Criminal Justice Major

Program Highlights

Criminal Justice Major

, Program Director

A major in Criminal Justice offers a broad and theoretical view of the criminal justice process, including sociological and political factors related to crime and criminal justice, and prepare students for varied careers in criminal justice through specific coursework in these fields.

�鶹Լ��'s vision for a degree in criminal justice is based on the leading-edge theory and practice of Restorative Justice (RJ). RJ refers to a collaborative form of justice involving active participation among victims, offenders, and the community in repairing, reconciling, and restoring relationships among all parties affected by a crime. Restorative justice is more than just a recent trend in criminal justice. It is the wave of the future for criminal justice practitioners, which beckons us to prepare our students for new careers in criminal justice where these principles will be in effect in future criminal justice programs.

Students may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

Learning Goals

Increase understanding of the theoretical foundations and practices of Criminal Justice (University learning goals: knowledge; a personal life of meaning and value).
Critically examine current CJ practices and alternative approaches to crime. (University learning goals: critical reasoning; democratic citizenship in a global environment).
Make judgments about the Criminal Justice system that includes ethical reasoning. (University learning goals: critical reasoning; democratic citizenship in a global environment).
Demonstrate professional writing skills, as appropriate to the discipline. (University learning goals: professional success; performance learning).

Practicum Highlights

The Criminal Justice Practicum encourages career exploration in the criminal justice system, as a required final course for students pursuing the minor. The structure of this program stresses integration of academic studies and workforce experience, determination of learning goals, cultivation of independent learning skills, development of increased awareness of community and public affairs, and understanding of diversity in the work place. By working with criminal justice agencies, students will be placed in a community setting which will help students answer their own questions about possible career choices in these fields.

Work Study/Non-Work Study Internships

These internship experiences are different than the Practicum. Internships are available for students any time throughout the semester and do not count as academic credit. Students can choose to work anywhere in the Criminal Justice field. All internships must be approved by the Criminal Justice Program Director, Keyria Rodgers.

