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POLITICAL SCIENCE

AND

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

DEPARTMENT

Criminal Justice Courses

CRIM200

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL

JUSTICE

3 sem. hrs.

This course provides a broad overview of the justice

system following the processing of an offender

through detection and identification, arrest, detention,

prosecution, defense, adjudication, sentencing, proba-

tion or incarceration and parole. It considers the phi-

losophy and structure of criminal law in the United

States, as well as the rights and responsibilities of

defendants, agents of the criminal justice system, and

victims. This course is approved for General

Education Elective.

CRIM310

INTRODUCTION TO

CORRECTIONS

3 sem. hrs.

This course presents an overview of the history of

penology and a review of contemporary correctional

ideologies. Topics include the systems of probation,

parole, and prisons, and their interface with the

Criminal Justice System. It reviews issues and per-

spective of social and political developments and

introduces methods of evaluative research, prevailing

practices, policies, and procedures. Prerequisite:

CRIM200 or permission of instructor.

CRIM330

INTRODUCTION TO POLICING

3 sem. hrs.

This course presents an overview of significant issues

in policing and law enforcement. Topics generally

include: development of policing and law enforce-

ment, police work, personnel systems, organization

and management, police operations, police discretion,

police subculture, ethics and deviance, civil liability,

and other current topics of interest to policing and law

enforcement. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission

of the instructor.

CRIM340

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

3 sem. hrs.

This course provides an understanding of basic pro-

cedures in the investigation of criminal matters. It

includes interview procedures, crime scene examina-

tions, development of information procedures for

solving crimes, and finding missing persons. It also

presents problems for resolution.

CRIM355

CRIMINALISTICS

3 sem. hrs.

This course consists of the scientific aspects of crim-

inal investigation. Major emphasis will focus on the

science of finger printing and the examination of evi-

dence. Some examination of advanced police science

laboratory techniques such as examining firearms,

poisons, hairs, fibers will be included. Prerequisite:

CRIM200 or permission of the instructor.

CRIM370

PROBATION, PAROLE AND

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

3 sem. hrs.

This course examines an array of community-based

correctional programs, including the development of

intermediate sanctions and theoretical as well as prac-

tical aspects of probation and parole work. It consid-

ers programs designed to meet the problems of spe-

cial needs offenders and provides experience in com-

pleting a presentence investigation. Prerequisite:

CRIM200 or permission of the instructor.

CRIM380

JUVENILE JUSTICE

3 sem. hrs.

This course provides an understanding of the juvenile

justice system. Areas of study include the history and

philosophy of juvenile justice, police work with juve-

niles, procedures in juvenile court, community pro-

grams, institutionalization and aftercare, and contem-

porary issues concerning control of juvenile offenders

and reduction of recidivism. Prerequisite: CRIM200.

CRIM425

CRIMINAL JUSTICE ETHICS

3 sem. hrs.

This course examines the modern day-to-day chal-

lenges facing criminal justice practitioners and the

need for future practitioners to develop analytical

skills to understand the pragmatic and theoretical

aspects of the criminal justice system. It will also

focus on the importance of the criminal justice pro-

fessional to promptly identify the ethical issues/con-

sequences and moral principles associated with vari-

ous actions in an inherently coercive environment.

Prerequisite: CRIM200.

CRIM430

WHITE-COLLAR CRIME

CURRICULAR PROPOSAL

3 sem. hrs.

This course is an examination of white-collar crime.

The motivations and methods of perpetrators and the

responses of actors in the criminal justice system to

these crimes will be discussed. Particular attention

will be paid to the use of technology in the prevention

of white-collar crime. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or per-

mission of the instructor.

CRIM435

HOMELAND SECURITY

CURRICULAR PROPOSAL

3 sem. hrs.

This course is an overview of the philosophy, pur-

pose, and rationale for a separate cabinet-level depart-

ment focusing on domestic security. Particular

emphasis will be paid to the role of state and local law

enforcement in federal policy implementation.

Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the instruc-

tor.

CRIM440

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

CURRICULAR PROPOSAL

3 sem. hrs.

This course is an overview of emergency manage-

ment in the United States. The course will focus on

the four phases of the emergency management

process: mitigation, preparedness, response and

recovery. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of

the instructor.

CRIM442

SECURITY SYSTEMS 3 sem. hrs.

A study of private security measures, hardware and

personnel used to prevent and control crime and dis-

aster. An emphasis on security techniques and loss

prevention. Physical security, internal theft, fire pre-

vention and retail security are studied in depth along

with robbery, kidnapping, counterfeiting, fraud and

bombing matters. The relationship between security

and public law enforcement is also considered.

CRIM443

ARSON INVESTIGATION

3 sem. hrs.

A comprehensive and detailed study of arson and fire-

setters. In addition to the legal, psychological, and

social aspects of arson, the course will deal with the

techniques for determining the origin, cause, and

responsibility for natural, accidental, and intentional

fires. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the

instructor.

CRIM450

COMPUTERS, CRIME AND

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

3 sem. hrs.

This course investigates how computers intersect

with crime and the criminal justice system. Students

will learn to use the World Wide Web for research and

focus upon specific criminal justice information

available over the Internet. The class will look at a

variety of computer crimes, crimes assisted by com-

puters, their investigation, security measures which

can be used, and introduce computer forensic tech-

niques. The use of computers by the police, prosecu-

tors, the courts, probation and parole, jails and pris-

ons, and citizen action groups will be studied.

Graduate students will demonstrate a deeper under-

standing of the complexities of computers, crime and

criminal justice. Prerequisite: CSCI104 or higher and

CRIM200. Majors only or permission of the instruc-

tor.

CRIM462

PENNSYLVANIA CRIMINAL

CODE

3 sem. hrs.

A close examination of the revised substantive and

procedural criminal statues of Pennsylvania with an

emphasis upon recent interpretation by the state

courts. Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the

instructor.

CRIM469

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND

EVIDENCE

3 sem. hrs.

This course introduces a detailed and inclusive study

and analysis of rules and principles of criminal pro-

cedure and evidence. It teaches students to recognize

protected constitutional rights of the accused, to

understand proper collection of evidence, the basic

rules of admissibility of evidence, and the historical

development of rules of criminal procedure.

Prerequisite: CRIM200 or permission of the instruc-

tor.

CRIM470

ADVANCED ISSUES IN

CORRECTIONS

3 sem. hrs.

This course presents a critical and in-depth analysis

of current correctional issues and dilemmas that face

our country today. The focus of the course will be in

areas of problem analysis, problem solving, and deci-

sion making. A number of issues will be examined

during the course including, but not limited to, the

following: overcrowding, sentencing policy, sentence

disparity, prison adjustment, recidivism, community-

based corrections and intermediate punishments, the

use of surveillance and technology, the mentally ill

offender, the elderly offender, the privatization move-

ment, prison siting, and the effectiveness and utility

of treatment and rehabilitation. Prerequisites:

CRIM200 and CRIM270.

CRIM490

INDEPENDENT STUDY

1-6 sem. hrs.

The Independent Study program aims to serve those

students whose scholarly bent seems most clearly

adapted to independent work. Students are permitted

to resolve problems and to earn credit for work per-

212/Course Descriptions