Criminology and Criminal Justice (CRIM)

This course explores classic and contemporary theoretical perspectives on the etiology of crime and empirical support for those perspectives. Theory development and criteria for judging criminological theories are discussed. Correlates of crime and crime typologies are also examined.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical analysis of current issues in the criminal justice system, such as mass incarceration, the death penalty, wrongful convictions, inequality and punishment, and police use of force. Current debates and controversies in criminal justice will be discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an examination of current legal issues in criminal justice, liability of criminal justice practitioners, and corrections law relating to conditions of confinement and prisoners’ rights. The policy making process in criminal justice and current criminal justice policy debates and developments will also be discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an overview of research design and methods for conducting research in criminology and criminal justice. Topics may include experimental research, survey research, program evaluation research, use of secondary data sets, content analysis, field research, ethical issues in research, and impact of research findings on public policy. The ability to critically analyze the limitations of research methods will be emphasized.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an overview of statistical techniques used in criminology and criminal justice. The ability to understand statistical techniques and concepts and interpret results will be emphasized.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

Required for Comprehensive Exam Track. This course provides an overview of major concepts and issues in criminological theory, criminal justice, research methods and data analysis, and law and policy in criminal justice. Students must enroll in this course during the semester they plan to take comprehensive exams.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

Required for Thesis Track. This course encompasses the completion and defense of the student’s thesis. Student must be enrolled in this course from the start of the thesis through successful thesis defense.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

Required for Thesis Track. This course encompasses the completion and defense of the student’s thesis. Student must be enrolled in this course from the start of the thesis through successful thesis defense.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an examination of the role of courts in the creation and maintenance of law, structure of courts and court processes, functioning and impact of the courtroom work group, nature and purpose of sentencing, and impact of changes in sentencing policy. Social science evidence regarding courts and sentencing will be critically analyzed. U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence governing sentencing will also be discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a comparative examination of legal traditions related to crime in various countries. This comparative perspective is used to explore different approaches to substantive and procedural law governing crime and the criminal justice response, policing, judicial systems, and punishment across the globe. The criminal justice system responses to transnational crime and international crime are also discussed. Topics may include mutual legal assistance treaties, extradition, criminal cases impacting international relations, the International Criminal Court, rule of law, and technical assistance for criminal justice systems in developing countries.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical examination of the role of race, class, and gender in offending, victimization, criminal justice system case processing, and working in the criminal justice system.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical analysis of the role of media and political forces in shaping public perceptions of crime and criminal justice and their influence on the formulation of criminal justice policies. Portrayals of crime and criminal justice in news media, popular culture, and political rhetoric will be examined. The role of political ideology and political interest groups in shaping criminal justice policy will be discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an overview of the major legal issues with which managers of criminal justice organizations should be familiar. Public employment law and liability issues for managers and agencies will be emphasized.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course will explore key issues in the study of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice. The course will focus on theoretical perspectives that the field of criminology uses to explain individual differences in juvenile delinquency, current research and rationale on how the criminal justice system should respond to juvenile delinquency, and the implications that societal social constructions of childhood and adolescence have on the criminal justice system.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical examination of corporate crime, state crime, and white collar crime. Differential enforcement of street crime versus corporate and white collar crime will be discussed. The course includes an analysis of harmful acts committed by the powerful with impunity that would be treated as a crime if committed by the less powerful. The unique challenge posed by state crime will also be analyzed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical examination of theories of and justifications for punishment, historical developments in punishment, the relationship between society and punishment, current problems in punishment, and legal developments impacting punishment.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course explores the debate regarding the roles of nature and nurture in the etiology of crime. Topics will include biological, sociological, and biosocial theories of crime.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an examination of leadership theories, leadership styles, and management strategies for criminal justice organizations. The role of leaders in implementing organizational mission and facilitating complex change will be discussed. Case studies will be used to illustrate the application of theories of leadership.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical analysis of theory and research on the nature of law and legal institutions, influence of society on the development of law, impact of law on social change, and function of law as a mechanism of social control.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course will examine patterns, definitions, and theoretical explanations of violent crime. Issues related to violent offending will be discussed as well. This course will also explore various concepts within the field of victimology, including applications and policy developments that arise from concern over victims.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course examines the application of leading theories of organizational behavior to the management of criminal justice agencies. Unique attributes of and challenges faced by criminal justice organizations will be discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides an examination of cybercrime in the digital age, cybersecurity techniques, and challenges faced in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime. The considerable challenges posed by technological change outpacing the development of laws adequately addressing the problem of cybercrime are discussed. National and international laws governing cybercrime are examined.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course examines research findings on the impact of various police practices on crime, fear of crime, and police-community relationships. Methods for determining police effectiveness and the empirical results of effectiveness studies will be discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a critical examination of the relationship between immigration and crime. Immigration laws and policies and immigration proceedings are also examined. The impact of immigration policies on police-community relationships and the effective administration of justice is also discussed.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course explores the application of moral philosophy and ethics to decisions confronting criminal justice practitioners. Criteria for ethical decision making and professional codes of ethics will be discussed. Case studies and hypothetical scenarios will be used to illustrate ethical dilemmas.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

Students will work for a criminal justice agency or non-profit organization dealing with criminal justice issues. Generally, the work should involve the student helping to develop a solution to a problem facing the agency or organization, assisting with implementation of a new initiative, contributing to the development of policies and procedures, analyzing data, or other project-focused work which allows the student to develop professional skills. Instructor approval is required for enrollment.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

This course provides a study of a particular subject, issue, or problem important to criminology or criminal justice. Topics will vary. May be repeated for credit as long as topic are different.

Restrictions: Undergraduate level students may not enroll.

Repeat Status: Course may be repeated 2 time(s).