HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRJ-101Bergen Community College
Division of Social Science, Business and Public Service
Department of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security
Course Designation, Number, and Title
Date of Most Recent Syllabus Revision: September 21, 2010
Course Typically Offered: Fall____ Spring____ Summer____ Every Semester____ Other_________________
Syllabus last reviewed by: BCC General Education Committee ____ Date:____________
(Most courses need review Ad Hoc Committee on Learning Assessment ____ Date:____________
by only one of the following) Curriculum Committee: ____ Date:____________
A syllabus for this course must include as much of the followi ng information as is applicable. It is
understood that syllabi will vary considerably from department to department, program to program,
and discipline to discipline, contingent upon departmental, program, and discipline policies and
practices. In adopting these guidelines, there is no intention to impose a "one size fits all" syllabus or
course outline format on departments, programs, and disciplines.
Basic Information About Course and Instructor
Semester and Year:
Course and Section Number: CRJ 101
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location: Paramus
Phone: (201) 493-4095
Departmental Secretary: Marguerite MacDonald
Office Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Email Address:
Introduction to Criminal Justice analyzes the history, development and function of the police in a
free society. A primary concern in the course is the relationship between the various components of
the criminal justice system and the effectiveness of the system as a mechanism for social control.
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able to
1. To analyze the police as one of the most complex, dynamic and least understood institutions in our
society.
2. To examine the evolution of the police function in social control.
3. To discuss the human dimensions of modern policing from the perspective of the problems and
pressures confronting the individual officers.
4. To provide an overview of the functions, interrelationships and processes of the criminal justice
components.
5. To analyze the critical issues and provocative problems facing the police and other components of the
criminal justice system.
OUTCOMES:
1. Analyze the nature of crime and victimization.
2. Examine the historical development of criminal law and Inform al and formal aspects of social
control.
3. Describe the history and organization of the police.
4. Identify and describe critical issues relative to the police.
5. Identify the components of the criminal justice system.
6. Contrast the constitutional issues relating to the rights of people and the authority of the police.
7. Contrast and explain the issues regarding the non-system aspects of the criminal justice system.
8. Identify the trends, issues and problems of the criminal justice system.
Means of Assessment:
List means of assessment of student learning in pursuit of goals/objectives/outcomes
(e.g., graded class discussions, objective tests and examinations, essay tests and examinations, student
presentations in class (individual or group), writing assignments [papers, short essays, book reports, etc.])
Course Content:
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS:
1. Philosophical background.
2. Crime and justice in America.
3. Defining and understanding criminal behavior.
4. The rule of law.
5. The administration of criminal justice.
6. Models of criminal justice.
THE POLICE:
A. History and scope of police work.
B. Nature and scope of police work
1. The function of police
2. The public bureaucracy
3. The organization of police
4. The police discretion
5. The police subculture
C. Police and the constitution
LAW ADJUDICATION:
A. Prosecuting attorney
B. Defense attorney
C. Pretrial processes
D. The court system
E. Trial and post-trail processes
POST CONVICTION STRATEGIES:
A. Criminal sanctions
B. The prison system
C. Prison conditions and inmate rights
D. Probation, parole and community-based correction
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM:
A. History
B. Operation
C. Problems and perspectives
D. Constitutional law
E. Future directions
THE CHANGING FACE OF CRIME, LAW AND JUSTICE:
A. Crime in the 1980s and 1990s
B. Criminal justice philosophy
C. Policies on the horizon
D. Prescriptions for a better policy
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials:
American System of Criminal Justice, Cole.
Suggested Texts:
Research, Writing, and/or Examination Requirement(s)
List/describe/comment on course research/writing/presentation/examination requirements.
State departmental policies on research, writing, presentation,
and/or examination assignments [optional].
Include policy statements on student group work (if relevant).
Grading Policy:
1. Comprehensive objective and/or essay examination.
2. Individual project competency performance.
Attendance Policy:
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Introduction to Criminal Justice, Senna and Siegel. Criminal Justice Today, Schmalleger.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Introduction to Law Enforcement, Kirkham & Wollan, Jr.
The American System of Justice, Cole.
Criminal Justice, Inciardi.
Fundamental of Law Enforcement, Kratcoski & Walker.
Introduction of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Germann, Day & Gallati.
Introduction to Criminal Justice, Senna & Siegel.
Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Robin.
The Administration of Justice System, Shanahan.
Criminal Justice System, Kerper.
Police in Trouble, Ahern.
Criminal Justice: Law and Politics, Cole.
Signal Zero, Kirkham.
The American Police, More.
The Police and The Public, Reiss.
The Ambivalent Force, Neiderhoffer & Blumberg.
Varieties of Police Behavior, Wilson.
FILMS:
Career Awareness #1286
Every Hours, Every Day #553
Fear & Anxiety #667
Feeling Good #668
Humiliation and Anger #669
Mrs. Cop #1258
Peace is Our Profession #1359
Routine Patrol #1225
Special Situations #1260
What’s A Cop #1259
Officer Down, Code Three #1250