and juvenile justice systems.
5. Critically appraise the juvenile court dispositions.

Guidance:

Students with questions about academic planning, transferring, graduation requirements, and career planning should make an appointment to see me which can be done after class. 

 

Attendance:

Attendance is required and taken weekly through discussion boards, and live Zoom class meetings.  Students are required to follow attendance requirements based on Gavilan College Standards found in the student catalog. 

ADA Accommodation:

Students requesting special services or arrangements because of hearing, visual, or any other disability should contact their instructor, counselor, or the AEC Office at X.4865.

Occupational/Vocational Students:

Limited English language skills will not be a barrier to and participation in vocational educational programs. The prerequisite English proficiency for all AJ courses in eligibility for English 250/260.

Academic Integrity Policy:

Students are expected to exercise academic integrity. Violations such as cheating and plagiarism will result in disciplinary action, which may include dismissal from the college.

Course Requirements:

January 31: Week 1 – Live Zoom Meeting (Zoom invite will be sent via email), Introductions, review Syllabus and Class Layout including Modules.  Teacher’s expectations.

February 7: Week 2 – Origins & History of Juvenile Court.  Pre-Recorded Zoom Meeting. 

Read Chapter 1 (pages 1-21)

Quiz

February 14: Week 3 – Holiday Week

February 21: Week 4 – Police & Juveniles, 4^th Amendment.  Pre-Recorded Zoom Meeting. 

Read Chapter 3 (pages 65-81)

February 28:  Week 5 – Searching Juveniles:  School Searches.  Pre-Recorded Zoom Meeting. 

Read Chapter 3 (pages 86-114)

Quiz

March 7: Week 6 – Juveniles & Miranda.  Pre-Recorded Zoom Meeting.

Read Chapter 3 (pages 123-161)

Quiz

March 14: Week 7 – Juveniles as Status Offenders/Juvenile Dependency Court. Pre-Recorded Zoom Meeting.    

Read Chapter 2 (pages 52-59)

Quiz

March 21: Week 8 – Juveniles as Status Offenders/Juvenile Dependency Court.

Read Chapter 8 (pages 403-409)

March 28: Week 9 – Juvenile Dependency Court, Termination of Parental Rights & Case Dispositions, Foster Care. 

Quiz

April 4: Week 10 – Spring Break, Enjoy!

April 11: Week 11 – Mid-Term

April 17: Week 12 – Juvenile Truancy and Curfew.  

Read Chapter 2 (pages 52-59)

April 25: Week 13 – Juvenile Delinquency Court, Juvenile court Process

Read Chapter 4 (pages 171-185), Chapter 5 (pages 191-208)

Quiz

May 2: Week 14 – Juvenile Delinquency, Disposition Hearings.  

Read Chapter 7 (pages 279-345) and Chapter 8 (351-401)

Quiz

May 9: Week 15 – Student’s work on their written project

Written Reports Due for Students “A-L”

May 16: Week 16 – Student’s work on their written project

May 23:  Week 17- Final Exam

Methods of Evaluation:
Quizzes – 10 points each- Total of 70 points.
2 Exams – 100 points each- Total 200 points

Written Paper – 50 points

 

 

Exams: Each exam will consist of 100 questions, multiple choice or true/false questions. You will be given 180 minutes to complete each test. You will have the entire week to take the test up until midnight on Saturday.

 

 

Reflection Paper Instructions (Due no later than May 17th)

• Choose a topic mentioned in any of the text book and provide an analysis on it. You have free reign on this topic. An analysis’s primary concern is to explain something in greater or newer detail using a unique point of view. Avoid making this a boring paper by incorporating some of your own opinion and ideas!
• Use examples, research, resources, data, etc. to support your reflections. Use at least 3 sources besides the books (citing in APA format both in your paper then again on the reference page).
• The paper will be written using the APA writing style format. “Wikipedia” and “YouTube” are not acceptable sources. The Internet may be used to access information from scholarly journals, libraries, etc.
• Students must cite the source of their information if they quote directly, paraphrase, or use in any way someone else’s ideas. If students do not cite their sources, it is considered plagiarism.
• Paper must be written 12pt., Times New Roman, double spaced and a minimum of 4 pages, not including the reference page or title page. Abstract not needed.

 

Make-Up Work:

There is no make–up exams/quizzes except in the case of verified medical/family emergencies or prior arraignments have been made with me.  Once an exam has been returned no make-ups are possible.  Retests will only be given during office hours and not during class.

Grading:

Your grade will be based on the number of points you have earned divided by the total possible. Points can be earned through exams, quizzes, essays, projects and class participation.  The following is a breakdown of the percentages:

A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	D	F
95-100	90-94	89-86	86-83	82-80	79-76	75-69	68-60	59