Fluent Essays

Research question/statement of the problem:  What gaps exist among resources provided to prisoners with mental health disorders in Harris County? This project aims to Identify these gaps and provide effective/productive resources for prisoners in Harris County. For this project, an examination of prisoner mental health programs nationwide will be conducted specific to effective reentry services. Further, this project will explore a new program in Harris County. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in conjunction with Pre-Trial Services (PTS) recently began (June 11, 2021) a new program at the Harris County Sheriff's Office to identify prisoners with mental health markers and are eligible for General Order Bonds (GOB). Identified prisoners will be provided with resources upon release to increase their likelihood of success. One of the goals of this program is to connect prisoners with mental health disorders to available resources in the community to prevent the ongoing cycle of recidivism caused by various issues (e.g. missed court appearances, transportation issues, homelessness, lack of medication). While this project does not aim to evaluate this program, it will be compared with other programs nationwide on which research or other information exists in the literature. Description of proposed method (i.e. policy analysis, literature review, program development, etc.): * An examination of the literature will be undertaken to better understand the issues faced by mentally ill offenders upon release. Policies and programs nationwide will be examined as well as existing research on these programs. A new program in Harris County will be compared to existing programs nationwide. Information on this new program/collaboration will be collected, reviewed, and compared to existing literature on programs that have been found to be effective in decreasing recidivism among mentally ill offenders upon release from detention. CJ 6301: CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECT CRN 21928 Fall 2021 PROFESSOR INFORMATION: Dr. Ashley Blackburn Office: C340 (Commerce St. Bldg.) Telephone: (713) 222-5326 or (832) 780-9741 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Thursdays from 11:00-12:00 pm or by appointment Join Zoom Meeting: https://uhd.zoom.us/j/93565238931 Meeting ID: 935 6523 8931 Passcode: gators COURSE DESCRIPTION & PRE-REQUISITES: Prerequisite(s): Completion of core courses, 30 hours of coursework, and consent of Graduate Director. 3 credit hours. Under the direction of a faculty project advisor and guided by a project committee, the student will design a project to address a criminal justice agency problem or criminal justice system issue. Project requirements include a written document and formal presentation before a project committee. Students continuously enroll until the final project is approved by the project committee. ****Readings, requirements, grading policies, and submission deadlines for work to be completed can be found on an attached document formalized by the instructor and each individual student enrolled in the course. UHD Common Course Syllabus Policies Maintained by the Office of the Provost Effective Date August 11, 2021 This information is considered part of the syllabus for all classes at UHD in accordance with UHD’s policy on course syllabi. It exists in addition to all other requirements in the syllabus that your instructor provides and all other university, system, state, and federal policies and requirements. Substantive changes to this set of policies will be communicated to faculty and students via official UHD email systems. Most importantly—we are here to help you succeed at UHD! Please do not hesitate to ask questions of your instructor or any staff member. Responses to University-Wide Disruptions In the event of university-wide disruptions for any reason, including weather, health, and safety concerns, UHD may require instructors and students to engage in their classes via different modalities and/or timelines to minimize disruption to the continuity of the semester. Such changes may entail adjustments in syllabus content. Instructors will communicate any changes in writing to all enrolled students as soon as circumstances allow. Disruptions aside, instructors reserve the right to adjust their syllabi as needed in order to accommodate the education needs of the class, but any such changes will be communicated to students in writing during the course of the semester. Please continue to check the UHD website uhd.edu to understand how UHD is responding to the most current COVID-19 circumstances and regularly check your class Blackboard site and Gatormail sources for information specific to your classes. COVID-19 Exposure or Diagnosis Any student who is exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19 should self-report to the university using forms found on our UHD COVID-19 Webpage, even if you are taking only online courses. Self-reporting allows the university to offer support and guide you to university and community resources, as well as maximize safety for the larger UHD community. You as a student may be eligible for short-term academic accommodations if you are affected by COVID or are asked to quarantine. You should make this request through the Office of Disability Services. Please note that reporting through faculty or staff does not constitute official self-reporting. For classes with in-person meetings (FTF or Hybrid): If any member of the class reports exposure or diagnosis while on campus, instructors will follow the instructions for immediate action posted in all classrooms. Our UHD contact tracing team may contact class members and instructor with appropriate steps, which may include self-isolation for a period of time. All students and instructors should be responsive to contact tracing outreach and watch for emails through official UHD email accounts for any information about class meetings or follow-up steps. Safety Precautions All individuals coming to the UHD campus must observe all safety precautions articulated by