CJ& 101 - Intro Criminal Justice

Credits: 3
Variable Credit Course: No

Lecture Hours: 33
Lab Hours: 0
Worksite/Clinical Hours: 0
Other Hours (LIA/Internships): 0

Course Description: Examines the history, philosophy, and organization of criminal justice and its European roots in our American society; explores the jurisdictions of local, state and federal agencies and their applications within the United States; presents an overview of the juvenile justice, corrections, and American court systems; discusses the multicultural and ethnic tendencies associated with criminal justice issues affecting the various criminal justice professions.

Prerequisite: None.
Distribution Requirements:

Social Sciences Distribution Requirement

Meets FQE Requirement: No
Elective Requirements: Fulfills Gray Area Electives
Integrative Experience Requirement: No

Student Learning Outcomes

Understand the evolution of law enforcement and criminal justice.
Relate principles of Sir Robert Peel and develop an understanding of their importance to policing and criminal justice in the United States.
Differentiate between the various criminal justice agencies and their jurisdiction on the local, state and federal levels.
Explain the responsibilities and necessary personal qualities of individuals working within the criminal justice profession.
Demonstrate the concept of professionalism in law enforcement.
Discuss the current controversies regarding law enforcement as a profession.
Explain and/or define the concepts of the Corrections, Juvenile Justice, parole and Probation, and American Court Systems as they apply to the criminal justice system.
Understand the value of the criminal justice system in a pluralistic society.
Understand the adversarial system as it relates to the criminal justice system.
Discuss current issues of adversarial positions between the criminal justice system and society.
Identify the various career opportunities available in criminal justice.

Course Contents

Evolution of law enforcement.
Criminal justice system in action.
Civil and criminal offenses and differentiation of each.
Growing crime problem in the U.S. and the resulting problems.
Police operations as we enter the 21st century; what to expect.
Exploring problems facing communities in a multicultural society.
Critical issues which challenge law and law enforcement research and evaluation.
Criminal justice as a career.
Support growing diversity of society served by the criminal justice system.

Instructional Units: 3