CSJ - Criminal & Social Justice

Formerly LAS 106. This course is an examination of contemporary American law enforcement. Policing and investigative agencies and their structures, functions and purposes are examined and evaluated. Topics include history, criminological role in society, trends in crime and enforcement, professionalism, organizational sub-cultures, ethics, corruption and civil liability. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS107. This course provides a broad overview of the criminal justice system, including legal rights and responsibilities, law enforcement, courts, and correctional institutions. Problems of these institutions and possible remedies will be examined and discussed. Particular attention will be paid to the Illinois criminal justice system. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS205. This course is a study of the theoretical reasons for criminal behavior and victimization. Current issues, policies, and research regarding victimization, punishment, treatment and rehabilitation will be examined and discussed. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 semester hours

Formerly LAS206. This course is designed to examine the purpose, structure and functions of criminal law in Illinois and the U.S. Topics include the elements necessary to establish a crime and criminal intent. The sources of criminal law, attempts and conspiracy, defenses to crime, laws of arrest, search and seizure, and civil law will be highlighted. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS207. History, purpose, and knowledge of incarceration including local jails and large prisons will be examined and discussed. The procedures used, including reception, classification, orientation, rules, release procedures, and other considerations of institutional management will be considered. In addition, incarceration alternatives, including vocational and rehabilitational services, halfway houses, parole, drug and alcohol detoxification, welfare agencies, employment and legal aid services will be examined. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS208. This course is a general overview of the American court system and its relationship to criminal justice. Processes, procedures, alternatives to trial, issues involving the courts and the professionals involved are given consideration. Topics related to courts and criminal justice include, but are not limited to, trials, juries, sentencing, appeals, differential treatment, and wrongful convictions. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS209. This course is an introduction to the United States Constitution with an emphasis on criminal justice. Topics include, but are not limited to, failure of the Articles of Confederation, Federalism, limits on state and federal power, separation of powers to limit authority, structure, the rights of government, and the rights of citizens. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS210. This course addresses the challenge of maintaining a meaningful relationship between society and the police while living in an environment of rapid change. Consideration is given to topics related to community policing that include, but are not limited to, police community relations, public relations, community policing theories, communications, the changing police role in society, police discretion, conflict management, and policing special populations. Prerequisite(s): CSJ106 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS211. This course is a study of the police organization and its complexity. Consideration is given to topics related to the organization that include, but are not limited to, how the police organization functions in relation to the social networks that help to define it, structural complexity, structural control, administrative control structures, the degree to which rules and policies are formalized, and centralization of decision making. Contextual factors such as leadership, politics, geographical location, age of the organization and its environment and how this influences the complexity of the organization are also addressed. Prerequisite(s): CSJ106 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

The juvenile justice system in the United States is examined from a perspective that involves both history of the system and the philosophical approach of society today. Major topics include arrest, interaction with police, detention before and after trial, court procedures, and corrections. Post correction or alternative opportunities such as training schools and camps, community-based networks, parole, release and recidivism will also be examined. Prerequisite(s): LAS 106 or permission of director 5 QH

Formerly LAN235. This course explores biological and chemical concepts in forensic science and reviews their application in questions of evidence and law. Evidence procedures and forensic technology are addressed. Prerequisite(s): None. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS352. This course is a general introduction to research methods in criminal justice. Consideration is given to topics related to research methods that include, but are not limited to, qualitative and quantitative research, the application of research, ethics in research, research design, data gathering strategies, data analysis, and policy analysis as it relates to criminal justice. Pre-requisite(s): Admission to the Criminal Justice Program. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS353. This course is a general overview of the procedures, techniques, skills, and limitations of criminal investigations. Consideration is given to topics related to criminal investigation that include, but not limited to, crime scene preservation, lawful searches, criminal law affecting investigations, violent crimes, property crimes, and death investigations. Prerequisite(s): CSJ106, CSJ107 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS354. This course addresses the intersection of the criminal justice practitioner's duties, responsibilities, and knowledge with codified social norms and the behaviors that deviate from them. Contextual factors that affect the practitioner's decisions and actions include cultural norms, theories of the causes of deviant behavior, theories of personality development, and social control mechanisms. Also examined is the impact of deviant behavior on society, social control devices, the social contract, and racial and gender differences in respect to acceptable behaviors. Prerequisite(s): CSJ106 or permission of the Director Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS355. This course is an examination of the of the criminal justice system from an ethical and professional perspective. It will explore ethical challenges of a civil society, the tensions found in the criminal justice system and the burden of discretion carried by it members. Topics include, but not limited to, meaning and value of ethics, ethical issues in criminal justice, discrimination in the criminal justice system, and the quest for professionalism. Prerequisite(s): CSJ107 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS356. This course is an overview of the administration of criminal justice organizations Consideration is given to topics related to criminal justice administration that include, criminal justice administration that include, structures and functions, internal and external politics, ethics, human resource development, training, management and leadership. Also included are topics of organizational sub-cultures, diversity in the work place, unions, and problematic organizational issues. Prerequisite(s): CSJ106 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS357. This course addresses the theory and practice of probation and parole in the criminal justice system. Consideration is given to topics related to probation and parole that include, but are not limited to, the origins of probation and parole, parole selection process, parole boards, violations and revocation of parole, parole supervision, diversions from incarceration, administration of probation services, effect of probation on offenders, the courts and corrections, and electronic monitoring. Prerequisite(s): CSJ206, CSJ208, CSJ209 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS465. This course is an overview of the theory and practice of human resource development directed specifically toward criminal justice organizations and their employees. Consideration is given to topics related to personal development that include, but are not limited to, the building blocks of human resource development, illustrations of the relationships among all the components that constitute the field of human resource development, the various roles and practices of human resource development, organizational learning, organizational development, instructional design, program planning and evaluation, internal consulting, and identifying ways to improve development practice within the organization. Prerequisite(s): CSJ211 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours

Formerly LAS466. This course compares international criminal justice systems. Consideration is given to topics related to comparisons that include, but are not limited to, an international perspective on criminal justice, comparative criminology, transnational crime, four primary legal traditions found internationally, and the international perspective of courts, corrections, juvenile justice and policing. Prerequisite(s): CSJ206, CSJ208, CSJ209 or permission of the Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 5 quarter hours