Criminology

The nature and extent of crime; the factors related to criminal behavior; theories of the treatment and control of offenders; crime prevention programs.

This course presents an overview of the criminal justice system. It focuses on the nature, operation and critical issues of law enforcement, the courts and corrections.

Meaning and scope of delinquency; delinquency theories; role of social institutions and social agencies; prevention, control, and treatment programs.

Police are the gatekeepers of the criminal justice system - their decisions and actions can have enormous consequences for people's lives. But these decisions are not made mechanically by a simple application of criminal statutes. Rather police are empowered with discretion. The course will examine the police role in contemporary society, the nature of police discretion, and how discretion is exercised in the handling of individual cases.

This is a comprehensive introduction to the U.S. criminal court system. It provides an overview of the stages of the criminal process. It examines critical issues surrounding each stage and the roles of the prosecutor, defense attorney and judge.

The meaning, origin and impact of law viewed from several sociological perspectives; the law in action and the social context of legal professions.

This course examines the factors which influence the decision to charge a person with a crime, public policy considerations relating to restraints on law enforcement and the property and wisdom of some established rules of law. Supreme Court decisions affecting the criminal process will be discussed.

Survey of the historical and contemporary treatment of convicted offenders; analysis of the prison social system; analysis of the theory, practice and function of correctional programs.

This course will examine the historical, ethical and moral implications of the death penalty. This course will discuss the imposition and effectiveness of the penalty. The international perspective will also be addressed.

White collar crimes are committed by professionals for the benefit of individuals or organizations. This course examines the nature and magnitude (cost in dollars and lives) of white collar crime. Sociological theories explaining the commission of "crime in the suites" and society's response will be discussed.

This is a study of the victims of crime. Topics include the victim-offender relationship, victim vulnerability and victim culpability. A typological study of the characteristics of crime, its victims and offenders will be presented. Victim rights and compensation will be discussed.

History of drug use and drug laws; relationship between drug use and crime; drug offenses and the criminal justice system; treatment and prevention issues.

This course investigates special topics or emerging issues within criminology. Topics are selected for their importance or the expertise of the instructor.

Supervised research project which results in a major research paper.

The nature of criminological theory and the major theoretical developments that have shaped criminology.

Basic methods of sociological research including the collection and organization of data, statistical analysis, testing hypotheses and the interpretation of data.

Supervised work experience in a criminal justice agency.

Supervised work experience in a criminal justice agency.

Supervised work experience in a criminal justice agency.

This course focuses on a particular substantive area and integrates criminological theory and research methodology.