The mission of the Division of Criminal Justice and Legal
Studies is to provide students with the knowledge of the criminal
justice system, bridge the gap between the theoretical and
practical aspects of the discipline, and familiarize them with the
issues confronting criminal justice agencies. The program is
interdisciplinary and uses both classroom and distance-learning
formats to educate students interested in the field and criminal
justice practitioners. The program prepares students for
discipline-related graduate programs, and provides the skills
needed to conduct research to contribute to the advancement of the
discipline.
Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the
three central components of the criminal justice system.
- Describe the role of the police in a democratic society
- Describe the role of the courts
- Describe the role of corrections
- Identify and analyze recent Supreme Court decisions that affect
the three components of the criminal justice system.
- Identify and explain two models applicable to the study of the
criminal justice system.
Demonstrate knowledge of the theories of
crime causation.
- Differentiate between single-factor and multi-factor
theories.
- Identify and analyze emerging theories of crime causation.
- Classify the theories used to explain criminality.
- Identify and explain one criminological theory that has had an
impact on community treatment.
- Identify how theories help identify the underlying causes of
crime and how the information guides crime-fighting
strategies.
Identify critical issues facing criminal
justice practitioners and the criminal justice system.
- Explain why police departments should implement ethical
guidelines.
- Explain how the issue of discretion impacts performance in law
enforcement
- Explain the challenges that criminal justice leadership now
faces with the integration of new technologies.
- Identify the employment strategies used to diversify the
workforce in the criminal justice system.
- Identify local, national and global current events and their
impact
on criminal justice practitioners.
Conduct quality research.
- Outline the steps in the research process.
- Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research.
- Explain how the findings from studies can influence policy
formation.
- Explain how research can enhance the efficiency of criminal
justice agencies.
Demonstrate knowledge of ethics as it
relates to criminal justice.
- Identify and trace the development of the sources of criminal
justice ethics.
- Explain the relationship between ethics and the law.
- Articulate policies designed to reinforce ethical
principles.
- Describe how national and international criminal justice
agencies are using their mission statements as prescriptions for
ethical behavior.
Demonstrate the ability to handle a
multicultural citizenry with civility irrespective of their social
status.
- Identify and analyze the benefits that accrue from
police-community partnerships.
- Give examples of how disparate treatment meted out to different
communities impedes crime control strategies.
- Identify and analyze the results of patterns and practices of
differential treatment of suspects and offenders based on class,
race, ethnicity and gender.
Demonstrate understanding of the use of
technology in the criminal justice system.
- Describe how criminal justice agencies are using technology to
increase efficiency and effectiveness.
- Identify and discuss the technologies employed to investigate
cyber crimes.
- Explain the criminal justice agencies at the local, state, and
federal levels collaborate to handle the different forms of cyber
attacks.
- Explain the relationship between the use of Compstat (computers
and statistics) and the effective use of resources in
agencies.