Criminal Justice (CJCU)

CJCU 300 Contemporary Criminal Justice Applications

This course provides an overview of the criminal justice system in the United States. Students will identify the different components of the criminal justice system including, policing, courts, and corrections. Students will also differentiate between theories of crime and assess special issues in the criminal justice system. 3 credits.

CJCU 320 Selected Topics in Criminal Justice

An examination of selected topics in the area of criminal justice. Courses that examine different topics may be repeated for credit. 3 credits.

CJCU 329 Experimental Topics in Criminal Justice

An examination of selected topics in Criminal Justice relevant to evolving areas in the field. Syllabi must be approved by Dean and announced to the Curriculum and Academic Committee prior to be offered. May be repeated for credit provided that the course content is different. 3 credits.

CJCU 380 Correctional Systems

Prerequisite: CJCU 300.

Criminals and institutional personnel involved in corrections at all levels will be reviewed in depth. History, politics, and contemporary corrections issues such as punishment theories, sentencing alternatives, prison experience and prisoner rights, female and juvenile incarceration problems, overcrowding, and 21st century corrections will be examined. 3 credits.

CJCU 403 Police and Society

Prerequisite: CJCU 300.

This course focuses on law enforcement and its interaction with society. Various perspectives will be explored including police subcultures, use of force and authority, selective enforcement and discretion, community reactions and media relations with police, dissent and conflict management. 3 credits.

CJCU 408 Crime Scene Investigation

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of proper crime scene investigation techniques. Students will analyze basic investigative responsibilities, including preparing cases for court. Additionally, students will explore the historical perspective of criminal investigations.The course provides information about how technological advances support the work of crime scene investigators. 3 credits.

CJCU 411 Gangs and Gang Behavior

The purpose of this course is to sensitize students to the issues surrounding gangs and gang behavior. Students will analyze race, gender, age and demographics of gang make up. The course provides insight into gangs and gang behavior historically and in contemporary times. Students will analyze law enforcement strategies to deter and address gang activity. Additionally, students will evaluate theories of gang behavior. 3 credits.

CJCU 414 Organized Crime

This course examines the structures, organization, typologies and operations common to organized criminals. Students will analyze the effects of intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic rivalries and cooperation between criminal groups and organized criminal enterprises. Finally, students will assess law enforcement efforts at combating organized crime in the United States and abroad. 3 credits.

CJCU 415 Ethics in Criminal Justice

This course provides an overview of ethical dilemmas faced by criminal justice professionals. Students will examine different ethical systems used in decision-making related to criminal justice issues. Biological influences and psychological theories used to explain individual behavior will be explored in the context of criminal justice. Students will also analyze the exercise of discretion by criminal justice professionals, and analyze methods to resolve ethical dilemmas in real-world scenarios. 3 credits.

CJCU 416 Domestic Violence

This course provides an overview of the criminal laws and sanctions specifically applied to domestic violence. Students will address various types of court proceedings including family court, juvenile court, and civil trials. They will also consider incidence, research, and theories of domestic violence and their influence on criminal justice response and intervention. 3 credits.

CJCU 418 Victim Advocacy

This course provides an overview of the Victim Advocacy system from a criminal justice perspective. Student will address the history of advocacy, specifically substance abuse, homelessness, mental health patients and diseases, physically impaired people, and victims of crime. They will have the opportunity to explore intervention techniques and determine local, state, and federal resources available to practitioners and clients. 3 credits.

CJCU 425 Evidence

This course addresses general principles of evidence law in the United States, together with comparative study of French evidence law. Students will examine foundational principles of evidence law including materiality, relevance, competence, hearsay, judicial notice, the roles of the judge and jury, and standards of proof. Students will also analyze jurisdictional issues surrounding digital evidence and the handling of crime scene forensic evidence. The Federal Rules of Evidence serves as the framework of inquiry throughout the course. 3 credits.

CJCU 430 Applied Criminology

Prerequisite: CJCU 300.

This course is designed to teach students to apply criminological concepts and theories to contemporary crime issues and debates. Students will study the nature, causes, extent, and control of criminal behavior in both individuals and groups. The course provides students with the opportunity to analyze why some individuals adopt ‘deviant’ lifestyles or make criminal choices. Students will explore the theories, principles, techniques, materials, and methods commonly employed in the discipline of criminology and criminal justice. 3 credits.

