CJ 110 — Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
Survey of the formal institutions of social control: the body of the criminal law, the police, the courts, and various forms of “corrections.” The course perspective may be alternately historical, organizational (sociological), or social-psychological. Visits, field trips.
CJ 131 — Introduction to Criminal Law (3)
The elements of major criminal offenses such as murder, robbery, manslaughter, rape, and other substantive offenses. The commonly accepted defenses to these crimes (insanity, consent, entrapment, and self-defense) are studied. The student is expected to apply criminal law definitions and defenses to real-life factual situations in order to determine the likelihood of successful prosecution or acquittal. 3 hours.
CJ 312 — Child Abuse (3)
This course covers the history of child abuse special. Emphasis is placed on the current problem nature and effects of abuse, how child molesters operate, and legal and social responses to the problem.
CJ 333 — Criminology (3)
The origin, causes, and history of crime; sociological and social psychological theories dealing with crime prevention; programs for special treatment of crime; study of institutions and rehabilitation. Cross-listed as SOC 333.
CJ 342 — Women and the Criminal Justice System (3)
This course focuses on the increased involvement of women in the criminal justice system as victim, offender, and professional. It provides an in-depth presentation of the various types of crimes in which women engage and the theories behind that involvement, as well as the methods employed by the criminal justice system when dealing with both the female offender and victim. An analysis of the different types of professional positions women hold within the criminal justice system is presented utilizing film presentations, current event articles, and guest speakers. The student completes the course with an understanding of past, present, and future trends for women and their contact with the criminal justice system.
CJ 351— Police Operations I (3)
An examination of the basic factors which influence police operations. Emphasis on the nature, purpose, and functions of police operations with particular attention to the management process involving management by objectives. Patrol techniques, leadership, special operations, patrol manpower distribution, command and control, and other patrol operations will be explored and analyzed.
CJ 352 — Police Operations II (3)
An in-depth analysis of the special problems involved in police operations. Existing patrol practices are compared and evaluated critically. Topics include team policing, tactical operations, unusual occurrences, terrorism and civil disorders. Consideration will be given to the future of patrol and an evaluation of recent theories for increased policing efficiency.
CJ 355 — Criminal Investigation (3)
An analysis of the techniques and methods used by a criminal investigator in order to solve a criminal incident. Examination of the laws and rules of evidence; the collection and analysis of physical and latent evidence; basic investigative leads; forensic science and criminalistics; interviewing witnesses and the interrogation of suspects. Particular investigative procedures employed in the solving of such crimes as homicide, rape, arson, and organized crime will be detailed. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing.
CJ 363 — Criminal Procedure (3)
A study of the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution by focusing on those provisions which relate to the rights of persons accused of crimes. The individual’s right to due process safeguards the availability of counsel and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, compulsory self-incrimination, and double jeopardy. Development of, and reasoning behind, the “exclusionary rule” of evidence is analyzed. In addition, this course will examine the Federal and Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Cross-listed as PS 363.
CJ 365 — Court Administration (3)
The manner in which the federal and state court systems administer justice and conduct their day-to-day operations. The student will become familiar with the personnel and financing of court systems. State and federal processing of cases will be compared and contrasted. The impact of Supreme Court decisions on the trial of criminal cases will be analyzed. Issues such as selection and removal of judges, plea bargaining, unified court systems, and court reform will be studied.
CJ 366 — Organizational Management in Criminal Justice Agencies (3)
Studies criminal justice organizations from the established perspectives of management and organization theory. Readings draw on the literature of management, organizations, the human services, and criminology in an effort to consider the implications of these perspectives for the management and administration of justice. Includes review of management and organizational behavior in public organizations, diagnosing organizations, organizational development, and evaluation research.
CJ 367 — Rules of Evidence: Cases and Principles (3)
The admissibility or inadmissibility of critical pieces of evidence. Topics include the hearsay rule and its exceptions; the opinion evidence rule; character and reputation evidence; direct and cross-examination of witnesses; radar evidence; voice spectrographs, identification by hypnosis; and other pertinent rules of evidence.
CJ 373 — Juvenile Delinquency (3)
The sociological and social psychological factors involved in delinquent behavior. The material is considered within the framework of definition, extent, causation, and accountability and the reaction to the problem of juvenile delinquency. Cross-listed as SOC 373.
CJ 374 — Juvenile Intervention (3)
Differential procedures and perceptions of the criminal justice system for the juvenile offender. Prevention and control of delinquency; theoretical models, deflection away from institutionalization. Discrete relationships between the community, the victim, and the juvenile offenders.
CJ 381 — Private Security (3)
An overview of private security in its practical application and an analysis of various theoretical approaches to some of its problems. Emphasis is on the fundamental principles of risk assessment, physical protection, systems of defense, internal security, fi re prevention, emergency planning, safety, and insurance protection.
