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Courses
Required Core Courses (21 hours):
CRJU 2350, Introduction to Criminal Justice: History, philosophy and functions of components of the system for social control. Offered face-to face and on the web.
Course Objectives: Upon competition of this course, the student will have learned
1. The formation of the criminal justice system in America.
2. Be able to define the concept of a criminal justice system.
3. Trace the formal criminal justice process.
4. Understand the ethical issues involved in criminal justice
5. Understand the major changes in law enforcement between 1970 and today.
6. Understand the varying structures of the state and federal court system.
7. Understand the role of the prosecutor and the defense attorney.
8. Understand the expanding role of technology in the court process
9. Understand the concept of community sentencing and its history.
10. Know the organization and administration of probation services
11. Define restorative justice and be able to discuss its merits
12. Become familiar with the history of correctional institutions
13. Know the purpose of jails and be familiar with the makeup of jail populations.
14. Classify the different types of federal and state penal institution.
15. Discuss prison population trends.
16. Become familiar with what is known as prisoners' rights.
17. Be knowledgeable about the parole process and the problems of prisoner reentry.
CRJU 2356, Introduction to Corrections: A survey of contemporary correctional treatment techniques and procedure. Methods of social rehabilitation in treating correctional clients. Career opportunities in corrections and correctional rehabilitation. Taught face-to-face.
Course Objectives; upon competition of this course the student should have learned:
1. To summarize the definitions, mission, and role of corrections.
2. Identify how corrections can affect the crime rate by understanding the concept of the correctional funnel.
3. Summarize early responses to crime prior to the development of prisons.
4. The difference between the Pennsylvania system and the Auburn system of imprisonment
5. Outline the development of prisons
6. Define the theories of specific and general deterrence
CRJU 2370, Judicial Process: An introduction to the judicial process with analysis and evaluation of the main institutions and considerations affecting the administration of justice in the United States. Uses a comparative approach and covers all judicial levels, with emphasis placed on the American state and local judicial systems. Offered face-to-face and on the web.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course the student should:
1. Understand the structure and functions of the American court system on all levels
2. Be able to identify and understand the roles of judges, lawyers, and litigants.
3. Understand the structure, processes, and power of the U.S. Supreme Court and the impact the Court has had in America’s historical development.
4. Be able to explain the basic rules of evidence used by civil and criminal trial courts.
5. Be able to understand trial and appellate processes.
CRJU 3343, Juvenile Delinquency: This course will examine delinquency from a sociological perspective. This perspective is used to examine the explanation of delinquency, the environmental influences on delinquent behavior. It is a study of social; conditions under which delinquent behavior develops, the agencies that deal with it and the theoretical and methodology to understand it. Offered face-to-face and on the web.
Course Objective: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Understand the history of the juvenile justice system in America
2. Examine the purpose of the juvenile justice system as opposed to the adult system.
3. Identify the various concepts and terminology used in dealing with juvenile offenders.
4. Identify the various theoretical perspectives used to examine delinquent and deviant behavior.
5. Recognize the landmark juvenile cases that deal specifically with due process and constitutional rights’
CRJU 4325 Seminar in Criminal Justice: for the advanced student Special topics of current interest in criminal justice, corrections, law enforcement and social habitation. Taught face-to-face.
Course Objectives: Upon competition of this course the student should have learned:
1. The foundation of Police Role in Society.
2. The Development of the American Police: An Historical Overview.
3. Law Enforcement Training: Changes and Challenges.
4. How police Supervisory Styles Influence Patrol Officers Behavior
5. Addressing Police Misconduct: The Role of Citizen Complaints.
6. Technological Innovations in Policing and Corrections.
7. Ethics – Corrections/ Law Enforcement.
8. Community Policing: Elements and Effects.
9. Use-of-Force Policy, Policy Enforcement and Training
CRJU 4328, Criminal Procedures: This course is a study of the government’s power to enforce criminal laws in a free society through the use of the justice system. Offered face-to-face and on the web.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Understand the goals of the justice system.
2. Explain the basic structure of the justice system.
3. Identify the foundational concepts in criminal procedure.
4. Explain the early development of laws.
5. Understand the many technical rules and procedures of the criminal justice system.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of how the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments are most significant in the administration of justice.
7. Have a working knowledge of the U.S. court system.
Criminal Justice Electives (21 hours):
CRJU 2380, Victimology: The scientific study of victimization, including the relationships between victims and offenders; the interaction between victims and the criminal justice system; and the connection between victims and other social groups and institutions. Offered face-to-face.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explore the history of victims’ rights in the United States.
2. Understand the role of the victim in the criminal justice system.
3. Examine victimization rates and patterns in the U.S.
4. Identify the financial, emotional, and psychological effects of criminal victimization.
5. Become familiar with programs, resources and services available to crime victims.
CRJU 2385, Probation and Parole: This course is an overview of the history and philosophical foundations of probation and parole in the United States. There will be a critical examination of the organizations and operation of probation and parole agencies as particular segments of the criminal justice system: probation as part of the judicial process, and parole as a part of the correctional system. The theoretical and practical concerns exemplified in probation and parole supervision will be examined. There will be a review and evaluation of the state of our prisons and community-based corrections. The course will include an examination of determinate and indeterminate sentencing and the issues that surround each with respects to probation. Offered face-to-face and on the web.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should:
1. Know the comprehensive history and philosophical foundation of probation and parole in the United States.
2. Have a comprehensive understanding of probation and parole segments of criminal justice in the United States and that it is designed to provide a real world view of the work of probation and parole offices.
