CJ 101. Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course introduces the basic elements of the American criminal justice system, from its legal roots and history to its most current concerns. It analyzes the criminal justice process - from arrest to trial and disposition - emphasizing the function and structure of each component. It provides an understanding of how each component responds to crime and how the key question of individual rights and public safety is addressed. Attention is given to the elements of crime, the role of the police, courts, and corrections, and to the challenges facing this system in an increasingly diverse democratic society.
Credits: 3
CJ 102. Introduction to Forensic Science
This course introduces students to forensic science topics, including crime-scene processing, evidence collection, analysis and admissibility, fingerprints, firearms and tool marks, questioned documents, fire and explosives, blood splatter, forensic photography, trace evidence, entomology, anthropology, the law, pathology, and instrument analysis.
Credits: 3
CJ 106. Ethics in Criminal Justice
The goal of this course is two-fold: first, to recognize the ethical implications of the daily decisions made by justice system personnel; and, second, to evaluate individual ethical frameworks. It addresses key analytical concepts including utilitarianism, deontology, peacemaking, codes of ethics, and tests of moral reasoning to resolve ethical dilemmas commonly found in the administration of justice, including policing, courts, and corrections. It addresses the relationship of criminal justice to social justice, along with issues of cultural competence and diversity, especially as they illustrate the existence of dilemmas in applied ethics. Scenarios are used to raise moral dilemmas in the administration of justice, with resolution of these dilemmas and analysis of the issues.
Credits: 3
CJ 107. Juvenile Delinquency
This course provides comprehensive explanations of delinquent behavior, an overview of the juvenile justice system, and a discussion of programs designed to prevent and address delinquency. It explores issues related to delinquency in an increasingly diverse environment. It addresses social class, racial, and gender differences in delinquency, the significance of the invention of childhood, and the transformation of juvenile court from a social to a legalistic entity.
Credits: 3
CJ 108. Criminal Law
This course examines the nature and functions of the criminal law. It uses controversial and landmark cases as a framework for an intensive examination of the classification of crimes and the assignment of penalties. It addresses recent court decisions involving the administration of the penal law, jurisdictional questions, and Constitutional protections. It uses the New York Penal Code as an exemplar.
Credits: 3
CJ 111. Policing in American Society
This course explores the role of police in American society, both from an historical framework, as well as a contemporary point of view. Topics include the background of policing, the major types of police work, the role of police discretion, and legal and ethical questions of policing in society. Relationships among federal, state, and local agencies will be discussed as well as their relationship and interaction with the community.
Credits: 3
CJ 201. Laws of Evidence
This course addresses the presentation of evidence at the time of trial, which is of paramount importance in the criminal justice system. It covers the history and philosophy of the rules and laws of evidence, including current rulings, the mechanics of admissibility, and definitions of crimes, as well as the attitudes of the court toward witnesses and the admissibility of evidence. Prerequisite: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
Credits: 3
CJ 202. American Constitutional Law
This course addresses the impact of the United States Constitution on the criminal justice system. It emphasizes the fundamental concepts on which the Constitution is based and stresses the Supreme Court decision-making process and schools of interpretation. It analyzes the relationship of the Bill of Rights, especially the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, to the criminal justice system. Prerequisites: PS101 American National Government, and either CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice or PS102 Introduction to Public Policy.
Credits: 3
CJ 204. Criminology
This course focuses on the social construction of deviance and crime. It addresses major theoretical perspectives that explain crime in America. It investigates societal responses to crime and current issues facing the criminal justice system. It emphasizes public policy implications of the theoretical perspectives. Prerequisite: SO101 Introduction to Sociology.
Credits: 3
CJ 205. Principles of Investigation
This course details the basic procedures followed by law enforcement officers as they investigate crimes. Topics include questioning complainants and eyewitnesses, interrogating suspects, preparing statements, investigating crime scenes, and applicable search and seizure laws. Techniques of crime scene investigation are studied, including photography, charting, note-taking, and the handling of evidence. These techniques are applied to specific property and personal crimes. Prerequisite: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
Credits: 3
CJ 206. Introduction to Economic Crime Investigation
This course defines and analyzes illegal acts which provide an economic return to the offender or for which victims bear an economic cost. It details the basic procedures followed by law enforcement officers as they investigate crimes. Topics include the physical and social costs of economic crime, as well as the investigation of securities and corporate fraud, fiduciary fraud, corruption of public officials, medical crimes, and cybercrimes. Prerequisite: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
Credits: 3
CJ 207. Corrections
This courses addresses the history and philosophy of punishment systems and the background of corrections in America. It covers the impact of changing public opinion and criminal justice policies on corrections. The correctional system is examined from the perspectives of the inmate, the correctional officer, and the correctional administration. Prerequisites: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice and CJ106 Ethics in Criminal Justice.