CJ 383 — Probation, Parole, and Community Based Corrections (3)
An analysis of probation, parole, and other forms of community based correctional programs. Constitutional-legal and political questions as well as the efficaciousness of community based corrections.
CJ 435 — Victimology (3)
This course views crime from the victim’s perspective. Various types of victimization are discussed along with an analysis of the putative victim. The legal rights of the victim and the victim’s relationship with the criminal justice system are explored through first person accounts and current legislation. The student leaves this course with an in-depth understanding of what it means to be a true victim, as well as the criminal justice system’s responsibility to that victim.
CJ 445 — Street Gangs (3)
This course covers the various street gangs in the United States. Special emphases placed on their origins, style, mode of operation, and societal reaction, including efforts to change gang behavior and reintegrate former members back in to society.
CJ 453 — Police Community Relations (3)
Survey of relationships between and among police, the community and the citizen; analysis of community relations, citizen complaints; analysis of frustrations arising from police-minority encounters; attitude formation and modification; critical examinations of the stereotypes of police and the community about each other; civil disorders and disobedience; police deviance.
CJ 457 — Police Administration (3)
Examination of the basic principles of organization and management theory as applied by the police administrator. Emphasis will be on the systems approach theory to organization and administration. The individual, groups, communications flow, decision making, and policy and procedures within the police organizations will be explored and analyzed.
CJ 464 — Juvenile Law & Justice (3)
This course examines various aspects of juvenile justice and its application in the court system. Topics include the philosophy of the juvenile justice system, the jurisdiction of juvenile courts and its relation to status offenders, delinquents, and dependent children. The juvenile court system’s use of intake and diversion will be discussed, along with the role of police, prosecutors and defense counsel. “Certification,” the process of transferring a juvenile from juvenile court to adult court, will also be examined along with the attendant legal rights which accompany juveniles who find themselves “in the system.”
CJ 470 — Deviant Behavior (3)
An analysis of the social creation of the deviant behavior as examined through the social processes of rulemaking, rule breaking, and social control. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of conventional values and the effects of societal labeling in the deviance process. Alternate lifestyles are objectively examined. Cross-listed as SOC 470.
CJ 475 — Adult Corrections (3)
Critical survey of the institutions of probation, the prison, parole, community treatment facilities; theories of punishment; sociological explanations of the several experiential worlds within the prison.
CJ 477 — Theories of Crime (3)
Survey of the genetic development of theories of crime-causation in the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries; “schools” of criminological thought, classification and typologies of crime and the criminal, discrete theories of individual and social behavior.
CJ 482 — Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System (3)
The primary issue to be examined will be the insanity defense, from its inception to present day use. Landmark cases will be analyzed and discussed in detail. Other topics include the study of mental illness from both legal and psychological viewpoints, the criminalization of the mentally ill, alternatives to the insanity defense, the burden of proof in insanity cases, the use of expert witness, the role of the jury, and Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act.
CJ 485 — Organized Crime (3)
The evolution of organized crime, particularly its development in the United States. An examination of organized crime in terms of community structure, political influences and corruption. Specific activities such as gambling, prostitution, drug traffic, pornography, and white collar crime are explored. The methods and problems for organized crime control are also evaluated.
CJ 486 — Drugs in the Community (3)
This course will examine the various aspects of misuse of drugs and alcohol in today’s society. Focus will be on various drug categories, alcoholism, chemical dependence, and treatment. Special emphasis will be on the impact of drug and alcohol abuse relative to the individual, the workplace, and society.
CJ 487 — White-Collar Crime (3)
The variety, scope, pervasiveness, and historical roots of white collar crime. Topics include computer crime, infiltration of legitimate business by organized crime, political crimes, consumer fraud, and price-fixing. The response of law enforcement agencies to this complex, sophisticated, and often neglected area will be examined. Case studies of sensational scandals, such as Watergate, the electrical companies’ price-fixing scheme, and the Equity Funding scandal will be examined.
CJ 489-492/494-496 — Special Topics in Criminal Justice (3)
Special topics presented by college faculty with special expertise, or by outside persons who possess experience and/or skills related to the Special Topic.
CJ 493 — Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
A seminar designed to investigate and analyze contemporary and emergency issues in the criminal justice field.
CJ 497-498 — Supervised Individual Study (3)
The study of a CJ phenomenon, organization, or topic under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The student wishing to enroll in his course must submit a brief written proposal outlining the purpose of the study, endorsed by a faculty sponsor (not necessarily in the department), and by the chairperson of the department.
CJ 499 — Internship (3)
On-the-job training experience is offered in cooperation with such agencies as the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Probation and Parole Department, the Juvenile Detention Center, the Court Administrator’s Office, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, and other agencies.