Criminal Justice - CRJ
CRJ 227 Criminal Justice I 3 Credits
Analyze the field of Criminal Justice. Specifically, the course examines police and policing within the context of US history. It analyzes structure of the US Court System along with its practice, including the trial process and sentencing. Evaluate the structure, functions, practice and policies of the US correction system with a focus on alternatives to incarceration. Examine the Juvenile Delinquency System with an emphasis on Juvenile Courts.
Fulfills College Core: Field 5 (Social Sciences)
Offered: fall.
CRJ 228 Criminal Justice II 3 Credits
Analyzes the field of Criminology by defining crime from both Consensus and Critical perspective. It examines selected crimes, such as terrorism and white collar crimes, as examples of the critical concept of crime. It explores major criminology theories that explains crime as well as related policies to fight crime and criminal activities.
Offered: every spring.
CRJ 250 Criminal Law and Procedure 3 Credits
The substantive criminal law, including offenses against persons, property and public morality with emphasis on New York State Penal Law. Criminal responsibility and defenses. In addition key Supreme Court decisions on the criminal justice related constitutional amendments (4th, 5th, 6th and 8th amendments). Finally, Appeals and post-conviction relief will be discussed.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227.
Offered: every spring.
CRJ 275 Criminal Courts 3 Credits
This course will explore the legal, social and political institutions that affect the dynamics of the criminal process. Topics will include the adversarial process and the decision-making of different participants in the system. The course will also look at the interrelationships that affect and influence court decisions and justice. A thorough examination of this subject will lead to a better understanding of criminal courts and its function within the criminal justice system.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227 and CRJ 228.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 280 Legal Writing and Advocacy I 3 Credits
Explores the use of language in the administration of law, including ways to read and brief cases and to read statutes.
Fulfills College Core: Justice, Oral Communication
Offered: spring.
CRJ 285 Legal Writing and Advocacy II 3 Credits
Introduces undergraduates to the practical written and oral application of legal principles by giving them basic tasks a lawyer would perform. Students gain a basic knowledge of the legal system and legal culture, and they also learn to analyze fact situations to spot and present legal issues from different perspectives: the defense, the plaintiff/prosecutor, the judge, and law enforcement. Class discussion includes legal, political, social, and moral implications of facts and law necessary to understand fact- based legal scenarios and to complete the following written assignments expressing this understanding:
Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive
Offered: every fall.
CRJ 300 Special Topics in Criminal Justice 3 Credits
Critical examination of a selected topic in criminal justice. Subject matter determined by the instructor.
CRJ 325 Restorative Justice and the Administration of Justice 3 Credits
Explores the significance of social inequality, especially race/ethnicity, gender and social class, for crimes and criminal justice system. Restorative justice theory, practices and policies are examined as a tool to mitigate the harm of discriminatory practices in the administration of justice.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227 and CRJ 228.
Offered: every spring.
CRJ 330 Current Issues in Forensic Psychology 3 Credits
Application of the science of psychology to questions and issues relating to criminal law and the criminal justice system. Topics discussed include competency to stand trial, assessment of mental state for an insanity plea, and prediction of violence and assessment of risk.
Prerequisites: CRJ 227 and CRJ 228.
Offered: spring.
CRJ 336 Drug Treatment Courts 3 Credits
Examination of drug prohibition and the administration of diversional treatment courts and other treatment of drug offenders.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 337 Violence and the Family 3 Credits
How family dynamics can contain elements that give rise to violence, including 'battered women' and abused children.
Offered: fall & spring.
CRJ 345 Gangs in American Society 3 Credits
Examines the theoretical causes for the growth of gangs; including youth and criminal gangs. Topics include the social theories, measurement, and solutions.
CRJ 350 Policy Issues in the Administration of Criminal Justice 3 Credits
Critical examination of a selected policy related to criminal justice phenomenon. Subject matter determined by the instructor.
Prerequisite: None.
Offered: every spring.
CRJ 351 Police and the Community 3 Credits
Critical examination of the operation of all levels of law enforcement in America. Topics include the selection process, training, ethics, and police accountability.
CRJ 354 Juvenile Delinquency 3 Credits
Legal processes in juvenile delinquency as well as understanding and analysis of current practices and historic and contemporary issues. Suggested programs for rehabilitation and prevention of delinquency.
CRJ 356 Treatment of Offenders 3 Credits
Correction theory, offender typologies, and nature and diagnosis of offenders and future trends in dealing with criminal offenders.
CRJ 358 Green and White Collar Crime 3 Credits
Analyzes the definition, nature, extend and social cost of white and green collar crimes from both a legalistic and critical approach. Special attention is given on how perpetrators of white and green collar crimes avoid criminal prosecution and the role that the corporate structure has in avoiding the prosecution of these crimes.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 365 Criminalizing the Mentally Ill 3 Credits
This course examines the legal and policy issues regarding the practice of criminalization of persons with mental illness. Topics investigated include the history of criminalization of persons with mental illness, constitutional issues, law enforcement responses to persons with mental illness, mentally ill offenders in jails and prisons, civil commitment, mental health courts and community supervision strategies.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 382 Criminal Justice Ethics 3 Credits
The personal, social and criminal justice contexts for understanding justice, crime and ethics. Skills necessary to deal effectively with ethical issues in criminal justice systems. Problems and case studies for active exploration of social issues.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227 and CRJ 228.
Fulfills College Core: Ethics
Offered: fall.
CRJ 385 Death Penalty: Law and Policy 3 Credits
This course examines the major legal and policy issues relating to the practice of the death penalty in the United States. Topics investigated include the history of the death penalty in the United States, the constitutional limits on the types of crimes and criminals for which the death penalty is permitted, and contemporary controversies regarding the death penalty including potential innocence, special populations, methods of execution, race and gender biases.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 386 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems 3 Credits
Examines criminal justice systems across the globe including their historical significance and policy implications. Students will also analyze international and transnational crimes within the context of globalization. Students will understand diversity by analyzing similarities and differences across criminal justice systems within the broad categories of policing, legal institutions and correctional structures.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227.
Offered: every fall & spring.
CRJ 390 Current Issues in Criminalistics 3 Credits
Application of the science to the recognition, documentation, preservation, and analysis in the process of collecting physical evidence as it relates to crime, criminal law and criminal procedure. Topics discussed include evidence collection, analysis, criminal procedure and criminal justice, including civil rights.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227 and CRJ 228.
Offered: occasionally.
CRJ 455 Criminology 3 Credits
Classical and contemporary theories of criminal behavior and the role of theory in the criminal justice system. Explanations for why crime occurs, understanding of criminal behavior and its impact on society. Students will be produce a policy analysis research paper that will explore criminal justice policies, criminal theory and justice theories.
Prerequisite: CRJ 227, CRJ 228, CRJ 325.
Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive, Justice
Offered: every fall & spring.
CRJ 498 Criminal Justice Internship 3-15 Credits
Opportunity for selected students to participate in daily work of law enforcement agencies, courts, law firms, and social service agencies. Students must apply the semester before they take the internship.
Prerequisite: minimum GPA of 3.0, junior or senior status, & signature of major advisor.
Offered: fall & spring.
CRJ 499 Independent Study 3 Credits
Independent studies allow in-depth study of a specific topic and are most often reserved for seniors who cannot otherwise fulfill a graduation requirement. Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair, & associate dean.
Offered: fall & spring.
