The American Criminal Justice System

This course provides an introduction to the criminal legal system. The primary goal of this course is to develop a general understanding of the criminal legal system and its response to crime in society today. Students will consider crime in the U.S., explore the key elements of the criminal legal system (policing, courts, and corrections), and examine several special issues relevant to criminal justice today.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Differentiate and explain the roles and functions served by the various governmental entities in the criminal legal system.
• Compare the different types of law including common law, civil, criminal and administrative law
• Distinguish between the different perspectives on crime and criminal legal research
• Illustrate the differences between types of crime, including violent, property, public order, and juvenile offending.
• Identify the overarching themes of dominant criminological theories
• Recall the history of the policing, policing strategies, and issues in policing
• Differentiate between various alternative sentences and explain best practices
• Summarize the history of punishment as well as the structure, actors, and issues within corrections