Criminal Justice (CJS)

The role of school experiences in the etiology of juvenile crime has been debated for a long time. Recent incidents of violence occurring on school grounds have increased concern for the safety of students. The response of schools to violence, drug abuse, and other crimes will be examined to identify programs that have been successful in reducing youth crime.

Juvenile justice has made a distinction between criminal and status offenses. Courts have recognized this distinction in specifying the rights of juveniles when violating cultural norms. The course examines legal policies affecting youth including their transference to criminal courts. Procedures in the United States are compared to those in other societies.

This is an intensive and directed reading course in criminal justice.

See department for specific course information.

Contact the department for specific course information.

See department for specific course information.

This course examines the traditional model of criminal justice in the United States by comparing it to criminal justice systems of selected other countries. The course also introduces a restorative justice model as an alternative to the adversarial system currently followed by most jurisdictions.

Although minorities are disproportionately over-represented in arrests, conviction, and incarcerations, they are disproportionately under-represented among criminal justice practitioners. This course examines theories advanced to account for and methods offered to alter these figures.

A number of theories of crime and delinquency have been developed from a variety of perspectives including biological, psychological, sociological, feminist, and conflict. This course addresses the major ideas offered to explain criminal behavior. Similarities and differences between the theories are noted. Criteria for evaluating the usefulness of a theory are identified.

This course rests upon the premise that criminal justice agencies need to apply sound principles of organizational management in order to be efficient. The course studies how corporate and public administration techniques may be applied to criminal justice agencies.

Increasingly, criminal justice practitioners recognize the importance of planning and preparing for criminal situations before they occur. This course examines ways to use current information to plan for the future in structuring organizations, setting priorities, and identifying resources needed to be more effective.

Recently, police departments have adopted techniques to bring community citizens and police officers closer together so that by working together crime may be reduced. This course compares different models of community policing and techniques for evaluating their impact.

Restorative justice recognizes that any response to crime should bring victims and offenders to reconciliation in which a sense of community is re-established. A number of theoretical perspectives exist within this broad framework. The course introduces techniques of mediation and other methods of restorative justice.

This course focuses on the examination and analysis of legal implications and challenges of criminal justice management decisions, policies, programs, and the roles of the criminal justice manager.

Information about criminal behavior shapes theories and responses to crime. Therefore, it is important to develop valid and reliable data which can be used to understand criminal justice issues. Standards for obtaining and evaluating empirical data are articulated in this course.

Quantitative data are the backbones of theory testing and organizational decision making. This course identifies statistical databases and introduces analytical techniques to produce meaningful information. Skills with computer applications are developed.

Scientific based facts are essential for sound criminal justice policies. At the same time, such policies reflect political forces in society. This course examines procedures for analyzing how policies are enacted and implemented by focusing on specific case studies.

Any system of justice must acknowledge the importance of an ethical foundation. This course studies different paradigms of ethical behavior and procedures that may be followed if unethical acts occur. The course recognizes that all citizens, not just criminal justice professionals, must address ethical principles.

This course introduces students to some of the important issues and controversies concerning victims of crime. Students will develop an appreciation for the victimization experience by studying the major perspectives concerning the roles of victims in criminal events and the criminal justice system, the provision of services to crime victims, and the importance of power related to crime victims. The course will examine crime victims in the United States and other countries.

Students will perform various duties in agencies and organizations active in criminal justice. An agency supervisor and the internship supervisor will direct each student in mastering relevant skills to complete the tasks associated with a significant position in the internship agency. During the internships each student will be considered a quasi-working member of the agency.

The course considers the advantages and disadvantages of special youth bureaus in police departments. Further consideration is given to the structure and procedures of juvenile justice.

The philosophy of protecting juveniles has been the traditional perspective of the United States. Consequently, rehabilitation rather than punishment has been the objective in responding to juvenile delinquents. Changing perspectives on youth have brought about more punitive responses to young criminals, however. The conflict between corrections and treatment is considered in how societies seek justice for juveniles.

Examines the meaning of the concept of juvenile delinquency as a separate entity in the criminal justice system. The course also surveys youth victimization and offending patterns and analyzes the diverse theoretical explanations of delinquency.

Juvenile delinquency has come to be almost synonymous with gang membership. Yet, there is some question about the prevalence of juvenile gangs and their criminality. The course examines gangs throughout history and traces their structures using research-based facts explicating the importance of youth gangs in society.

This course introduces students to some of the important issues and controversies concerning youth in society. The course will examine youth in the United States and other countries. The basic point of view is that youth is a social construct reflecting both social structural and cultural influences. This course examines how the roles of youth are defined for different age groups and cultures. The emphasis is on understanding how societal factors influence youthful behavior for conformity and deviance.

Examination of gender issues within the criminal justice system. This course focuses on women as offenders, prisoners, victims, and survivors of crime and as professionals.

Students under faculty guidance analyze specific areas of interest in criminal justice.

Students in this course will design and conduct original criminal or juvenile justice research under the guidance of a faculty committee. The final, written report will present the research problem, theoretical rationale, methodology, results, and interpretation with policy implications as appropriate. An approved thesis proposal is required as a prerequisite to this course. Permission of instructor is required.

To allow Criminal Justice graduate students who have completed course work to remain in good standing while working on their thesis or comprehensive examination.

This course is required for all students taking the comprehensive examination. Students should register for the course the semester they intend to sit for the comprehensive examination.