CRMJ 1010 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

3 sem hrs cr

This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the American criminal justice system with particular emphasis on the major agencies involved in its operation – police, courts, and corrections by examining its historical development, current trends, and public policy issues relative to crime defendants, and victims.

This course may include proctored exams which must be completed on campus or at an instructor approved proctoring center which may require additional costs to the student. Please consult your instructor for additional details.

  Formerly/Same As (Formerly CJA 2010)

Transfer (UT) or Non-Transfer Course (UN): UT

Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to…

• explain what is meant by the term “criminal justice system.”
• contrast the crime control and due process models of justice.
• identify the various steps involved in processing cases through the criminal justice system, noting the various stages where diversion may occur.
• identify the major sources of crime data statistics and how crime is measured.
• discuss the nature and purpose of law.
• identify and explain general categories of crime: felonies, misdemeanors, offenses.
• explain the following legal standards: probable cause, reasonable suspicion, exclusionary rule.
• explain the origin and purpose of the Miranda warning.
• outline and explain pretrial proceedings.
• identify and explain the sequence of events in a criminal trial.
• identify and explain the factors involved in the sentencing process.
• identify and explain the factors involved in the appellate process.
• identify and explain the roles of the following in the criminal justice system: victims, police defendants, prosecutors, defense attorneys/public defenders, probation officers, judges.
• identify and explain the seven major elements of a crime: legality, conduct, harm, causation, mens rea, concurrence, and punishment.
• explain the defenses to crime categorized as excuses and justifications.
• explain the concepts of accessoryship and conspiracy.
• identify and explain the following categories of crime: homicide, assault, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, fraud, arson, white-collar crime, high-tech crime, corporate crime, organized crime, and crimes against public morality.
• describe biological theories of criminal behavior.
• describe psychological theories of criminal behavior.
• describe sociological theories of criminal behavior.
• explain the concept of situational crime prevention.
• describe the concept of globalization.
• identify and describe the term “transnational crime,” and cite specific examples.
• identify and describe the term “international crime,” and cite specific examples.