Criminal Justice

This course provides an introduction to the American criminal justice system. Students will learn about the core components of the criminal justice system, including the police, courts, and the correction field. The overall goals of the criminal justice system will be addressed with particular attention given to the competing goals of the crime control and due process models. Students will learn about the interconnectedness of the various components of the criminal justice system from a 'systems' perspective.

This course offers students an opportunity to think critically about crime and criminals in American society. Students will review the history of crime in the United States and evaluate the ongoing relationship between crime and significant events in society, such as economic crises and the development of new technologies. Emphasis will be given to understanding both the relationship between social structure and crime and the role of socialization and primary relationships. Students also explore the ways that cultural beliefs, fear, and stereotypes shape the way we think about and respond to crime.

This course introduces the fundamental principles and techniques of criminal investigation. Students will explore a variety of topics including crime scene processing, evidence collection, the development of information sources, identification by witnesses, interviews and interrogation, admissions, and case preparation.

This course examines the organization, management, and administration of criminal justice agencies from a theoretical perspective. Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate how the structure and functions of such agencies affect the administration of justice at the local, state, and federal levels.

In this course, students will examine theories, causative factors, and treatment in regard to youthful offenders. The philosophy behind and development of treatment and rehabilitative practices are explored. Adolescent behavior, peer pressure, and the role of the family will be examined. This course also includes legal, procedural, and substantive issues pertaining to the juvenile justice system.

In this course, students will examine the purposes, scope, and sources of criminal law. Students will learn to differentiate the jurisdictional issues and requirements within the criminal court system and discover the essential elements of a crime. The relationship between these elements and an investigation will be explored. Students will evaluate a variety of criminal offenses and the application of criminal liability, criminal responsibility, and an individual's capacity to commit a crime. Students will gain an understanding of criminal prosecution and the corresponding criminal defenses.

In this course, students will analyze the constitutional issues in the United States which have direct bearing on the role and policies of the criminal justice system. Application of these issues as they relate to investigations, arrest, pretrial and appeal will be emphasized.

In this course, students will study the correctional processes and services, standards, personnel and principles of management; allocation of resources, training and staffing; the role of sentencing and work release programs; special programs and the use of outside contracts will be examined.

In this course, students will have the opportunity to put learned theory into practical application as an intern. The student is responsible for seeking out the agency placement, with the assistance of the course instructor. The internship requires the completion of a mandatory minimum number of hours. A journal is maintained by the student and the final grade is based on a combination of the completion of hours, the journal, a supervising agency assessment, and an analytical report.

In this course, through on-going and individualized contact with the supervising instructor, the student develops a topic preapproved through a prospectus presented to the instructor. The student may develop any topic raised in any major class and is not limited by category. Empirical studies, surveys, literature reviews are among the acceptable categories of research. The final grade is determined by a review of the final product and the extent to which the student has followed the course guidelines.