Intro. to Criminal Justice

Catalog description

No other judicial system on earth is as unique and as interesting as the American criminal justice system. This course will discuss a multitude of criminal justice topics and inquiries such as: What causes crime? What are the social factors that often lead to crime? How should society respond to criminality? What is the true function of law enforcement and should the focus always be on incarcerating offenders? Is rehabilitation a societal priority and does it ever work? Should policing involve dealing with the social problems of the community? The student will also be introduced to the American court system, including corrections, and those individuals that play important roles within our system of justice. This course is an important starting point for the criminal justice program. It provides a foundation for other courses in specific criminal justice topics. (3 contact hours)