Courses Offered in Criminal Justice

This course provides an introduction to the purpose and functions of the criminal justice system. It includes a description of the police, courts, and corrections at the local, state, and federal levels. Attention will be given to important terminology, concepts, and models necessary for the study of criminal justice. Discussions will include the history of justice in America, as well as contemporary issues and problems influencing society’s ability to effectively control crime and achieve justice. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement.

Credits: 3.00

This multidisciplinary course introduces students to cybersecurity, criminal justice system processes, the American legal system (criminal and civil), the criminal justice and legal systems' approaches to cybercrime and to evidence linking these components one with another. Students receive a basic overview to of computer security, cyber-attacks and defense, cyber forensics, and cyber-ethics; while learning core cybersecurity concepts, terminology, and technologies. Additionally, the course serves to provide an understanding of the American criminal justice and legal systems’ history, philosophy, and practices. Throughout the course, students will consider the structure and function of the legal system, select substantive areas of the law, and evidence linking the dynamic relationship between law and social policy. Students will examine the evidence linking primary components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts, and corrections as they relate to cybercrime and security. Three lecture hours per week

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society

The course covers the history of intervention with criminals from Colonial America to present times. Emphasis is placed on the political and social context in generating and supporting different correctional strategies. As such, course material includes both conservative (deterrence, incapacitation) and liberal (rehabilitation, restorative justice) crime control strategies, with an emphasis on "what works" to reduce crime. Strategies for classifying and treating criminal offenders, as well as treatment programs for special populations (sex offenders, substance abusers, and gender differences) are covered. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides an introduction to criminal law, including its history and development from common law to contemporary statutory and case law. The focus of the course is on substantive law. The general principles of criminal liability will be presented, including the essential elements of a crime and the range of defenses which may serve to limit criminal responsibility. Laws pertaining to offenses against persons, property, public order, and public morals will be examined. Discussion primarily focuses on “street” crime, but white-collar and organized crime will also be included. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement.
Prerequisite: CRJ101. Not open to students who received credit for CRJ432.

Credits: 3.00

This course is designed to introduce students to the identification on computer-based crimes, criminals, and victims. Students will be exposed to historic and current cases and their implications on law-enforcement, political, and corporate policies. The course materials and discussions include an introduction to cyberspace-related legal issues, domestic and international cybersecurity threats, identity theft and fraud, economic espionage, law enforcement and private sector security responsiveness, emerging technologies and new uses for old technology, and/or freedoms, censorship, and right to privacy. Students will finish this course with a multi-disciplinary understanding of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and digital law and law enforcement. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces students to an analysis of the moral and philosophical dilemmas that criminal justice policymaking and field personnel face while carrying out their daily responsibilities. The effect of moral concerns on practical decision-making is a primary focus, and specific topics are drawn from all phases and agencies of criminal justice processing, including law enforcement, the courts, and corrections. Attention also focuses on the tradeoffs involved in resolving moral dilemmas as they impact the criminal justice system. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement.
Prerequisite: CRJ101. Not open to students who received credit for CRJ435.

Credits: 3.00

This course offers an analysis of criminal justice internal organizational dynamics and their relationships with external influences. Comparison of agencies’ policies and practices, with special emphasis on how issues of communication, motivation, and leadership underlie organizational effectiveness at all phases of criminal justice processing. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course explores basic descriptive statistics, including measures of association and regression analysis. The students will be introduced to reading and interpreting computer output, allowing them to analyze criminal justice data and draw general conclusions. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement.
Prerequisites: Basic College Math Competency Requirement and CRJ101. Not open to students who received credit for CRJ401.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides an overview of the major theories of crime and justice. Because this is a W-II course, it also helps students to develop writing skills. The causes, correlates, and measures of crime will be examined, as presented in theories and empirically tested through relevant research. Topics include the evaluation of theories and their application to criminal justice policies and programs. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ Major Requirement.
Prerequisite: CRJ101. Not open to students who received credit for CRJ362.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Written Communication-Level II

The criminal justice technique of mediation will be examined theoretically and through case study methods. Mediation involves an independent third party who acts as facilitator in the resolution of a dispute in lieu of formal judicial intervention. The third party hears both sides of the problem and helps the disputants reach a satisfactory decision about the issue at hand. Three lecture hours per week. Elective for Peace Studies minor.

Credits: 3.00

Interest in criminal victimization has increased dramatically over the last twenty years. There has been a great deal of research on victimization, legislation supporting victims, and victim programs and services. This course will explore the prevalence and etiology of victimization, types of victimization, the response of the criminal justice system, the response of victims’, victims’ programs and services, the Victim Rights Movement and current and pending victims’ rights legislation. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides an overview of the issues associated with bias crime. This course focuses attention on legislative initiatives, data collection, police training and public awareness. This course also explores the role of private organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center in tracking the activities of hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Nation. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Diversity, Power Dyn, Soc Just

This course is a survey of criminal investigation procedures that will cover crime scene analysis, interview and interrogation techniques, profiling of offenders and crime patterns. The legal and scientific considerations underlying each topic will be discussed. Three lecture hours per week.
Prerequisite: CRJ101 or permission of the Department Chairperson.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides students with knowledge of how to analyze crime scenes from forensic evidence gathered at various locations. Topics will include toxicology, impression analysis, crime scene reconstruction, blood pattern analysis, and report
writing. Students will engage in the review of case studies, and science lab assignments to give them hands-on experience, developing skills for those wishing to attain a position in the criminal justice field.
3 lecture hours.

