Criminal
Justice (CRMJ)
150—Introduction to Criminal
Justice, 3 Cr.
This course will provide students with
an overview of the criminal justice system. The structure and function of the
police, courts, and corrections, as well as the policies these agencies use to
control crime, will be examined. Students will also debate controversial issues
related to criminal justice processing and compare the ideal of justice with
the reality under this system. (Equivalent to SOCL 150.)
203—Police in American Society, 3
Cr.
An analysis of the functions of police
in modern society, including the historical peacekeeping role, the various
levels of police organization (federal, state, and local enforcement), styles
of policing, and private policing. Addresses police as one component of the criminal
justice system. Prerequisite: 150.
230—Courts, 3 Cr.
This course is an overview of the
American judicial system. It will address the types of law used in our judicial
system, the actors in courts (attorneys, judges, interest groups, litigants)
and court procedures. Federal and state courts will be examined, as well as the
appellate process, including the U. S. Supreme Court. Prerequisite: 150 or SOCL
150.
240—Criminal Procedure, Evidence,
and Investigation, 3 Cr.
Introduces principles of evidence and
techniques of investigation. Includes constitutional limitations on arrest,
search and seizure, the exclusionary rule, interrogation, and confessions.
Indentifies problems of evidence gathering and presentations as well as basic
skills and procedures of criminal investigation. Prerequisite: 150.
265—Sophomore Seminar, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to assist
students in developing professional skills and career plans within the filed of
criminal justice and sociology. Students will master basic research skills and
writing for a scholarly audience. Students will also explore professional
expectations and ethical standards within these disciplines. Finally, students
will explore career options and begin preparing for the job market and/or
graduate school. (Equivalent to SOCL 265.)
280—Corrections, 3 Cr.
Explores issues related to the
sociology and philosophy of punishment and corrections. Custodial and
noncustodial alternatives, probation and parole procedures, the role of
correctional personnel, and the role of corrections in the criminal justice
system will be examined. Prerequisite: 150.
320—Administration of Justice, 3 Cr.
This course is intended to introduce
students to basic management models, principles, and strategies applicable to
contemporary police and correctional criminal justice organizations. Includes
an examination of organizational history, theory, behavior, leadership styles,
networks of relationships both formal and informal, concentration of power, and
politics within organizations. The policy implications of selected topics will
be considered to analyze the future direction of these criminal justice
organizations. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.
345—Women in the Criminal Justice
System, 3 Cr.
This course is an overview of women in
the criminal justice system, including an examination of historical and current
roles of women as criminal justice professionals, offenders and victims. Topics
will include a critique of traditional theories that explain male delinquency
in crime while neglecting females; the frequency and nature of female
offending; how women are processed in the system as offenders and victims,
particularly crimes and victimization which disproportionately impact women and
their families; and the changing roles of women in law enforcement and
corrections. Some international topics will be covered, including sex
trafficking and women as victims in armed conflicts. Restricted to students of
junior standing or higher.
351—Crime and Delinquency, 3 Cr.
This course will examine the nature,
extent, and causes of criminal and delinquent behavior from a sociological
perspective. Trends in offending and victimization, including research on
violent crime, property crime, public order crime, organized crime, and white
collar crime will be covered. The major theoretical explanations of criminal
and delinquent behavior will also be explored. Prerequisite: 150 or SOCL 125 or
150. (Equivalent to SOCL 351.)
364—Juvenile Justice, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to
give students an introduction to the field of juvenile justice. It will focus
of the relationship between youth as victims and as offenders, the role of the
juvenile justice system, delinquents’ rights, and traditional and alternative
ways of dealing with juvenile crime. It will briefly examine the social and
etiological features of delinquency. (Equivalent to SOCL 364.)
365—Interviewing and Report Writing, 3
Cr.
This course is designed to introduce
students to communication processes within the field of criminal justice. It
identifies techniques and provides practical experiences for students in both interviewing
and report writing, focusing on the development of professional oral and
written communication skills. Prerequisite: 150 or SOCL 150. Restricted to
students with junior standing or higher.
370—Introduction to Criminal Law, 3
Cr.
An examination of the nature, variety,
and sources of criminal law and the relationship of criminal law to theories of
punishment and social control. Includes the classification of crimes, as well
as the creation, organization, and content of criminal law. Prerequisite: 150.
380—Community-based Corrections, 3
Cr.
An
examination of the field of community-based corrections, including pre- and
post-trial duties, patterns of diversion, probation and parole, restitution,
intensive probation, supervision, and violation revocations. A special focus on
alternatives to incarceration in community settings will be addressed.
Restorative Justice approaches such as community conferencing, and
victim-offender mediation and offender accountability to the community as well
as victim assistance and community service for offenders will be addressed.
Legal issues and trends in community-based corrections will be examined. Restricted
to students with junior standing or higher.
406—Constitutional Law, 3 Cr.
This course provides an introduction to
American constitutional law through a study of selected Supreme Court cases.
Students will examine the sources of government power found in the Constitution
and study the role of the courts in interpreting the extent of that power.
Topics that will be considered include judicial review, separation of powers,
the Bill of Rights, and the right to privacy. Selected pending U.S. Supreme
Court cases will be used as an interactive tool to study the Constitution.
Prerequisite: POSC 121 or 320, or junior standing.
435—Philosophy of Punishment, 3 Cr.
This course will cover the
major philosophical approaches to punishment in the United States. Students
will be exposed to the different orientations used by probation, prisons, and
parole. The philosophies of deterrence, incapacitation, just deserts,
rehabilitation, and restorative justice will be discussed. The class will examine,
discuss, and debate the effectiveness of each of these philosophies in regards
to reducing crime in the United States.
465—Senior Seminar, 3 Cr.
This
course is designed to facilitate the transition from the college classroom to
the professional world or graduate school. Students will synthesize and apply
the knowledge they have attained through their coursework, reflect on their
academic experience and career goals to design a job search and prepare
graduate school applications, and execute an original research project and
disseminate the results in a poster presentation. Restricted to students with
senior standing. (Equivalent to SOCL 465.)
470—Ethics in Criminal Justice, 3 Cr.
This course is an
examination of ethical theories and issues that confront criminal justice
practitioners, including law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and
professionals working in policy and research. The course will examine the
standards of ethics for criminal justice professionals. It will explore the
concepts of morality, ethics, values, moral/ethical frameworks and dilemmas in
the field. Students will examine case studies to become aware of the dilemmas
faced by practitioners. In addition, it will examine the concept of “justice’
and its meaning, and examine current and future ethical issues in the justice
system.