This course provides an overall view of the techniques involved in investigating crimes, basic interviewing of victims and witnesses, identifying and questioning suspects, organizing investigations. Specific topics covered are crime scene procedures, searches, surveillance, sources of information, use of scientific aids, recognition of evidence, and ethics in criminal investigations. The course is designed to provide a foundation of criminal investigation procedures and techniques. Emphasis is on a logical scientific approach to crime scene investigations since investigation is in large part a science. Through discussion and hands-on exercises the student practices the application of the scientific method to criminal investigations. Students will be exposed to actual criminal investigations and processes through lectures, slides, videos, and reviews of actual past cases.
This course focuses on a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of homeland security, including an all-hazards perspective. Students examine threats to homeland security, including threats to domestic and international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and natural and technological disasters. Students review the roles and responsibilities of government agencies, non-government organizations, and individual citizens in homeland security.
The course examines the patterns, causes, and consequences of crime, and the ways in which the criminal justice system attempts to deal with the crime problem in the United States. Topics include characteristics of offenders, patterns of criminal behavior, theories of crime causation, and social forces affecting crime and criminal justice.
This course provides an overall view of the techniques involved in investigating crimes, basic interviewing of victims and witnesses, identifying and questioning suspects, organizing investigations. Specific topics covered are crime scene procedures, searches, surveillance, sources of information, use of scientific aids, recognition of evidence, and ethics in criminal investigations. The course is designed to provide a foundation of criminal investigation procedures and techniques. Emphasis is on a logical scientific approach to crime scene investigations since investigation is in large part a science. Through discussion and hands-on exercises the student practices the application of the scientific method to criminal investigations. Students will be exposed to actual criminal investigations and processes through lectures, slides, videos, and reviews of actual past cases.
This is the capstone course for the Criminal Justice Studies Program. The purpose of this course is to integrate all academic criminal justice learning, knowledge, and skills in order to provide a total understanding of the criminal justice system and how it applies to the future of the students. Students will demonstrate their abilities to conduct scholarly academic research, employ critical thinking skills, use deductive reasoning. Students will address current issues in criminal justice using analytical skills to frame problems and suggest solutions will be stressed. Oral and written presentations in class will emphasize problem solving techniques and analysis. Ethical, political and social issues that impact criminal justice research will also be examined.
This course examines those rules of evidence and procedures of particular importance to the operational level of criminal justice agencies. Topics will include the evolution of the laws of evidence, the trial process, hearsay, confessions and admissions, pretrial investigation and identification procedures, expert and lay opinion, scientific evidence, character evidence, and presumptions. Emphasis will be given to the study and evaluation of kinds of evidence, tests of admissibility, competence of witnesses, and privileged and non-privileged communication.
This course examines patterns of delinquent behavior among youth. The definition and measurement of delinquency, influence of kinship, educational, and other institutions on delinquency, social class and sub cultural influences on delinquency, identification and processing of delinquents by official control agencies. Additionally, the course will study the problem of school violence and analyze the correlation and impact of the media, community, and family upon such violence. Identification and intervention approaches to working with out-of-control behaviors will be explored.
This course is designed to teach students the basic concepts of substantive criminal law and its procedural aspects as a means of social control, particularly relating to the constitutionally protected rights of the accused in the criminal justice system. Emphasis will be on the elements of the law and the applicable penalties, as well as the procedures that must be followed in applying the law, and on the court system as a social institution with the interacting roles of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and defendants.
This course reviews the organizational and operational philosophy of community policing and the manner in which it develops a partnership between the police and the community they serve. Emphasis is on the process of improving the "quality of life in a community through problem-solving for the long-term perspective. Topics include the study of the origins of community policing, problem-oriented policing, the role of the police in society, the role of the community in crime prevention, and methods for the implementation and evaluation of the community policing philosophy.
This course provides a thorough overview of career opportunities within the field of criminal justice. A wide range of occupations that demand very different levels of experience and education will be examined. Working professionals representing a wide range of career fields will introduce students to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, corrections, probation, parole, forensics, court systems, victim/witness services, counseling positions, an other special government opportunities. Topics covered for all employment positions will include educational requirements, entry requirements, training processes, career development paths, salary and benefit ranges, and present employment opportunities.