CJ 209 – The Criminal Justice System (3 credits)
Have you ever wondered…
- why does violent crime occur?
- how is evidence really collected and used?
- does punishment deter crime?
- does the criminal justice system really work the way it's shown on TV?
You will have the chance to consider answers through this program, which will provide an overview of the American criminal justice system, including a detailed analysis of policing, the courts, and corrections – and the scholarly work examining these important aspects of the discipline.
Faculty will facilitate your discussion on topics like the role of media in influencing public perceptions and public policy in such areas as juvenile punishment, the death penalty, and gun control.
Your classroom learning will be supplemented by real-life stories about various elements of the field as revealed by criminologists, federal agents, local law enforcement officers, and forensic scientists.
Field trips may include such locations as the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum, the Museum of Crime and Punishment, the Newseum and its G-men exhibit, and the Holocaust Museum to analyze genocide and crimes against humanity.