Credits: 3.00

This course is a foundational learning experience that covers the mathematical, security, computational, and economic foundations of blockchain while providing students with an understanding of this relatively new technology's societal and legal implications. In this course, students learn the fundamental concepts related to blockchain technology and its uses, critical components of blockchain technology, the differences between public and private blockchain use and implementation, the push vs. pull paradigm, potential attacks (i.e., 51% attack), and more. In studying the history of cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin, students will explore ethical considerations of cybercurrency use, nefarious use by terror and organized crime organizations, and the potential long-term impact on anti-fraud, cybercrime, and international/multinational crime deterrence efforts. The course also explores various forms of cryptocurrency/cybercurrency (i.e., bitcoin), their uses, and their implications of use. Students will expand their understanding of blockchain technology, its uses, and its limitations in this course. Since 2012, blockchain has been the universal ledger for cybercurrency transactions. The course begins with the history and evolution of blockchain and its connection bitcoin, and by extension, other cryptocurrencies/cybercurrencies. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

Focusing on the Holocaust as a case study, the course will explore the mentality of those who designed and carried out the “final solution” as well as those complicit with them. The genocide of over six million Jews and other Holocaust victims raises profound questions about the human capacity for evil, the causes and means of dehumanization, the limits of obedience to authority and the potential of universal human rights legislation. The course discusses what the Holocaust can teach us about: 1) the psychological factors motivating and facilitating dehumanization and genocide; 2) the means of deterring and sanctioning those who commit racially motivated criminal acts; 3) ways to promote objective truth in historical research about the Holocaust, in light of the “revisionist” historiography of Holocaust deniers; and 4) the role of ethics in defining our interpersonal obligations and humanizing our relationships with others. Three lecture hours per week. Not open to students who have earned credit for PHL 270 or 271.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Contemporary Society, Pers Growth & Responsibility

This course analyzes the influence of technological innovations on the functioning of criminal justice institutions, including the police, courts and corrections. Students will learn how the accelerated pace of technological change has affected both day-to-day operations and long-range programming priorities. The legal and ethical implications of these changes will also be addressed. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course explores Homeland Security and counterterrorism from the perspective of theories, policies, and programs in Criminal Justice. Students are provided with opportunities to think critically and creatively about approaches to Homeland Security and counterterrorism in America. The course introduces to students the history of counterterrorism in America, and its impact on individuals, communities, cultures, and nations. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines community-based sanctions that are implemented outside of the traditional correctional institutions. The student will analyze the evolution, structure, and function of various community correctional components such as diversion programs, halfway houses, and drug and alcohol treatment programs. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin, philosophy and objectives of the juvenile justice system. An extensive and systematic analysis of juvenile justice policies and practices will be undertaken, especially those reflecting the philosophical shift toward offender accountability and public safety. Topics include an examination of Supreme Court decisions and legislative reforms related to the treatment, prevention and control of juvenile delinquents. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the police as an institution of social control in a democratic society. Students will be introduced to the history and basic structure of American law enforcement, as well as the legal environment of policing and differing views on the police mandate. Police administration and leadership will be studied in the context of current theory and research on police strategies, technology, behavior, occupational culture, ethics, and accountability. Finally, the course will emphasize contemporary issues, such as the changing face of policing in the post-9/11 world and future strategic directions for the field. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides students with an overview of issues related to crime control and prevention at the community and neighborhood levels. Both the community as well as the criminal justice system points of view are considered. Neighborhood-based criminal justice practices (including neighborhood courts, local substations of the police, and neighborhood District Attorney programs) are explored. Current crime prevention practices as well as the results of research on crime prevention programs are discussed. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the evolution of law enforcement as a means of controlling unruly populations and punishing disorder. It begins with the Night Watch and the constable system of the Colonial Era. It tracks this development through slave patrols, western vigilante organizations, the Texas Rangers, the Ku Klux Klan, 19th-century urban municipal police, modern professional departments, and finally, the establishment of militarized police forces equipped with Special Weapons and Tactics. It explains how a nation founded on skepticism about authority and military occupation came to develop the world's most elaborate and highly developed system of policing and incarceration. The course explains who gets authorized with the means of institutionalized violence, as well as the specific targets of their policing, including Native Americans, slaves, immigrants, labor unions, political protestors, "sexual deviants," and marginalized communities of color. Cross listed with HST341.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Diversity, Power Dyn, Soc Just

