CJ& 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice (5 credits)
Distribution Area Fulfilled Social Science; General Transfer Elective
Formerly CJ 112
Course Description
A study of the Criminal Justice system, emphasizing history, theories and principles of criminology; programs, issues, trends, structures, functions and how the system responds to create an equitable delivery of crime-related public services. (Formerly Titled: CJ 112 – Criminal Justice in America)
Course Content
1. The roles, responsibilities, and functions of the various criminal justice agencies and their jurisdictions
2. Criminal justice terminology
3. The criminal justice process, including arrest and progressing through trial, adjudication and disposition, as viewed from law enforcement, judicial, and correctional perspectives
4. The history of law and how the constitutional principles and fundamental rights are relevant to our criminal justice system
5. Significant theories and/or perspectives of the criminal justice system
6. The role of police and police functions
7. Court officials and court structures in the U.S. at the local, state, and federal level including the goals, process, and challenges of judicial disposition
8. Offender management both within institutional corrections and community based corrections
9. The juvenile justice system and how it works within the larger criminal justice system in the U.S.
10. Issues surrounding ethics, bias, discretion, diversity, and professionalism within the criminal justice system and how these relate to, reflect, and influence the community as a whole
11. The role and treatment of victims in the criminal justice system
12. Student personal bias’, values and beliefs associated with criminal justice issues
13. The intricate relationship between law enforcement, the courts, and corrections
14. The impact of the criminal justice process and system through an intersectional and multicultural lens.
Student Outcomes
1. Students will analyze the components and processes of the US criminal justice system.
2. Students will communicate diverse perspectives and impacts of the criminal justice system on groups of people through an historical, intersectional, and multicultural lens.
3. Students will analyze contemporary issues, (e.g. recidivism, social movements, legislation, media), in the criminal justice system through an intersectional and multicultural lens.
4. Students will interrogate their positionality and biases and how they impact their view of and engagement in the criminal justice system.
Degree Outcomes
Program Outcome: Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of laws, procedures, policies and functions of the United States criminal justice system and other justice systems.
Social Sciences: Graduates analyze and interpret social phenomenon using social science theories and methods.
Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.
Lecture Contact Hours 50
Lab Contact Hours 0
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 50
Potential Methods
A. Project
B. Portfolio
C. Presentation
D. Research project
E. Objective examination
F. Essay
G. Oral presentation
H. Reflective writing
I. Journal
J. Self-evaluation,
K. Peer-evaluation
L. Discussion
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