course offerings

CJUS 201 INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE. (Also (POLS 201.) An overview of the criminal justice system focusing primarily on the institutions involved in the operations of law including the police, the attorney in the legal system, the bail system, trial, the guilty plea, sentencing, and corrections. A limited portion of the course is devoted to an analysis of the purposes of the criminal law in terms of ascertaining why we make certain kinds of conduct criminal in our society.

CJUS 202 WRITING AND RESEARCH IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Fulfills the advanced composition requirements. This course stresses communication about criminal justice issues. The philosophy, scope, goals, context and objectives of this course are directed towards learning both writing and research skills.

CJUS 203 POLICING IN A FREE SOCIETY. Provides an overview of the role of law enforcement within the criminal justice system, including law enforcement organizations and functions of separate operational units. The role of the police in a democratic society will also be examined with attention given to police services, crime deterrence, discretion and enforcement policies.

CJUS 240 INDIAN LAW AND JUSTICE. Study of the development, structure and powers of the Indian tribal government. Special emphasis is placed on the law and legal relationships between tribal, state and federal governments.

CJUS 351CRIMINOLOGY. (Also SOC 351). Sociology of criminal behavior and juvenile delinquency, with an emphasis on etiological theory. Extent and forms of crime are considered together with the characteristics of offenders.

CJUS 301 CIVIL LAW AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM. All justice systems have two sides-civil and criminal. This course surveys the civil side of our justice system, covering such topics as torts, contracts, and civil procedure. Comparisons with criminal justice will be made throughout the course.

CJUS 396 FIELD EXPERIENCE. The student undertakes supervised field experience and completes and organizational analysis. 

CJUS 334 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. A study of the fundamental principles of a criminal investigation subsequent to the initial activities of the first investigator at the scene. The intent of this course is to acquaint the student with those investigative actions which are most applicable to all types of investigations.

CJUS 491 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Extensive reading and research on selected criminal justice problems. Open to juniors and seniors with the consent of a Criminal Justice faculty member and the Program Director.

CJUS 367INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS. (Also POLS 367) An introduction to the systematic analysis of government problems, behavior, organization, and decision making with attention to research planning, data collection, report writing and elementary statistical analysis.

CJUS 401 LAW AND SOCIETY. This course will be divided into two main segments. The initial readings will focus on providing a theoretical overview and the topics of analysis will include: legal reasoning, law and conflicting interests, law and popular will, law and status/wealth/power and law and official discretion. The second half of the course examines law in context and will take up issues concerning the structure of legal relations, the connections between legal and social relations and nexus between ideology and organization. 

CJUS 406 CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE COMMUNITY. Study of the problems and issues raised by the conflicting and complementary relationships between the individual components of the criminal justice system--police, courts and corrections--and the community it serves, including crime victims and offenders.

CJUS 411 TRIAL AND EVIDENCE. An analysis of the rules of evidence. Particular subjects include documentary evidence, hearsay evidence, confessions, admissions, judicial notice, presumptions, the nature of real and circumstantial evidence burden of proof, province of court and jury, and witnesses. Students will participate in mock trials.

CJUS 412 CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE. Behavioral and legal analysis of the stages and procedures of a criminal case including initial appearance, bail, preliminary hearing, grand jury, arraignment, suppression hearings, trial and sentencing. Emphasis is on bail reform, plea bargaining, screening, diversion, speedy trial, insanity defense, discovery, and the roles of the defense attorney, prosecutor and judge. Included is an examination of the court system as a social institution of human actors who exercise extensive discretion within the boundaries of the law.

CJUS 414  WOMEN, CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. An examination of how attitudes and stereotypical conceptions of the social role of women affect responses of the criminal justice system. Women as professionals, victims, offenders, and prisoners are examined.

CJUS 415 ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Focus on ethical decisions and dilemmas with and emphasis on the application of ethical theory to problems confronting criminal justice. Critical analysis of traditional and recent theories of justice, rights, responsibilities, punishments, freedom, equality, goodness, duty, happiness, and other key concepts.

CJUS 492 PROBLEMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. An examination of selected contemporary problems in the administration of criminal justice. Topic will change each semester. May be repeated for credit. Course descriptions available prior to term course is offered.

CJUS 419 FAMILY VIOLENCE. An exploration of the incidence, scope and contributing factors in family violence. Various perspectives (feminist, psychological, sociological, historical, and legal) are examined. Topical issues include patriarchy, marital rape, domestic assault, and child sexual abuse. Coverage includes theories of violence, alternatives to violence interactions, and criminal justice system's response.

CJUS 425 POLICE ADMINISTRATION. A study of the principles of law enforcement organization and management, including line, staff and auxiliary functions, political controls and limitations upon authority and jurisdiction.

CJUS 429 COURTS AND JUDICIAL POLITICS. (Also POLS 429) Explores the process and politics of the state and federal judicial systems, judicial selection, agenda setting, decision making, and the influence of outside parties on legal policy.

CJUS 431CRIMINAL LAW (Also POLS 431) Examination of the substantive criminal law and a unique opportunity to explore the larger issues concerning the relationship of the individual to the state. Includes analysis of the following topics: the nature of criminal liability and the functions and justifications for criminal punishment, legal limitations upon criminalization, the general principles of criminal liability such as the "act" and "state of mind" requirements, specific offenses against persons and property, the law of attempt, the law of complicity and conspiracy.