Criminal Justice

CRJ

050(I)
(Elective)

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Credit hours to be arranged

Students must generally have at least a 3.0 overall G.P.A. See Independent Study Program, Section II.

CRJ

070
(Elective)

INTERNSHIP

Credit hours to be arranged

An internship with various criminal justice agencies is available to give students the opportunity to gain practical exposure to the workings of the criminal justice system (see Internship Program, Section II). Criminal Justice majors are advised to see the director or assistant director of the Criminal Justice program regarding internship opportunities. Students must have junior or senior status to participate. Students should see the director/assistant director at least one semester before the semester that they plan to do the internship. Competitive internships will be announced and may have more stringent requirements. The availability of specific internships may vary.

CRJ

259,359,459

FACULTY-STUDENT COLLABORATION

Credit hours to be arranged

See FSC Program, Section II.

        CRJ

165

OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Four credit hours

This course examines the criminal justice system, consisting of police, courts and corrections. Acquainting the student with critical issues confronting these subsystems and our society will be of paramount importance. Major topics may include due process, police role, pretrial release, prosecutorial discretion and sentencing.

POL/CRJ

207

INTRODUCTION TO LAW

Three credit hours

This course represents a basic introduction to the American legal system. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying the various types of law and the types of conflicts they are intended to resolve. Students will be introduced to the analysis of court decisions as a means to understanding some of the processes of legal reasoning. The course examines the law and the legal system from the perspective of the social sciences.

CRJ/SOC

223

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY & THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Three credit hours

This course examines competing theories of juvenile delinquency; measures which aid in the prevention and control of this behavior are also addressed. Juvenile justice procedures and cases are presented. Attention is also given to the social consequences of juvenile delinquency and to the corresponding legal and social reactions.

CRJ

255

FORENSIC SCIENCE AND CRIMINALISTICS

Four credit hours

Prerequisite: CRJ 165

Forensic Science and Criminalistics is an introductory survey course reviewing the historical development of the field of forensic science, the meaning of evidence and the scientific analysis of evidence in the context of law and criminal investigation.  Examples of topics include physical evidence, organic evidence, document evidence, firearm and tool evidence, fingerprints and witness evidence. Students will engage in hands on learning opportunities including demonstrations and labs designed to illustrate and apply course concepts or exemplify skills from the field. Attendance at guest speakers and field trips may be required.

CRJ

256

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: CRJ 165

This course is an introduction to criminal investigation procedures.  It includes a review of the historical development of the investigative process, its relation to law enforcement and the techniques employed in conducting a systematic inquiry and investigation. Investigative concepts and strategies including sources of information, solvability factors, interviewing techniques, the uses of forensic sciences in criminal investigations and Constitutional decisions affecting how investigations are conducted will be considered.

CRJ

265

POLICING IN SOCIETY

Three credit hours

This course will provide students with a knowledge of the role and functions of the police in our society. Critical issues facing the law enforcement community and our society will be addressed. The primary focus will be on the municipal level, with selective coverage of other levels (county, state, federal) as deemed necessary.

SOC/CRJ

313

CRIMINOLOGY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: SOC 100D

This course focuses on the sociological aspects of crime. The course will include an examination of the nature of criminal law, the variety of theoretical explanations for criminal behavior, the measurement of crime, patterns of crime and the mechanisms for control of criminal behavior.

SOC/CRJ

320

VICTIMOLOGY

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: SOC 100D or CRJ 165

This course will cover topics such as the patterns of criminal and victim relationship, theories of victimization, victims’ rights and activism, the role of victim in the criminal justice process, and problems of adjustment to victimization and compensating the victim.  The various types of victims and victimizations will also be explored. 

CRJ/SOC

361

CORRECTIONS

Three credit hours

The focus of this course will be upon acquainting the student with an analysis of sentencing, probation, parole and a diverse number of "critical issues" in penology. Such issues may include the prison environment, deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution, prison violence, capital punishment, prisoners' rights and reform of the system.

SOC/CRJ

365

PERSPECTIVES ON VIOLENCE

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: SOC 100D or CRJ 165

Americans today seem to be much more concerned about crime, especially violent crime, than in years past.  While this fear is understandable, careful consideration of the "violence problem" leads to different ideas than those generally held in the minds of most citizens and those broadcast on national television.  This course is an interdisciplinary inquiry into the patterns and correlates of violence, its various forms, such as interpersonal and collective violence, and attempts to control its occurrence.

CRJ

464

INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Three credit hours

Prerequisite: Participation in Criminal Justice Program, Senior status (Junior or Senior status for Evening/Weekend CRJ majors).

This is a 400-level course limited to Criminal Justice majors or minors. A primary focus is to substantively analyze some of the key issues affecting the subsystems of law enforcement, courts, and corrections, particularly from an ethical, and where feasible, an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will also have an opportunity to explore career options within the criminal justice system.