Criminal Justice Minor

An advanced survey course focusing on the description and interrelationships of the many agencies and institutions which comprise criminal justice; e.g., justice systems, law enforcement, corrections, etc. Agencies and institutions will be studied in their historical and social contexts and will be further examined by way of major theories and models of criminal justice. The various professional implications of criminal justice will be examined.

This course will introduce students to ethics and how it applies to, and is applied within, Criminal Justice. This course will explore and analyze ethical dilemmas. This course will consider the roles of individuals and professional organizations and agencies when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Additionally, this course will discuss ethics in community relations, ethics in criminal justice laws, the philosophy of punishment, and procedures and civil liability in law enforcement and correctional environments. Finally, this course will explore the standards and codes of professional responsibility in criminal justice professions (e.g. Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, ABA Standards of Professional Responsibility, American Jail Association Code of Ethics for Jail Officers, and the American Correctional Association Code of Ethics.) Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)

This course is an introduction to the world of crime scene investigation and forensic criminalistics. Students will learn from actual cases and hear lectures from lead investigators about the science of crime scene investigation. Lab exercises will engage the students in the biological, chemical and physical analysis of evidence, including several crime scene scenarios. Three hours lecture and optional two hours lab each week. Students enrolling in and successfully completing the lab portion of this class will receive four credits; students not enrolled in the lab will receive three credits for the class. To take the lab, students must be concurrently enrolled in the lecture part of the class. Meets the general education laboratory science requirement. (Offered spring semester of even calendar years.) Corequisite: BIOL 155L

This course is an introduction to the study of criminal law in the United States and does not cover any specific federal or state law. Topics include the reliance of U.S. law on the Constitution and peripherally on the Declaration of Independence, the relationship of criminal law to civil law, U.S. criminal law and its relation to British common law, principles of criminal law, principles of criminal liability, complicity, inchoate crimes, defenses, justifications and excuses, crimes against persons, crimes against property, crimes against public order, and crimes against the state. (Offered fall semester of even calendar years.)

It is the goal of this course to devlop a greater understanding of the complexities of the law enforcement function-its intricacies and diversity. This will be done through a thoughtful consideration of the structure and functions of law enforcement and through exploring the topics of police and police functions. (Offered fall semester of odd calendar years.)

This class will introduce students to a critical study of corrections-the institutionalized system through which society incarcerates or otherwise punishes and supervises individuals identified as criminals. The course will consider the correctional system, with particular attention to the social forces that shape and are shaped by corrections. The course will focus on models and trends in corrections with application for both understanding society and preparation for practice. (Offered spring semester of odd calendar years.)

This course introduces psychology as a science and emphasizes the interaction of social, cognitive, emotional, motivational, and organizational approaches to understanding human behavior. All students participate in a service learning experience in which they apply course concepts in real world situations and organizations. Discussions within this class include Christian perspectives on current issues in human behavior, cognition, and motivation. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement.

A basic course introducing the student to the concepts, theories, and methods employed in an objective scientific analysis of society, culture, social institutions and organizations, social control, deviancy, and social factors involved in personality development. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement. (Offered every semester.)

This course will provide an overview of the history and application of law enforcement and intelligence. Moreover, the course will review the numerous challenges presented to officials in the law enforcement and intelligence communities. Topics include the integration of intelligence and policing within the community, the development of the intelligence cycle, structure, and the application of legal and ethical parameters to intelligence work. The student will develop critical thinking skills and an understanding of intelligence work at the operational, tactical, and strategic levels.

This course helps students to recognize the importance of the criminal justice system and community working cooperatively towards a more successful criminal justice system. Moving towards community trust of, and cooperation with, the Criminal Justice system will aid in the overall success of the criminal justice system in working towards safe and inclusive communities. Some topics that will be covered include community policing philosophy, applications, issues, types, and contemporary research. The course will also consider different community policing models. This course will include a $50 course fee for a travel component where students are able to see an example of a community policing model when the course is taught face to face. Meets the general education global foundations requirement. Prerequisite: CRJS 203.

This course will provide an overview of vice and narcotics crimes. These crimes deal with issues which are policed based on their moral ramifications. This study will examine how certain behaviors become taboo by cultural standards, how they are criminalized, and what happens to those who are convicted of such crimes. During the course, students will learn about how police agencies attempt to mitigate threats to the United States.

In this course students will learn what is required to provide ethical and effective leadership within a law enforcement agency while building trust between citizens and police officers. The course will examine various policing strategies and the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy. You will also learn about the basic administrative responsibilities required of any law enforcement agency including planning, budgeting, organizational design, and assessment. We will also examine the important area of human resource management concerning the recruiting and hiring of personnel. Lastly, you will come to understand the concepts and principles that are essential in leading others in a way that inspires them to want to follow you.

