Criminal Justice and Forensics

This course provides an overview of the criminal justice system discussing law enforcement, the courts, corrections, juvenile justice, and current issues. This course examines the Constitutional requirements, historical development of the system, the agencies, processes, and theories within the criminal justice system. Emphasis is placed on how the various systems interrelate and interact with each other to attain the goal of an equitable delivery of crime-related public service.

This course examines the role of policing in American society. Theories and practices of policing from contemporary and historical perspectives are covered. This course also identifies political, social, organizational, and legal environments where the police perform their roles.

This course will examine the historical context, philosophical concepts, and major theories that have shaped corrections in the United States. Various sentencing options, correctional approaches and programs, the role of corrections in the larger criminal justice system, and contemporary correctional issues are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the effects of the corrections system on the individuals, families, and society.

This course will cover the history and philosophy of juvenile justice in America and the impact of present societal reforms on the juvenile justice system. This course will discuss the theories which support the creation, development, and continuance of juvenile justice systems, practices, and procedures in the United States.

This course is designed as an introduction into the study of criminal law and will review the difference between crimes against property, crimes against the public, and crimes against a person. This course will study the various mental states required for criminal responsibility and those defenses used in a criminal trial, along with definitions, classifications, elements, and penalties of crime and criminal responsibility.

The principles of organization and administration of the modern law enforcement agency. Principles of management and operation of a law enforcement agency.

A study of the history of traffic control, routine and emergency traffic procedures. Fundamentals of traffic accident investigation are covered.

A study of the provisions of the U.S. Constitution with primary emphasis on the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment and the application to law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

A supervised, individual learning experience for students in the law enforcement environment. The experience shall consist of a minimum of six hours per week. The experience assignment is at the discretion of the agency where the student is placed. The agency will make an effort to give the student a well-rounded experience; the assignment may be terminated by either party at any time.

A supervised, individual learning experience for students in the law enforcement environment. The experience shall consist of a minimum of six hours per week. The experience assignment is for the student to conduct a research project that will benefit the student in the criminal justice field.

A class used to explore new coursework.

Physical responses of the human body to alcohol and other drugs, current research findings, basic information, and terminology essential for working in the criminal justice field.

The fundamentals of criminal investigation, criminalistics, and investigative techniques. An overview of investigations of crimes against people and property, and the role of science in crime detection.

This course relates to the rules of evidence affecting the admissibility of evidence into court in criminal or civil cases as they pertain to the law enforcement officer or other members of the criminal justice system. This course will focus on court proceedings as they pertain to evidence, witnesses, report writing, exclusionary rule, and search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment.

An overview of the role of the forensic scientist in criminal investigation. Course subject matter focuses on the crime laboratory, instruments, and methods used by the forensic scientist in analyzing criminal evidence. Specialized careers in forensic science are reviewed.

A class used to explore new coursework.