Criminal Justice Courses

CRJ 103. Introduction to Criminal Justice. 3 hours credit
This course is designed to provide an overview of the justice process, and the criminal justice system in general, at the local, state, and federal levels of law enforcement, corrections, and judicial systems.

CRJ 223. Survey of Corrections. 3 hours credit
An overview of corrections as part of the criminal justice system; with emphasis on historical perspectives, theory and methods and incarceration, alternatives to incarceration, juvenile offenders, and current special issues.

CRJ 233. Evidence. 3 hours credit
The course provides an analysis of the rules of evidence; with emphasis on evidence obtained through search, seizure, and arrest. Also examines the procedures and rules to which one must adhere in order for evidence to be admissible.

CRJ 243. Criminal Law. 3 hours credit
Historical and philosophical concepts of law, preserving life and property, offenses against persons and property, and common offenses and defenses against criminal acts.

CRJ 303. Criminology. 3 hours credit
This course provides a general survey of the nature and causes of crime, and efforts of the criminal justice system to predict, prevent, modify, and correct this behavior.

CRJ 323. Probation, Pardon, and Parole. 3 hours credit
An introduction to the fields of probations, pardon, and parole; current theories, practices, organizational goals, and problems with adult and juvenile probations and parole programs.

CRJ 343. Constitutional Law. 3 hours credit
Examination of Constitutional provisions, their development through court interpretation, and their application to law enforcement.

CRJ 381. Family and Societal Violence. 3 hours credit, even years, fall. Crosslisted as PSY 381 and SWK 381

The purpose of this course is to examine the acts of violence in this country and the intervention strategies to alleviate these societal problems.  A special emphasis will be placed on the mental health and legal professions.  Several causal relationships will be explored.

CRJ 403. Criminal Investigation. 3 hours credit
This course is designed to provide the student with a basic knowledge of the means and methods of investigating a variety of reported criminal offenses. Identification, collection, and examinations necessary to the successful completion of a criminal investigation will be discussed. Theories and practices of the investigative process and the criminal justice system, duties and responsibilities of the investigator, and treatment of physical evidence will be discussed.

CRJ 413. Courts and Courtroom Procedure. 3 hours credit
This course provides an analysis of the structure and functions of the criminal court system in the United States, including roles of the prosecutor, defender, judge, jury, and court administrator.

CRJ 423. Ethics and the Criminal Justice System. 3 hours credit
This course examines dilemmas and decisions in the criminal justice system focusing on typical problems encountered in law enforcement, corrections, and the court. Attention is given to due process, fundamental fairness, and various ethical guidelines used in the criminal justice system.

CRJ 433. Special Topics in Criminal Justice. 3 hours credit
This course is a variable-topics course in which the students explore current topics, problems, or issues in the field of criminal justice.

CRJ 453. Research and Writing in Criminal Justice. 3 hours credit
This course addresses general and specific aspects of conducting research in criminal justice.