Introduction To Criminal Justice –

cja204

(3 credits)

This course is an introductory overview of the organization and jurisdictions of local, state, and federal law enforcement, judicial and corrections agencies, and processes involved in the criminal justice systems. It examines the historical aspects of the police, the courts, and the correctional system, as well as the philosophy. Additionally, career opportunities and qualifying requirements, terminology and constitutional limitations of the system will also be covered.

This undergraduate-level course is 5 weeks. To enroll, speak with an Enrollment Advisor.

Topics and Objectives

The Criminal Justice System
- Define crime and its relationship to law.
- Describe the two most common models of how society determines which acts are criminal.
- Identify choice theories of crime and their underlying assumptions.
- Identify instruments for measuring crime.
- Describe governmental structure and its relationship to criminal justice.
- Describe the components of the criminal justice system and the criminal justice process.
- Examine the differences between major crime reporting programs in the United States.
- Describe crime rates, arrest rates, recidivism rates, and clearance rates in the United States.
The Police and Law Enforcement
- Describe the historical development of police agencies and their jurisdiction.
- List five main types of law enforcement agencies and the various law enforcement agencies under the control of the new Department of Homeland Security.
- List three primary purposes of police patrol.
- Outline four major sources that may provide probable cause.
- Recognize the role of the police in contemporary society and be familiar with concepts such as community policing.
- Examine the issues facing police departments in today's society.
Criminal Courts
- Outline the dual court system in the United States.
- Describe the historical development of U.S.courts.
- Examine the differences among members of the courtroom work group.
- Identify the steps involved in the pretrial criminal process.
- Explain how a prosecutor screens potential cases.
- List the six basic steps of an appeal.
- Compare and contrast the five basic philosophical reasons for sentencing criminals.
- Define the six forms of punishment.
Corrections
- Identify types of prisons.
- Describe prison culture and subculture.
- Explain the justifications for community-based corrections programs.
- Summarize the distinction between jails and prisons, and indicate the importance of jails in the American correctional system.
- Indicate some of the reasons for violent behavior in prisons.
- Compare and contrast parole and probation and the conditions which accompany each.
- Describe truth-in-sentencing laws and their goals.
Special Issues
- Define delinquency and status offenses.
- Compare and contrast the four major differences between juvenile courts and adult courts.
- Identify the variables which correlate with juvenile crime rates.
- Distinguish cyber crime from traditional crime.
- Explain the activities and purposes of most hackers.

The University of Phoenix reserves the right to modify courses.
While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Advisor.
Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice.

Introduction To Criminal Justice –

cja204

The Criminal Justice System

The Police and Law Enforcement

Criminal Courts

Corrections

Special Issues

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