CJCU 432 Communication and Conflict Resolution for Criminal Justice

This course surveys the communication process within the context of criminal justice. Students will examine theories of communication as they relate to police external interactions with the public and internal interactions within their organizations. They will compare the effectiveness of verbal and nonverbal communication in police investigations and evaluate communication techniques used for diverse groups in multiple settings. Students will also analyze processes for resolving conflict, de-escalating potentially violent situations, and using effective communication to build effective relationships between the public and criminal justice professionals. 3 credits.

CJCU 434 Diversity, Conflict, and Crime

This course is designed to sensitize students to diversity issues in criminal justice. Students will analyze gender, race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, and social class issues as well as theoretical perspectives on diversity and crime. They will also explore the influence of diversity on the relationship between criminal justice professionals and citizens, victims, suspects, and co-workers. 3 credits.

CJCU 435 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

This course examines contemporary societal issues that impact and influence the criminal justice system in the United States. Students will analyze criminal justice issues such as drug use and policy, bail reform, asset forfeiture, police-community relations, juvenile justice and the use of drones by law enforcement. Real-world cases will be examined, and potential solutions to current criminal justice issues will be discussed. 3 credits.

CJCU 438 Mental Health Issues in Society

This course presents a comprehensive review of the origins of mental health/illness issues as they relate to the criminal justice system. Key concepts, such as criminalization, deinstitutionalization and crisis response, will be addressed within the context of mental illness. Students will focus on mental health issues from a cultural, social, historical, legal and institutional framework. They will investigate the roles that social class, gender, family, race, culture, and ethnicity play in the development of maladjustment. Access to resources such as mental health services and continuity of care will also be addressed. 3 credits.

CJCU 440 Drugs and Society

This course examines the treatment of drugs in the United States from both the public policy and criminal justice perspectives. Students will analyze public policy decisions to address drug use and addiction through the criminal justice system rather than through the public health apparatus. Consideration will be given to why certain drugs are banned and why other drugs, though controlled, are not banned. The historical underpinnings of drug prohibition will also be identified. Finally, students will critique the current public debate over the merits of drug legalization versus prohibition. 3 credits.

CJCU 450 Homeland Security

This course studies the structure of the newest federal cabinet level agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in terms of prevention and response capability. It studies the capacity of the agency to respond to terrorist events, natural disasters, man-made emergencies, safety of US transportation systems and protection of US borders. It also explores the relationships, sharing and cooperation of all federal agencies in regard to intelligence gathering capability to support DHS counter-terrorism missions as well as the impact of counter-terrorism has on civil rights. 3 credits.

CJCU 460 White Collar Crime

This class examines the underlying theories, changing definitions and diverse nature of white-collar crime. These crimes may include offenses perpetrated by “the rich,” corporations and businesses, and/or individuals. Topics may include embezzlement, political corruption, employee theft, fraud, “con games,” and emergent areas such as computer crime and environmental crime. 3 credits.

CJCU 465 Management in Criminal Justice Organizations

This course applies management and financial principles to Criminal Justice organizations. Emphasis is placed on budgets, personnel issues, organization and management, as well as discipline procedures and EEO practices. Constitutional requirements, court decisions, and legislation as they impact management in criminal justice organizations are also discussed. 3 credits.

CJCU 474 Counterterrorism

The study of counterterrorism necessarily entails the study of terrorism itself. Terrorism is about the struggle to gain power. This course presents a look at the historical background of terrorism, modern terrorist tactics, counterterrorism tactics, and the social, economic, and political factors that foster terrorism. Students will examine modern terrorist and counterterrorist tactics. An evaluation and assessment of how best to formulate responses to violent Islamist extremism will be an important focus of the course. 3 credits.

CJCU 475 Domestic Terrorism

This course focuses on the study of the foundations of domestic terrorism, including an examination of its historical origins. Topics include active domestic groups, organizational structures, networks, modes of operation and philosophies. Students will consider religious, economic, political and social underpinnings of domestic terrorism. 3 credits.

CJCU 495 Criminal Justice Capstone Course

Prerequisite: CJCU 300.

This course examines the criminal justice system in the United States from a critical perspective. Students will apply critical analysis and prior learning to address various legal, ethical, and community-based issues relevant to the criminal justice process from investigative detention through verdict. Students will also devise collaborative approaches to solve various problems related to the criminal justice system. 3 credits.

CJCU 499 Independent Study

Prerequisites: Instructor's approval and approval of petition.

Directed reading and/or research designed to meet specific needs of superior upper division students. 1-3 credits.