Credits: 3
CJ 208. Community-Based Corrections
This course examines the history and philosophy of alternatives to incarceration. It analyzes the range of current alternatives, including probation, parole, and restorative and community justice programs designed to maintain offenders ties to their communities. It covers the philosophy and practice of probation, parole, mediation, circle conferencing, victim-offender reconciliation programs, victim impact panels, and other programs. In each community-based system, the roles of victim, offender, criminal justice system workers, and community members are discussed. At least three hours per week in related community agencies and two hours per week in seminar are required.
Credits: 3
CJ 209. Homeland Security
This course provides an overview of the key challenges associated with defending American society from potential threats. It reviews attacks on American security from internal and external sources, the transformation of security issues in light of the 9/11 attacks, and the creation of a federal Department of Homeland Security. Topics include critical infrastructure protection, legal issues in homeland security, constitutional rights and legal protections, civil liberties, community and private industry involvement, as well as homeland security strategies and initiatives. Prerequisites: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
Credits: 3
CJ 210. Juvenile Delinquency: Field Experience in Diversion and Corrections
This course addresses the ways in which American communities respond to juvenile delinquency. Theories upon which juvenile diversion and corrections are based and the history of juvenile detention, diversion, and incarceration since the founding of the first juvenile court are studied. Community-based diversion programs, waiver and related “get-tough” approaches as well as broad-based prevention programs are discussed. At least three hours per week in supervised experiences in delinquency-related community agencies and two hours per week in seminar are required. Prerequisite: CJ107 Juvenile Delinquency.
Credits: 3
CJ 212. Street Gangs and Youth Violence
This course provides both a comprehensive historical analysis of street gangs and an analysis of their modern development. Students examine major theories and socio-economic explanations for the existence of gangs; descriptions of the type of gangs, including small, regional, national, and female gangs; law enforcement techniques to deter gang development; and diversion efforts to keep youths out of gangs. Prerequisite: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice or CJ107 Juvenile Delinquency.
Credits: 3
CJ 213. Animal Law
This course acquaints students with the fundamental principles of animal law and their relationship to the criminal justice system. Topics include the history of animal law, the protection of animals by anti-cruelty laws, animal fighting, and agricultural animals, the social movement of animals in the legal system, and constitutional issues raised in cases involving animals.
Credits: 3
CJ 214. Criminal Justice Communications
This course examines the nature and importance of communication within the criminal justice system. Students develop report writing skills and an understanding of the impact report writing has on the investigation and prosecution of crime, as well as on the administration of justice. Students refine communication skills within criminal justice contexts. Observational skills, interview techniques, and field note-taking skills are developed. Applications to the Civil Service exam are used where appropriate. Prerequisites: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice, and either EN101 English 1: Composition or EN106 English 1: Composition and Reading or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages.
Credits: 3
CJ 215. Principles of Fraud Examination
This course provides students with an overview of economic/white collar crime in the United States. Topics include methods for detecting and investigating fraud, theoretical concepts, typical illicit schemes, information gathering techniques, methods of organizing and analyzing complex data, and case studies. The course involves an exploration of key characteristics of economic/white collar crime including the extent of seriousness, types of offenses and offenders, victim concerns, and organized efforts to control and prevent these crimes. Course Prerequisites: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice or AC115 Financial Accounting
Credits: 3
CJ 216. Selected Topics in Criminal Justice
This course provides the opportunity to investigate different aspects of the criminal justice system in greater depth. Topics considered vary each semester; see Dean of Public and Human Services for specific offerings.
Credits: 3
CJ 217. Restorative Justice
This course introduces the theory and practice of resolving interpersonal and group conflict through nonviolent means. Religious, humanist, and feminist peacemaking traditions are among the theoretical perspectives addressed. Critical criminology, as it identifies problems in conventional criminal justice problem solving, is stressed. Arbitration, mediation, conflict intervention, and community-based initiatives for resolving disputes are studied. It considers ways in which employees of the criminal justice system can use the principles of restorative justice in their work.
Credits: 3
CJ 219. Restorative Practices: Mediation
This course presents the history and philosophy of mediation, an informal dispute resolution practice. It analyzes key concepts, including conflict, language, power, diversity, equity, justice, communication styles, and creative problem-solving techniques. It addresses the role of mediation in civil and criminal justice disputes, and discusses current controversies. Through role-plays and mediations supervised by certified mediators, it applies principles to the solution of hypothetical and real civil, juvenile, family, and other disputes. Supervised and independent mediation experiences are made available as students qualify for them. Successful completion may result in eligibility to apprentice in certified mediation programs.
Credits: 3
CJ 290. Criminal Justice Internship
This course promotes an interest in criminal justice for students pursuing a related course of study. It reinforces academic concepts through practical work experience, assists in making career choices, and provides familiarity with the work of criminal justice agencies. Students participate on the staffs of local public or private criminal justice agencies. A minimum of 90 hours of field experience is required. Attendance and participation in seminar discussions are mandatory. Permissions of Internship Director and Dean are required. Prerequisites: CJ101 Introduction to Criminal Justice and CJ106 Ethics in Criminal Justice.
Credits: 3