CRM 1100 - The Criminal Justice System

Credits: 4

This course provides an overview of the US Criminal justice system, with a focus on this case processing of adults. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the historical development of the criminal justice system, how police, courts, and the correctional system operate, and how these branches work together to form a single justice system. Current policy issues and reforms will be assessed, with a focus on evidence based policies to produce desired outcomes (e.g., crime control, proportional punishment, equitable treatment). Overarching themes investigated throughout the course include discretion among criminal justice actors, disparities in justice processing, balancing the various objectives of criminal punishment (e.g., crime control, just desserts, rehabilitation), decentralization of decision-making, and “best practices” for a criminal justice system in a democratic society. Required for majors.
Fulfills: SOSC in LS Core