3. Understand the organization and operations of probation and parole agencies as particular segment of the criminal justice system.
4. Recognize that this course is intended for criminal justice majors, persons working for criminal justice agencies, and for students who want to explore the possibility of probation and parole as a career.
CRJU 2390, Race, Crime, and Justice: This course will focus on the nature and extent of racial and ethnic issues as they pertain to crime and the criminal justice system in the United States. Offered face-to-face.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Identify factors that lead to high incidences of intraracial crimes, especially homicides.
2. Explore how various racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. have consistently been associated with higher rates of criminality.
3. Critically analyze various criminological theories and how these frameworks attempt to explain race and crime.
4. Analyze the overrepresentation of minorities in arrest rates, court dockets, and incarceration rates.
5. Evaluate how mass incarceration has impacted society.
6. Examine the intersections between police brutality and race in the U. S.
CRJU 3340, Criminology: An examination of crime and criminals. Considers the extent of crime, theoretical explanations of criminal and delinquent behavior. Covers the criminal justice: the courts, police, probation, and parole and the prison system. Research into rehabilitative efforts. Taught face-to-face and online.
Course Objectives: The student should have learned:
1. What is Criminology?
2. What Criminologists Do?
3. How criminologists view crime.
4. Ethical issues in Criminology.
5. The Nature and extent of crime.
6. Theories of Crime Causations
7. Crime Typologies
8. The Criminal Justice System
CRJU 3352, Legal Aspects of Corrections: A discussion of legal problems from conviction to release: pre-sentence investigation, sentencing, diversion and alternatives to incarceration and confinement. Offered face-to-face and on the web. Offered face-to-face and on the web.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the correctional process.
2. Understand the beginning and history of legal punishments.
3. Identify the early codes involving criminal punishments.
4. Understand the philosophy of punishment.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the purposes and goals of punishment and criminal sanctions.
6. Identify the areas of prisoners’ rights.
7. Explain the differences between the state and federal court system.
CRJU 3354, Community Based Corrections: An analysis of the history, theory philosophy and function of community based corrections. Taught face-to-face.
Course Objectives: The student should have learned:
1. Overview an Evolution of Community Corrections.
2. Techniques of Evidence Based Community Correctional Supervision.
3. Enhancements and Graduated Sanctions.
4. Special Issues in Community Corrections.
CRJU 3363, Police Community Relations: General discussion on the functions and role of law enforcement officers in relation to the individual social groups and the overall community. Taught face-to-face.
Course Objectives: The student should have learned:
1. The Evolution of Policing: Past Wisdom and Future Directions.
2. COOPS: Problem Oriented Policing.
3. From Recruit to Chief: Changing the Agency Culture.
4. Crime Prevention: Creating Safe Communities.
5. Policing in a Diverse Society
6. Training for COOPS: Approaches and Challenges.
7. COOPS: Selected American Approaches
CRJU 3365 Criminal Law: An analysis of the history and development of the criminal law as a system of social control. Offered face-to-face and on the web.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the purpose of law and criminal law in particular.
2. Describe the differences between criminal law and other forms of law, and explain the difference between procedural and substantive criminal law.
3. Illustrate the use of law as a tool for social engineering.
4. Expound upon the “rule of law’ and explain why due process is an integral part of the rule of law.
5. Identify the historical sources of law and the elements of laws of crime.
6. Illustrate the adversarial nature of the American criminal trial process and explain how “justice” results.
7. Describe victimless crimes and why they are sometimes referred to as social order crimes.
CRJU 3368, Principles of Law and Evidence: Provides criminal justice personnel with the understanding and appreciation of the rules of evidence in the prosecution of criminal cases. Taught face-to-face.
Course Objectives: The students should have learned:
1. The history of law and the legal process.
2. Source of Law in the American System.
3. Rules of Evidence,
4. The American Criminal Court System.
5. Doctrine of Justification.
6. Forms of Evidence.
7. The Exclusion of Evidence
8. Warrantless Arrest and Searches
CRJU 4326, Constitutional Law for Criminal Justice: Constitutional law is designed with emphasis on the criminal aspects of law. It provides a greater insight of the reason why criminal justice personnel are limited in their responsibilities and power. Offered face-to-face.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history of the United States Constitution
2. Identify and discuss the Constitutional Amendments that influence the criminal justice system particularly the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments.
3. Identify the basic components of the criminal justice system.
4. Identify the current U.S. Supreme Court Justices
5. Examine the role and responsibilities of the United States Supreme Court.
6. Demonstrate the ability to research court cases.
7. Explore crime, criminals and the criminal justice system. Students will accomplish this by exploring the criminal justice system’s reputation and works in today’s society. We will discuss current events dealing with past and recent crimes in our society and be able to articulate how the criminal justice has treated these events.
CRJU 4650, Internship in Criminal Justice: Designed to provide the student with a supervised internship in an appropriate criminal justice agency. Taught face-to-face.
Course Objectives: The student should have learned:
1. The Concept of Internship
2. Pragmatic Agency Concerns, Agency Goals and Social System Affiliations.
3. Values and Ethical Standards
4. Evaluation of Field Education Experience
5. Future careers