Maricopa Community Colleges  AJS101   20066-99999 

Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 5-23-2006

AJS101  2006 Fall - 9999

LEC  3.0 Credit(s)  3.0 Period(s)  3.0 Load  Occ

Introduction to Criminal Justice

An introduction to crime and society's responses to it. Examines the nature and causes of crime, the criminal law, constitutional safeguards, and the organization and operation of the criminal justice system including the police, courts, jails, prisons, probation and parole departments, and community corrections agencies. Covers the history of the criminal justice system, terminology and career opportunities.

Prerequisites: None.

 

Course Attribute(s):

General Education Designation: Social and Behavioral Sciences - [SB]

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

 

AJS101  2006 Fall - 9999

Introduction to Criminal Justice

 

1.

Define the parts of the criminal justice system, describe the principal duties of each and explain how they collectively function as a system. (I)

2.

Describe the major steps in the criminal justice process and explain the role of constitutional protections in each step. (II)

3.

Explain the role of research in the criminal justice system. (III)

4.

Describe how social scientists collect and analyze information about the nature and frequency of crime as well as the characteristics of its perpetrators and victims, and how they use this information to postulate theories of causation and strategies to prevent and control crime. (III)

5.

Define criminal behavior and identify the major categories of crime. (IV)

6.

Identify and describe the common criminal defenses. (V)

7.

Describe the history, mission, organization and operation of the police and examine major legal, social and political challenges facing them. (VI)

8.

Describe the history, mission, organization and operation of the courts at the federal, state and local levels of government. (VII)

9.

Explain the different types of sentences and compare and contrast the major philosophies of sentencing. (VIII)

10.

Describe the history, mission, organization and operation of probation, parole and community corrections agencies and examine legal, social and political challenges facing them. (IX)

11.

Describe the history, mission, organization and operation of prisons and jails and examine major legal, social and political challenges facing them. (X)

12.

Describe career opportunities in the criminal justice system, including position duties and qualifications. (I-X)

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:

 

AJS101  2006 Fall - 9999

Introduction to Criminal Justice

 

I. The Criminal Justice System

A. Parts

B. Duties

C. Interactions

II. The Criminal Justice Process

A. Investigation, arrest and booking

B. Adjudication

C. Sentencing

D. Correctional activities

E. Constitutional protections

III. Research in Criminal Justice

A. Data collection

B. Analysis

C. Theory and policy applications

IV. Criminal Behavior

A. Legal definitions

B. Categories

1. Property versus personal

2. Crimes against women

3. Organized crime

4. Hate crime

5. Drug Crime

6. Other

V. Criminal Defenses

A. Alibi

B. Justification

C. Self-defense

D. Excuse

E. Procedural

VI. The Police

A. History

B. Mission

C. Organization

D. Operations

E. Challenges

1. Excessive force

2. Corruption

3. Racial profiling

4. Multiculturalism

5. Other

VII. The Courts

A. History

B. Mission

C. Organization

D. Operations

VIII. Punishments

A. Types of sentences

1. Indeterminate

2. Structured

3. Alternative sanctions

B. Philosophies of punishment

1. Retribution (Just Desserts)

2. Incapacitation

3. Deterrence

4. Rehabilitation

5. Restoration

IX. Community Corrections

A. History

B. Mission

C. Organization

D. Operations

X. Jails and Prisons

A. History

B. Mission

C. Organization

D. Operations

E. Challenges

 

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