Courses

Prerequisites: Must be a CRJU major or minor. An exploration of career planning strategies and resources designed to prepare students for effective job searches and overall professional and career development. Students will apply research and evaluation skills with regard to job search and career advancement approaches. Among the topics addressed in the course are: ethics, report writing and other forms of communication, interviewing, resume preparation, networking, and public speaking.

An examination of the history, theory, and structure of the criminal justice system in the United States, with an emphasis on the various components of the criminal justice process including police, the courts, corrections.

An examination of the major controversies and issues confronting the criminal justice system. Emphasis is on development of critical thinking skills and their application to justice-related problems.

An introduction to criminal justice research procedures.

An introduction to criminal justice research procedures, with emphasis on the analysis and interpretation of data.

An examination of sociological and criminological theories of crime, criminality, and crime control.

Prerequisite: Permission of Criminal Justice Internship Director. Students serve for a minimum of 125 hours per semester as participant-observers in a local criminal justice agency. Students submit weekly verified report on hours worked to the Internship Director, who meets with all interns in a seminar discussion of internship problems and activities on a regular basis. Each student will submit a final written report and evaluation.

An examination of the organization and administration of law enforcement agencies, the function of police, police discretion, ethics, police-community relations, and the future of policing in American society.

An examination of the history and development of federal law enforcement in the United States, the current make-up and jurisdictions of various federal law enforcement agencies, the role of federal government in homeland security efforts, and career opportunities within the federal law enforcement community.

Prerequisites: CRJU 20413. An examination of the major issues in criminal law and procedure emphasizing the basic elements of crime, search and seizure, interrogation, right to counsel, evidentiary concepts, pretrial release, and the appeals process.

An examination of correctional agencies and programs, including the social structure of prisons and its impact on the offender, deterrent and treatment effects of correctional practices, probation and parole, and an examination of various experiments in institutional and community based corrections. (Offered as CRJU or SOCI credit.)

An examination of the role of the community in the reintegration of offenders, with a focus on correctional programs designed to be administered in a community setting, including probation, parole, halfway houses, restitution, and community service.

An examination of current issues and social problems relating to criminal justice in a culturally diverse society. Emphasis is placed on recognition of diversity and tolerance on behalf of criminal justice professionals.

Prerequisites: CRJU 20413 or instructor permission. An examination of the various aspects and dimensions of white collar crime. Emphasis is placed on the nature, extent, and costs of white collar crime, with special attention to the social structural and organizational forces which give rise to such crimes.

An examination of topics of current interest in crime and justice. Topics change, therefore this course may be taken more than once.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the concept of sustainability from a multidisciplinary perspective. Sustainability includes a focus on the environment, social justice issues, and economic development that provides the basic needs for sustaining an acceptable quality of life. A focus on the global implications will be stressed and students will explore the connections between sustainability and citizenship and social values.

This course offers an overview of the field of cultural criminology, from its theoretical and historical foundations to its current developments. The course explores the various intersections of culture, crime, and crime control, including criminal subcultures, crime and consumer culture, crime as pleasure and performance, and crime and crime control as public display. (Offered as CRJU or SOCI credit.)

An examination of the law in relation to juvenile delinquency and the administration of the juvenile justice system. The historical development of the concept of delinquency, the special status of juveniles before the law, and juvenile justice procedural law are among the topics covered.

An introduction to the recognition, collection and evaluation of physical evidence arising from a crime or suspicious incident, concentrating on the various techniques of crime scene investigation including crime scene search, note-taking, sketching, photography, and preservation of evidence.

Prerequisites: SOWO 10833 or permission of instructor. An examination of theories and methods of professional intervention with emphasis on those professionals with clients in the criminal justice system. Focus is on the development of skills that can be applied to individuals, families, and groups in both community-based and institutional settings. This course is primarily for Criminal Justice and Social Work majors and minors. (May be offered as CRJU or SOWO credit.)

An examination of the various techniques and instruments used to analyze organic and non-organic evidence obtained from crime scenes, with an examination of techniques such as DNA analysis.