This course will provide an overview of the structure and development of the homeland security network of the United States. This study will examine the dominant Intelligence Community position in this structure but will also address some of the law enforcement components which further support the system. During the course, students will learn about the roles of member agencies and how they mitigate threats to the United States.

Effective law enforcement requires an understanding of human behavior - deviant or otherwise. Emile Durkheim, a famous early sociologist, even went so far as to say that deviance, or breaking societal rules for behavior, is normal, and occurs in every human community. Thus an understanding of deviance begins with an understanding of human behavior, period. You will study the topic of human behavior-both conforming behavior and deviant behavior, take a diagnostic tool to identify your own personality traits, and learn to apply individual differences to human interactions and organizations. You will study and seek to understand the historical and societal context for deviance, theories or deviance, and social control mechanisms, from social scientific perspectives, but also from a Christian perspective which sees all human beings with worth, dignity, and potential. Prerequisite: CRJS 203.

A course designed to investigate delinquency, including juvenile deviancy and juvenile crime. Applicable theories and models of delinquency will be investigated, as will social construction of delinquency. The course is appropriate for the students focusing on criminal justice generally as well as social work. Professional implications will also be examined. Cross-Listed as SCWK 351. Prereq: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101

A course designed to investigate delinquency, including juvenile deviancy and juvenile crime. Applicable theories and models of delinquency will be investigated, as will social construction of delinquency. The course is appropriate for students focusing on criminal justice generally, as well as social work. Professional implications will also be examined. Cross listed with CRJS 351. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or SOCI 101.

Organizations today face evolving and diverse forms of crises that can quickly escalate because of advancements in technology, the global economy, and the international and social media's reach. Attacks from individuals in other countries can bring an organization's operations to a standstill or attract negative publicity. To effectively cope with these threats, organizational leaders need to increase the complexity and sophistication of their crisis management capabilities. As a result, when faced with a crisis and thrust on a global stage with the whole world watching to see how they respond, these leaders find themselves defensive, reactive, and unable to perform in the heat of a crisis. An organizational crisis is a test of the capacity and character of an organization and its leaders. The economic, reputational, and social costs for organizations are high if they fail the test, and the consequences for those affected by the crisis can be catastrophic.

In this course, students will be exposed to the intricate process of controlling, analyzing, documenting, and presenting evidence from a crime scene. Students will be equipped with the technical and ethical skills to be effective and responsible investigators. Crime scene photography, scene sketching, courtroom testimony, chain of custody, written and oral reports, and ethics will all be covered. Offered every fall. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement.

Field Study in Criminal Justice is a dynamic and immersive course that delves into the intricate and ever evolving world of terrorism. Students will particularly focus on terrorism as it relates to the historical and post-9/11 landscape. Through a combination of class discussions, research, and real-world field experience, students will gain a profound understanding of the history of terrorism, the intelligence community's role in tracking and combating terrorism, and the transformative impacts of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 on all aspects of American life and the United States' understanding of terrorism. This class may be taken in place of CRJS 405 to satisfy practicum requirements. Prerequisites: CRJS 307, CRJS 341, PSYC 210 and instructor approval.

This course examines the interface between psychology and the law. Basic definitions of psychology and law are reviewed, as well as the history of the relationship between law and psychology. Topics include juries and jury selection, accuracy and validity of witness statements, memory and testimony, forensic assessment and intervention of criminal behavior, violence prediction, and custody evaluations. Ethical and Christian worldview considerations in the field of forensic psychology are also discussed. Prerequisite: PSYC 101 or CRJS 203

First responders and care providers are at the forefront of crisis incidences and disasters, and they ensure the safety and well-being of the population. Those responding to crises carry the weight of their safety and well-being, as well as the safety and well-being for those they serve. Crisis responders may face danger and be exposed to traumatic situations that pose a risk of harm to the responders and the people under their responsibility. This exposure constitutes a higher risk for behavioral and mental health concerns and places the crisis responders at a higher risk for stress, PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and suicide ideation attempts. Trauma informed care is an area of knowledge that is applicable across disciplines. The knowledge obtained in this class will add knowledge and skills that will help increase ability performance and wellness within several careers.

Students examine the role of research in addressing social and criminal justice issues. Students build skills in problem formulation, research design, writing literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, and writing of research reports. As a result, students will be better equipped for evidence-based practice within the fields of criminal justice and social work. This course includes the design and implementation of an empirical research project and a publication-ready research paper. Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SCWK 202 or PSYC 202, SCWK 205 or CRJS 203 (Offered spring semester) Corequisites: CRJS 210L