This seminar acquaints students with key resources for understanding and conducting criminal justice research. The course involves extensive reading, writing, and discussion. It covers the principles of the criminal justice system including the relationship between system components, their effectiveness, and theories of operation and reform. Consideration is also given to specific problems within the branches of the criminal justice system.

This course provides an introduction to criminal justice. One of the primary goals of this course is to provide a general understanding of how the criminal justice system responds to crime in society. The main component parts of the criminal justice system (i.e., police, courts, and corrections) will be examined with a particular emphasis on developing an understanding of the behavior and interactions among the main actors in the criminal justice system. To accomplish this goal, we will examine how criminal cases are processed in the criminal justice system. We will also consider how external forces, such as political decisions, public opinion, and the media influence criminal justice decision-making. Students will also formulate, argue, and evaluate ethical perspectives regarding criminal justice systems, individual-level decisions, and recognize relationships with other ethical problems in society. Finally, throughout the course we will emphasize how the societal response to crime has evolved over time.

This course provides a general overview of policing in the United States. The historical development of modern policing will be explored with an emphasis on the evolving relationships between police organizations, the justice system, and society at large. The role of the police in society, social and legal constraints on police practice, policy reform, and the relationship between police and communities will be discussed. Throughout the course students will interrogate the tension that exists between police authority, efforts to address public safety, and the need to uphold individual liberties and ethical expectations.

This course deals with women as criminal offenders and as victims of crime, focusing upon theories about women in crime, types of crimes committed, patterns of criminality and the treatment of women offenders. Also examines the role of women as law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers and correctional officers in the criminal justice system.

Criminal Justice agencies and the decisions made by individuals working in the justice system have profound influences on society. The significance of this influence requires careful policy oversight and often produces calls for policy reform. This course provides an overview of the public policy process as it relates to issues of crime and criminal justice. Students will gain an understanding of the socio-political context of criminal justice policy, the process by which these policies are developed, and the challenges facing successful policy implementation and reform that are unique to criminal justice. The course will emphasize public policies designed to control or limit the behavior and discretionary decisions of criminal justice actors like police officers, prosecutors, and judges. Additionally, students will review and evaluate policies that have been designed to enhance the control, supervision, and processing of individuals in the criminal justice system. The course culminates with the completion of a formal written capstone project summarizing and evaluating a crime or criminal justice policy.

This course deals with women as criminal offenders and as victims of crime, focusing upon theories about women in crime, types of crimes committed, patterns of criminality and the treatment of women offenders. Also examines the role of women as law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers and correctional officers in the criminal justice system.