the university. Please review the most current requirements on our website. We encourage all UHD community members to get vaccinated and follow; masks are optional but encourages as per state health guidance. Failure to comply with any institutional policies, including those regarding COVID precautions, may constitute a violation of the student code of conduct and lead to disciplinary action through the Office of the Dean of Students. Student Support Services UHD has developed many resources to support your learning, engagement with UHD activities, and other UHD processes. We have developed a website that will offer a “one stop shop” for access to many of the resources you might need this semester to support your educational goals. Please access this website to get started. If you do not find the resource you need on this website, please contact the Dean of Students Office at 713-221-8100 or [email protected]; they will make every effort to connect you with the help you need. Student Counseling Services As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning. These might include strained relationships, anxiety, high levels of stress, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, or loss of motivation. UHD Student Counseling Services is here to help with these or other issues you may experience. You can learn about the free, confidential mental health services available on campus by calling 713-500-3852 or at https://www.uhd.edu/student-life/counseling/. Accessibility and Statement of Reasonable Accommodations The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), is committed to creating a learning environment that meets the needs of its diverse student population. Accordingly, UHD strives to provide reasonable academic accommodations to students who request and are eligible, as specified by Section 504 and ADA guidelines. Students with disabilities may work with the Office of Disability Services to discuss a range of options to removing barriers in this course, including official accommodations. If you have a disability, or think you may have a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services, to begin this conversation or request an official accommodation. Office of Disability Services, One Main St., Suite GSB 314, Houston, TX 77002. (Office Phone) 713-221-5078 (Website) www.uhd.edu/disability/ (Email) [email protected] Technology Requirements All classes at UHD require students to access materials in our Blackboard learning system or other learning applications. Online, hybrid or even face-to-face classes will assign work that requires access to a computer for creating and submitting assignments, taking tests, conducting research, working with classmates, or engaging with the class. As importantly, if University locations are not available to students for any reason, the online environment becomes a critical pathway for continuing our classes and supporting your goals of completion. Unfortunately, most phones and even some tablets may not provide the level of technology or access that can maximize your success. Therefore, it is essential for every student at UHD to have reliable access to internet and a computer that meets some basic requirements. You should communicate in a timely manner with your instructors in the case of any challenges in using technology. Here are some resources to help you determine equipment needs and usage: For recommended technology requirements: Technology recommendation For challenges in using technology: UHD IT support center For resources on purchasing technology: Computer access and support Testing and Final Exams Any class may use an online testing option through Blackboard but for in-person or hybrid classes, the exam may be in-person during the scheduled exam period. For more information on taking Blackboard tests, see this guide. If proctoring is required, your instructor will inform you of the process for setting up this option either through Blackboard or an alternative venue, and they will inform you of whether there are any additional costs as part of the course syllabus. UHD has a final exam period at the end of the semester. For any courses with an in-person component, there are specific times scheduled for the exams which can be found on our academic calendars webpage . Students are expected to be available during the scheduled period unless they have consulted their instructor and identified an alternative option. Use of Blackboard, Gatormail, and Zoom You are expected to regularly participate in your classes as scheduled as well as engage course material through Blackboard as required by instructors. Gatormail is the official UHD email communication system and UHD staff and faculty must use it to share student-specific information that is protected by FERPA guidelines. You should check your account regularly for both class and university messages. If you are taking a class that has virtual online meetings that use Zoom, you are expected to attend at scheduled times and participate fully following any protocols established by your instructor. Specific course elements and/or exams may require live video. Your instructor will provide this information to you as part of the course syllabus. Students with concerns regarding any requirement to participate in live video for specific course learning outcomes and/or assignments should consult their instructor. Recording of Class Sessions Some of the sessions in courses with online engagement may be pre-recorded, recorded or live-streamed by the instructor. Such recordings/streaming will be available only to students registered for this class. Students should not share these instructor-recorded sessions with those not in the class, or upload them to any other online environment. Students should not record or stream course sessions. Doing so may be a violation of the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Please check with your instructor before sharing recordings of class content with any individual. Academic Honesty As a UHD student, you are responsible for following the UHD Academic Honesty Policy Statement 3.A.19, which defines the scope of academic honesty and identifies processes for addressing violations, including an appeal process. As per the policy, “students are responsible for maintaining the academic integrity of the University by following the Academic Honesty Policy. Students are responsible for doing their own work and avoiding all forms of academic dishonesty.” Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating and plagiarism. Your faculty member will identify the penalty for academic honesty violations and the penalty of an F in a course is recommended “in instances of multiple and/or flagrant violations.” The policy also requires that all violations are reported to the Office of the Dean of Students. Book Purchasing A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a university affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be purchased from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. UNIVERSITY POLICIES: UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS: DISRUPTIONS, COVID REPORTING, AND SAFETY To address issues related to disruption of university functions, COVID reporting, and safety protocols, as well as mandatory engagement with classes by the 10th class day, UHD has prepared a general set of requirements that can be found on the following website: https://www.uhd.edu/administration/emergency-management/coronavirus/Pages/default.aspx. These requirements are part of the expectations for this course. Any updates to the website will be communicated to students via their Gatormail accounts. UHD STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES UHD has developed many resources to support your learning. We have developed a website that will offer a “one stop shop” for access to many of the resources you might need this semester to support your educational goals. Please access this website to get started: https://tinyurl.com/SSR2020. If you do not find the resource you need on this website, please contact your instructor, who will make every effort to connect you with the help you need. ACCESSIBILITY AND STATEMENT OF REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), is committed to creating a learning environment that meets the needs of its diverse student population. Accordingly, UHD strives to provide reasonable academic accommodations to students who request and are eligible, as specified by Section 504 and ADA guidelines. Students with disabilities may work with the Office of Disability Services to discuss a range of options to removing barriers in this course, including official accommodations. If you have a disability, or think you may have a disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services, to begin this conversation or request an official accommodation. Office of Disability Services, One Main St., Suite GSB 314, Houston, TX 77002. (Office Phone) 713-221-5078 (Website) www.uhd.edu/disability/ (Email) [email protected] ONLINE/DISTANCE COURSES (TECHNOLOGY, OFFICE HOURS, COMMUNICATION, ETC.): This is an independent study course for which you will work on-on-one with the instructor. On-campus students may be required to meet with the instructor on campus. Off-campus students will need to adhere to the following instructions whether they are working asynchronously online or will have synchronous Zoom meetings with the instructor. To maximize your success in online courses at UHD, you should have access to a desktop or laptop computer running an up-to-date Windows or macOS operating system, using the latest Firefox or Chrome browsers. A built-in or add-on webcam is also often required in certain courses where multimedia tools (Zoom, VoiceThread, etc.) and/or exam proctoring tools (Lockdown Browser, Monitor, etc.) are used. Chromebooks and some other tablets are not compatible with test proctoring tools such as ProctorU or Lockdown Browser. While the Blackboard App (e.g., on your phone) can be helpful for some course features, UHD recommends that you do not use it for working on or submitting graded activities. To avoid being disconnected at critical moments, we encourage you to access courses, in particular exams, on a computer that is hardwired to the Internet router (via Ethernet using a Cat 5 or Cat 6 cable) as opposed to depending on Wi-Fi whenever possible. Additionally, certain courses may require additional software downloads and installs, so you may need a machine with permission to do that. For more information on taking Blackboard tests, see this guide . If you are experiencing challenges with technology, please communicate with your instructor in a timely manner and seek help from our UHD IT Support to identify possible solutions. Office hours for this course will be held at the times outlined above or you can request to meet by appointment outside of these designated hours. Not during office hours, the best way to contact the instructor is by e-mail [email protected]. When contacted, the instructor should generally be able to respond to your message within a 24-48 hour period. If you contact the instructor during the weekend, s/he may not be able to respond until Monday morning. Outside of Blackboard Gatormail is the official student email of UHD. All email correspondence from you and to you will occur using Gatormail. Students are expected to keep up with class and university deadlines. If you find that you are unable to complete what is required for this class, you should contact your instructor to discuss your situation. If withdrawing from the course is in your best interest, it is your responsibility to complete the withdrawal process. If you do not withdraw and required coursework go uncompleted, this could lead to a failing grade for you at the end of the semester. A GRADE OF “INCOMPLETE”: Please see the UHD Student Handbook for an explanation of when a grade of Incomplete is appropriate. UNIVERSITY POLICY JURISDICTION: All students are subject to the university-wide policies set forth in the UHD Catalog, the Student Handbook, and the UHD website, available at https://www.uhd.edu/policies/pages/policies-index.aspx