Course Description
Case studies and guest talks are used to examine the work, culture, and work settings of various criminal justice practitioners, assess ethical issues in criminal justice practice, and learn new directions in the field.
Athena Title
Criminal Justice Practice
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory)
Course Objectives
This one-hour course introduces students to criminal justice agencies and occupations and considers current issues facing criminal justice professionals. Students will examine the work, culture, and work settings of various criminal justice practitioners, assess ethical issues in criminal justice practice, and learn new directions in the field. Class sessions will include talks given by criminal justice professionals. Assignments will include small group exercises and case studies; assignments will also focus on developing communication skills used by criminal justice practitioners. This course is expected to help prepare each student for a career as a criminal justice professional. By the end of this course: 1) Students should have knowledge of existing careers in criminal justice and new directions in the field. 2) Students should possess an understanding of ethical issues that face criminal justice professionals. 3) Students will have strengthened communication skills used by criminal justice practitioners. 4) Students will have a better understanding of their own career interests.
Topical Outline
1. Careers and criminal justice organizations: federalism and function 2. Law enforcement agencies and the US Department of Justice 3. Federal agencies, criminal justice, and homeland security 4. Law enforcement agencies: state 5. Local law enforcement 6. Corrections personnel: prisons, parole/re-entry 7. Corrections personnel: probation, pre-release programs 8. Judicial administration 9. Legal profession: criminal defense 10. Legal profession: prosecution 11. Victims of violence: victim witness assistance programs, social service agencies, non-profit shelters 12. Juvenile justice 13. Investigations and forensic science 14. Criminal justice and international settings
Syllabus