Macon County Teen Justice Program

Click here to find the plan of study

Courses Descriptions

Introduction to Criminal Justice Professions	Criminal justice careers typically fall into one of two categories: law enforcement or legal. But contrary to what many may know about the career opportunities in criminal justice, it is more than just becoming a cop or a lawyer. In this course, students will be given a practical, comprehensive toolkit that easily explains the extensive operations and the scope of employment possibilities and opportunities in the criminal justice profession. They cover many criminal justice functions and career paths that are seldom discussed when preparing for a career in criminal justice. There will be a focus on how to obtain employment in a career field that fits personal strengths and aspirations and emphasizes the value of internships and service learning as tools to obtain the desired position. (CJ 100)
Juvenile Delinquency	What, exactly, is delinquency? Are young people becoming more delinquent/violent? Why do some youths engage in relatively high levels of delinquency and drug use? How do popular conceptions of delinquency compare to reality? Are current delinquency-control policies effective? These questions and others will be the focus of this course. Through readings, lectures, and class discussions we will explore some of the core issues in the study of delinquency and youth violence. These issues will be approached from the wide variety of perspectives that have influenced criminologists including biological, psychological, sociological, and historical perspectives. (Special attention will be given to social-psychological theories as they currently dominate the field). Cross-listed with IN251. (CJ211)
Deviance	This course will examine the varied behaviors considered to be deviant in contemporary western societies, the socially constructed nature of deviance, and the development of public policies for the control of deviant acts. Special emphasis will be given to the definition of deviance, the measurement of deviance, theories of deviant behavior, the deviant career and the development of social control strategies in contemporary society. Cross-listed with IN251.(CJ233)
Introduction to the Criminal Justice System	This course introduces students to the criminal justice system, by reviewing and understanding the roles of the three main components; police, courts and corrections. Cross-listed with IN251.(CJ235)
The Law of Evidence	This survey course focuses on the Federal Rules of Evidence (and in some instances, the Illinois Evidence Code), related case law, and those constitutional concepts that limit proof at criminal trials. Students will explore the origin, development, philosophy and constitutional basis of the rules of evidence used in criminal proceedings in the United States. Students will become familiar with the features of evidentiary procedures, such as real and physical evidence, relevance, burdens of proof, presumptions, stipulations, competency, privileges, cross-examination, hearsay and its exceptions, and expert opinion testimony (CJ305)
Restorative Justice	This course will introduce students to the theory, concept, and practice of restorative justice. After an extensive review of the tradition and history of restorative justice, and contemporary research and scholarship, students will have a performance learning opportunity to participate in a restorative justice program or activity in the local community. Course learning materials and assignments will be directed toward a cumulative assignment in which students evaluate a criminal justice program or agency in relation to its use of restorative justice principles and practices.(CJ311)
Crime and Public Policy	Crime in the United States has fluctuated considerably over the past thirty years, as have the police approaches to deal with it. During this time criminologists and other scholars have helped to shed light on the role of incarceration, prevention, drugs, guns, policing, and numerous other aspects to crime control. Yet the latest research is rarely heard in public discussions and is often missing from the desks of policymakers. The course is designed to review existing literature, discuss the methodological rigor of the research, identify what policies and programs the research suggests, and then point to policies now implemented that fail to reflect the evidence. Students will learn of the criminal justice system (juvenile justice, police, prisons, probation and parole, sentencing) and how broader aspects of social life inhibit or encourage crime (biology, schools, families, communities). (CJ315)
Judicial Process and Constitutional Issues	This course will first acquaint students with the process of judicial decision making in trial courts as well as courts of review. The binding effect of court decisions through case law precedent will be explained. The course will then shift emphasis to a discussion of court decisions regarding constitutional issues raised in criminal cases. Students will learn about the various stages of a criminal prosecution from the time of arrest through final court resolution. Opinions of the United States Supreme Court, as well as other courts of review, will be analyzed throughout this process. Constitutional issues commonly raised in criminal cases will be discussed in detail, including 4th Amendment Rights related to search and seizure, 5th Amendment Rights related to police interrogations, and the 6th Amendment Right to counsel. (CJ317)
Community Policing	This course will review the current focus on community based policing and its use in contemporary society. Students will be asked to consider whether this is a new approach or a return to historic policing approaches. Students will be expected to identify the effectiveness of emerging practices that focus on community based policing. Students will learn to identify the differences between generalist and specialist applications of community policing tactics.(CJ318)
Criminal Investigations	This course is designed to introduce the student to the unique aspects of criminal investigation, as distinguished from other areas of police service. Students will explore investigative theory, the collection and preservation of evidence, sources of information, concepts of interviewing and interrogation, the use of forensic sciences, and trial preparation. Emphasis will be placed on investigative techniques employed, identification of motives and modus operandi, and the use of informants. Gathering information through interviews and interrogations as well as the legal aspects of crime solving will be integral parts of the focus of the course. This course also examines concepts and methods of investigation of specific forms of crime (For example, homicide, rape, and robbery). (CJ340)
Forensics	This course provides students with a basic understanding of the nature of physical evidence and its role in the criminal justice system. Students will explore basic scientific and legal principles involved with the identification, collection, preservation and analysis of forensic evidence. Students will be exposed to specific items of physical evidence including their components, manufacture, methods of analysis, and value in case work. Students will engage in the application of specific methods in an effort to successfully resolve various criminal justice problems. (CJ355)
Criminology	Through the lens of major criminological theories we will explore the criminal justice system in America. Some of the topics to be included in this sociological inquiry include an extensive review of theory, contemporary criminal law/philosophy, the current face of corrections today, and cutting edge alternative paradigms that radically challenge existing notions of criminality. (CJ361)
The Correctional Process	The focus of this course is to introduce the student of criminal justice to the American correctional system. This course analyzes the development of correctional practices in the handling of those convicted of crimes from early to modern times. Students will explore correctional institutions including the subject areas of penology, correctional science, the sociology of punishment or penal sanctions, and the study of social control. Students will come to understand exactly how correctional institutions implement the incarceration function for society, and in turn, are both shaped and shapers of culture. This course will also consist of an in-depth analysis regarding subcomponents (e.g. bail, jail, probation, different types of prisons, the death penalty, community-based programs, parole, release and reentry) of the correctional “subsystem” in criminal justice. An appreciative understanding will be sought by requiring students to think critically about life in prison, and the socio-cultural or psychological aspects of inmate “society.” (CJ410)
Criminal Justice Research and Analysis	This course provides an overview of social science research methods, applied statistical techniques, and statistical software used in the study of criminal justice. Students will engage in problem definition, proposal writing, study design, information gathering, literature reviews, data analysis and interpretation, as well as writing and presenting research on criminal justice. Particular attention will be given to research design, sampling techniques, interviewing, questionnaire or survey instrumentation, and observation-participation techniques. (CJ415)
Victims in Society	This course focuses upon crime and the justice system from the victims’ perspective. Students will study and gain understanding of the legal, social, psychological and economic perspectives, approaches and consequences of victimization from an individual, institutional, and legal point of view. This course will examine the levels, dynamics and major correlates and consequences of primary and secondary criminal victimization, and the appropriateness of a variety of formal and informal responses aimed at preventing and/or remedying them. Emphasis throughout the course will be upon developing students’ skill at systematically clarifying the definition of those problems and proposed or existing responses, as well as understanding and applying criteria and methods by which alternative responses might be evaluated. (CJ420)
Criminal Justice Practicum	This course is designed to offer students opportunities to further develop their knowledge of research and practice in the field of criminal justice, as distinct from teen restorative justice. Students will work with the criminal justice program to develop skills relevant to the workplace, develop personal contacts, expand upon networking strategies, and to have a close and personal view of how criminal justice is practiced in Macon County. This course is designed to provide students with practical learning opportunities with Criminal Justice, Legal, and Social Service agencies within Macon County (CJ470)
Teen Justice Practicum	This course is designed to offer students opportunities to further develop their knowledge of research and practice in the field of teen justice, as distinct from criminal justice. Students will work with the teen justice program to develop skills relevant to the workplace, develop personal contacts, expand upon networking strategies, and to have a close and personal view of how restorative teen justice is practiced in Macon County. (CJ471)

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