Criminal Justice at Bluffton College

Criminal Justice is a multidisciplinary major consisting of a core of required courses in criminal justice combined with a foundation and theory-methods sequence in one of the social sciences. It includes an off-campus internship or practicum, usually within one of the social science disciplines and preparation for "registered candidacy" for certification as a chemical dependency counselor. Following the foundation courses in psychology and sociology, students will select a theory-methods sequence from either of those two social sciences. This foundation, with the criminal justice courses and related electives, provide a unique and rigorous major of 56 hours.

Major (56 hours)
Foundation courses: (6 hours)

PSY 110 Introduction to Psychology (3)
SOC 152 Introduction to Sociology (3)

Theory-methods sequence: (6 hours)

SOC 264 Sociological Theory (3) and
SOC 362 Methods of Social Research (3)
or
PSY 230 Tests and Measurements (3) and
PSY 310 Personality (3)

Criminal justice courses: (29 hours)

CRJ 180 Law, Justice and Society (3)
CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
CRJ 201 Introduction to the Juvenile Justice System (3)
CRJ 275 Criminology (3)
CRJ 303 Constitutional Law (3)
CRJ 340 Community Justice Systems: Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)
CRJ 345 Community Justice Systems: Victim/Offender Reconciliation Programs (3)
CRJ 350 Law Enforcement: Theory & Practice (3) or CRJ 351 Corrections (3)
CRJ 385 Criminal Justice Practicum (3-6)
SOC 466 Sociology Seminar (2)

Electives from the following: (15 hours)

COM 220 Communication and Conflict Transformation (3)
CRJ 320 Family Violence (3)
CRJ 325 Intervention in Corrections (3)
HPR 167 Drug Education* (2)
PCS 230 Theories of Peace and Conflict (3)
PCS 405 Peacemaking Seminar (2)
PHI 152 Ethics (3) or REL 274 Christian Ethics (3) or REL 373 War, Peace and Nonviolence (3)
PSY 230 Tests and Measurements (3)
PSY 258 Social Psychology (3)
PSY 270 Research Methods in Psychology (3)
PSY 310 Personality (3)
PSY 375 Therapeutic Psychology (3)
SOC 264 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC 325 Race and Ethnicity in American Society: History and Current Realities (3)
SOC 362 Methods of Social Research 2 (3)
CRJ 380 Integrative Studies in the Criminal Justice System (3)
CRJ 390 Independent Study (1-3)

* HPR 167 is required for registration as a candidate for certification as a chemical dependency counselor. Other courses will also support this registration process; please consult criminal justice/sociology faculty for additional related materials.

Minor (21 hours)
Required: (12 hours)

CRJ 180 Law, Justice and Society (3)
CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
CRJ 201 Introduction to the Juvenile Justice System (3)
CRJ 275 Criminology (3)

Electives: (9 hours)

CRJ 340 Community Justice Systems: Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (3) or CRJ 345 Community Justice Systems: Victim/Offender Reconciliation Programs (3)
CRJ 350 Enforcement: Theory and Practice (3) or CRJ 351 Corrections (3)
One additional criminal justice course

Courses
CRJ 180 Law, Justice and Society (3)
This course will examine and analyze the policy roles of the institutions of the criminal justice system with particular attention to the judicial branch and alternatives to those systems. Social structure and criminal behavior, the social organization of criminal law enforcement, prosecution, trial and appeal, sentencing, sanctions and the impact of legal institutions will be examined. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural resources that have shaped and continue to provide alternatives to the system. This course provides a philosophical basis and institutional identity for the entire major.

CRJ 200 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
A study of the agencies, institutions and processes of the criminal justice system — legislature, police, attorney, courts and corrections; the definitions of crime, legal defenses and limits of the law; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest, search and seizure; kinds and degrees of evidence; cases and materials affecting criminal law, prosecution, defense and the courts.

CRJ 201 Introduction to the Juvenile Justice System (3)
A study of the agencies, institutions and processes of the juvenile justice system; historical and socialscientific evaluation of judicial decision affecting the development and operation of the juvenile justice system from the police investigation to adjudication and final disposition.

CRJ 275 Criminology (3)
A social-scientific, theoretical survey of the nature of crime, including causal factors and theories and procedures in prevention and treatment; evaluation of basic assumptions and philosophies of corrections. Prerequisite: SOC 152 or PSY 110.

CRJ 303 Constitutional Law (3)
A specialized course of study focusing upon a significant theme or topic in political science. Topics may include Canadian or European politics, the American presidency, voting behavior, state and local government or international conflict resolution. May be taken more than once with different topics.

CRJ 325 Interventions in Corrections (3)
Survey of the theoretical basis for assessing the social and/or therapeutic approaches to the control and rehabilitation of criminal behavior in a correctional context.

CRJ 340 Community Justice Systems: Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)
Compares legal institutions and lawmaking processes in traditional, developing and developed societies. Explores the historical, social and philosophical sources in the contemporary emergence of extra-legal methods of negotiation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in selected cultures and institutional settings. Attempts an evaluation of the potential uses of these "innovations" in comparison to adjudicatory processes. Explores the processes, dynamics and problems in ADR and utilizes a variety of classroom techniques in developing skills and evaluation methods.

CRJ 345 Community Justice Systems: Victim/Offender Reconciliation Programs (3)
Research patterns and trends in victimization identify the categories of people facing the greatest risks and assesses victim-blaming arguments invoking facilitation, precipitation and provocation. Examines the processing of street crime victims by the criminal justice system and analyzes proposals of new rights for victims, including an amendment to the U.S. Constitution pledging fair treatment, empowerment in the decision-making process, restitution and government compensation.

CRJ 350 Enforcement: Theory and Practice (3)
Survey of the police role in American life. Focus shared between the police as a formal organization in patrol and investigative operations and the police as a social, psychological or subcultural type. Primary attention given to the relationship of communal security and consent to governmental authority and to the role of the police in the maintenance of order.

CRJ 351 Corrections (3)
After developing a historical overview of correctional efforts in human societies and the reforms of the modern prison system, this course will focus on six main topics: sentencing strategies and punishment rationale in democratic societies, the philosophy and effectiveness of rehabilitation, individual adjustment and inmate organization in both male and female prisons, constitutional sources, access and remedies in addressing prisoners' rights, the professionalization of correctional personnel and emerging alternatives to incarceration. Exploration of current issues in corrections.

CRJ 380 Integrative Studies in the Criminal Justice System (3)
An interdisciplinary study of management, institutional, philosophical or research concerns in selected system-wide problems and topics in criminal justice.

CRJ 385 Criminal Justice Practicum (3-6)
A supervised work/study placement in a setting consistent with the student's interests and career goals. Prerequisites: junior or senior status in the major (or related major) and permission of the faculty supervisor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours; with 3 hours credited to general electives and/or a related major (with permission of major professor).

CRJ 390 Independent Study (1-3)
By arrangement.