An exploration of the many ways Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology is used for crime mapping and crime pattern analysis. The course provides a general overview of crime mapping techniques, including their theoretical background, application, trends and future directions. The course has an integrated lab component that is designed to introduce the student to the spatial data entry, geocoding, handling, and analyses capabilities of the GIS industry standard software application ArcGIS.

An examination of the major aspects of victimology. Topics include the historical role of victims, the nature of victimization in modern America, the victimization experience, legal aspects of victimization, victimization and the political process, solutions to victimization, and the future of victims' rights and victimology.

A critical examination of sexual offending from psychological, sociological, and criminological perspectives. Emphasis is placed on theories of the etiology of sexual offending, historical perspectives on offending, measuring the incidence and prevalence of sex crimes, sex offender legislation and criminal justice responses, correctional treatments for sex offenders, effects on and treatment of victims, and monitoring and prevention of sex crimes.

An examination of the various types of criminal violence and the criminal justice system's responses to it. Discussion topics include domestic violence, mass murder, serial killing, riots, and gang violence.

This course is an examination of crime and justice in Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The course will adopt a criminological and cultural perspective in studying crime, criminal justice policy, and the criminal justice systems in these countries and in comparison to the United States. Lectures, assigned readings, field trips, guest speakers, and other events are included to expand the global awareness and responsibility of students.

This course is an examination of the major similarities and differences between the American experience of crime and justice and that of the Scandinavian countries: including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The course will adopt a criminological and cultural perspective in trying to identify differences between the countries and how these differences lead to distinctions in criminal justice policy and process. Specific topics include but are not limited to: policing, drug policy, prostitution, incarceration and corrections, crime rates, and the judicial process. As an anticipated outcome students will demonstrate a capacity for a more global perspective of criminology and criminal justice.

Prerequisite: CRJU 20413, SOCI 20213 or PSYC 10213 or equivalent. An examination of the social psychological theories and research relevant for understanding criminal behavior. Topics include societal and victim responses to crime.

An examination of organized crime including its relationship to social structure, its historical development through groups such as the Italian/Sicilian Mafia, the extent and impact of modern and nontraditional organized crime syndicates, and prospects for its control.

An examination of the effects that the media have on the perception of crime, including discussion of the social construction of many myths that surround crime and criminal justice.

An overview of Japanese history and major cultural traditions. Japanese society will be looked at from its origins through the Tokugawa period and onto modern Japan. Religious traditions and cultural perspectives will be highlighted. Additionally, the place of modern Japan in the global community will be examined.

An overview of the functioning of the Japanese policing, court, and correctional systems. In addition, both Japanese street crime and organized crime will be examined with special emphasis on the organization and history of the Japanese Yakuza. Further, the course will examine the realities of a myriad of social problems in Japanese society both as individual issues and as causes/effects of criminality. These topics include but are not limited to issues of poverty, urbanization, drug use and family structure stresses.

An overview of Japan's perspectives on and efforts toward sustainability in relation to the environment and economic/technological growth. Issues of mass transportation, energy production, green architecture, and farming/fishing will be addressed. In addition the place of sustainability as a philosophical dovetail to Japanese religious and cultural traditions will be highlighted.

An examination of victimless crime highlighting its social control and social construction. Specific topics include gambling, prostitution, drug and alcohol use, and pornography.

An examination of cyber and high-tech crime addressed from a criminological perspective. Emphasis is placed on the nature, scope, and development of this relatively new crime problem. Special attention is given to the victims and perpetrators of the various types of cyber crime. The challenges cyber crime poses to researchers and law enforcement are addressed.

Examination of current issues and social problems relating to terrorism and homeland security. Emphasis is placed on recognizing and responding to terrorist threats with respect to individual rights and security.

Prerequisite: CRJU 20413. An examination of the major value dilemmas confronting practitioners and professionals in the criminal justice system. Particular focus is on police conduct, courtroom conduct, and correctional professionals' conduct.