101: Introduction to Criminal Justice – 3 credits
A general survey of the principles, system, and process of criminal justice. Introduction to conceptions and definitions of crime, criminal law, and due process. Examination of the organization and operation of the three basic components of the criminal justice system—the police, the courts, and corrections—individually and in relationship to one another. Offered in fall semesters.
102: Substantive Criminal Law – 3 credits
This course presents the development of criminal law in the United States and discusses its principles, sources, distinctions, and limitations. The following topics are covered in detail: criminal liability; offenses against persons, property, public peace and public justice; preparatory activity crimes; and defenses available to those charged with criminal activity.
201: Criminology – 3 credits
This course covers the various biological, psychological, and sociological types of theory that have been offered to explain the incidence of crime in society. Various types of crime, including violent, property, corporate, political and victimless crime, methods of studying crime, and characteristics of criminals are also examined.
209: Methods of Social Science Research – 3 credits
An examination of the methodological foundations of the social sciences; the logic and technique of empirical inquiry; the nature of social facts, the operationalization of concepts, and the construction of hypotheses; research designs including questionnaires, interviews, experiments, observation, and evaluation; the organization and analysis of data; graph and table construction and interpretation; the common problems of empirical social research; and research ethics. Emphasis given to criminal justice applications. Cross-listed with SO209.
301: Criminal Procedure – 3 credits
This course addresses the legal procedure connected with arrest, search and seizure, identification and questioning, bail setting, indictments, and plea bargaining.
305: Juvenile Justice – 3 credits
A general survey of the philosophy, system, and process of juvenile justice. Examination of the social and legal control of juvenile delinquency by the police, courts, and corrections, as well as by private agencies. Emphasis on the distinctions in philosophy, law, jurisdiction, organization, and terminology between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal justice system. Offered every other year.
306: Victimology – 3 credits
An examination of the role of the victim in crime and the treatment of the victim by the criminal justice system. Instruction in the use of victimization data in determining crime rates and in developing prevention programs. Review of victim assistance, restitution, and compensation programs. Offered every other year.
307: Social Control and Crime Prevention – 3 credits
The course will focus on crime prevention as a method of social control and will examine processes of social control as social and institutional sources of crime prevention. Examination of personal defense, environmental, situational, community, and social models of crime prevention. Offered every other year.
308: The Police – 3 credits
A general survey of American policing and police organizations. Examination of the history of the police and the police idea, as well as structural, cultural, and social psychological analyses of police organizations. Coverage of the topics of police socialization, behavior, and discretion; routine and specialized operations; community policing; and police misconduct, accountability, and change in policing.
310: The Courts – 3 credits
An analysis of America’s courts, and the courtroom work group with particular attention given to the dual role of the courts in adjudicating cases and interpreting the U.S. and state constitutions.
312: Corrections – 3 credits
An analysis of the development and present structure of the correctional process in America, including detailed examinations of the operational problems of correctional institutions, probation and parole practices, and other community-based correctional alternatives.
314: Restorative Justice – 3 credits
This course presents a new paradigm of community justice as an alternative to the retributive model. The course examines and contrasts restorative approaches and traditional punitive responses to crime. Topics include mediation, victim-offender reconciliation, reparation for harm done to victims and the community and offender re-integration into the community. 3 lecture hours.
320: Drugs and Society – 3 credits
This course focuses on the interrelationships between drugs and the social order. Issues considered include: the nature and effects of legal and illegal drugs; the determinants of drug effects, especially the social determinants; the history of drug prohibition; drug addiction and drug treatment; and drug policy. Cross-listed with SO320.
341: Cyber Law and Cyber Crime – 3 credits
The course includes extensive discussion of the legal constraints, both civil and criminal, that underlie acceptable behavior using computers and networks today. Prerequisites: IS120 or IS130 and CJ201 or permission of instructor. Offered in fall semesters.
400: Independent Study – 3 credits
An opportunity for qualified upperclass students to engage in an intensive research program in fields of interest not satisfactorily covered by regular course offerings. Periodic conferences will be required. Prerequisite: written consent of the instructor to a specific project presented by the applicant. Open only to criminal justice majors with a cumulative quality point average of 2.5 or better and who have grades averaging 3.0 or better in prior course work in criminal justice.
403: Criminal Justice Administration – 3 credits
An introduction to the principles of public administration as they are applied in the operation of criminal justice agencies. This course will emphasize how such topics as organization, decision making, leadership style, personnel policy, planning, and budgeting are specifically adapted by criminal justice administrators to meet the needs of their agencies. Simulations will be used extensively as a tool for mastering administrative principles. Prerequisite: CJ101 or permission of instructor. Offered every other year
405: Internship – 3 credits
This elective course permits an upper-level student to participate directly in the criminal justice process by serving as an aide to agencies involved in the process. This offering is subject to the availability of such internships. Open only to junior and senior criminal justice majors, and if internships available, to senior criminal justice minors. Offered fall, spring, and summers.
410: Senior Seminar – 3 credits
A course dedicated to intensive research and analysis of major issues in criminal justice. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking and evaluation of topics previously discussed during the student’s academic career in the criminal justice program. Attention will also be given to professional development topics, ethics, and criminal justice policy. Prerequisite: criminal justice major and senior standing
442: Introduction to Computer Forensics – 3 credits
This course provides the student with an ability to perform basic forensic techniques and use appropriate media analysis software. Knowledge of the security, structure and protocols of network operating systems and devices will be covered as students learn to gather evidence in a networked environment and to image and restore evidence properly without destroying its value. The student will learn and practice gaining evidence from a computer system while maintaining its integrity and a solid chain of custody. Within the laboratory, the student will gain hands-on experience in the use of current investigative tools. Classroom 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours. Prerequisites IS 228 and CJ 341. Offered in spring semesters.