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the major structures, functions, and administration of courts in the American criminal justice system. The course will analyze the formal and informal structure of the federal, state, and local courts system. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces the student to the historical and philosophical development of “the correctional system.” Special emphasis will be given to the structure, administration, and nature of institutional and community corrections. Topics may include the inmate subculture, community-based treatment programs, and prisoner rights, as well as the societal functions of corrections. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement.
Prerequisite: CRJ101. Not open to students who received credit for CRJ200.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of the three types of white-collar crime, or economic crimes that are often committed by those in power including: occupational crime, corporate crime, and political crime. Criminal justice system responses to these crimes will also be examined. Examples of crimes that will be covered include: embezzlement, fraud, money laundering, bribery, environmental crime, and others. Because white-collar crimes often involve the use of computers or other modern technologies, special attention will be given to the overlap between crimes and cybercrime. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines current issues in race, ethnicity, and the criminal justice system in a flexible forum of discussions, including the relationship between race and ethnicity and all components of the criminal justice system. Special emphasis will be given to the evaluation of crime statistics, trends, and issues in measuring the relationship between race, ethnicity, and crime as well as the experiences of various racial and ethnic groups with American laws, law enforcement, criminal courts, the correctional system, and the death penalty. Three lecture hours per week. 

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Diversity, Power Dyn, Soc Just

This course will examine the roles and behaviors of females in offending, victimization, and the criminal justice workplace. Special emphasis is given to the powerful influence of gender and gender socialization in each of these areas. Course will include discussion of history, theory, and research to better understand the role of gender in offending and victimization. Discussion will include policy implications and legal reforms. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Diversity, Power Dyn, Soc Just

This course will involve the exploration and analysis of spatial and temporal patterns of crime, the use of technologies to analyze patterns of crime and the development of crime prevention strategies Theories of crime including those from Geography and Ecology of Crime, will be applied to the analysis of patterns of crime Students will acquire practical skills of crime analysis through the use of modern geographic information systems and statistical crime tracking software. Students will learn about how these skills are directly relevant to, and currently used by policing and corrections. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This introductory course is designed to expose students to the various aspects of the Digital Forensics discipline —the science of finding information relevant to the investigation of a committed cybercrime. More than 90% of all information humans create and consume exists in digital form and never leaves the digital domain and Digital Forensics investigation requires collecting, processing, and analyzing a lot of digital information saved on a multitude of digital devices. The course covers topics related to criminal justice, computer technology, and the process of criminal investigation, focusing on analyzing security breaches and finding Electronic Evidence stored on computers and networks. In this course students will learn fundamental concepts of Digital Forensic including its technical side (computers, data, Internet, Web, mobile technologies, etc.) and its legal and regulatory side,
bringing together digital technologies, law, and cybercrime investigation techniques. Thorough knowledge of computers is not necessary but yearning to understand computing and networking technology on the conceptual level is desirable.
3 lecture hours.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides an overview of the current use of criminal profiling within the criminal justice system. Students will examine the history, structure, and function of the four main types of criminal profiling: Crime Scene Analysis, Investigative Psychology, Geographic Analysis, and Behavioral Evidence Analysis. Various facets of the profiling process will be examined, such as the psychology of the offender, crime scene analysis, and the interpretation of evidence. Three lecture hours per week. Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides students with an introduction to emergency management concepts, theories, and principles through the exploration of the history of emergency management policies, practices, and events. Using a lens of Criminal Justice, students will explore national, state, and local government emergency management structure, roles, and responsibilities. Using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Emergency Management Institute (EMI) training modules to enhance the learning experience, students will learn the complexities of crisis and Criminal Justice emergency response, and the roles and responsibilities of emergency management personnel. Students will acquire a knowledge of the five phases of emergency management (prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery). In this course, students assess emergency management plans for risk, community impact, and unintended consequences, from the perspective of Criminal Justice. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course will outline the research process and will utilize criminological studies to illustrate research methods. The following will be examined: problem formulation involving topic selection, literature review, definition and operationalization of concepts, and construction of hypotheses; design of research strategies including examination of descriptive, exploratory, experimental, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies; and data collection techniques. The integration and application of theory, research, and policy will be discussed. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement. Prerequisites: W-I and W-II courses; CRJ101 and CRJ 220 or 362.

Credits: 3.00

This course fulfills these general education curriculum requirements: Written Commun-Level III

This seminar will examine the effect that drugs, both legal and illegal, have on society and the criminal justice system. Critical analysis and in-class discussion will be the format used to address issues such as the effect of the “war on drugs,” the debate and occurrence of both decriminalization and legalization, the relationship between drugs and violence, and the impact of drugs on individual users, including rehabilitation and treatment. Three lecture hours per week.
Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces students to global crime and justice. It will focus on the historical development of the laws and structure of various criminal justice systems throughout the world and study the commonalities and differences in law enforcement, adjudication, and corrections. Topics will include the influence of social, economic, and political factors on criminal justice systems and global crimes such as drug and human trafficking, war crimes, and terrorism. Three lecture hours per week. CRJ major requirement.
Prerequisite: CRJ101.

Credits: 3.00

The internship affords students the opportunity to translate theory into practice, to apply and gain knowledge, and to experience directly the operations and functions of a criminal justice or closely related agency. This fieldwork may assist students in clarifying their career goals and exploring future employment opportunities. Interns must be available eight to ten hours per week for fieldwork and regular meetings with the internship faculty advisor. Open only to Criminal Justice Seniors. Students will take at least one of CRJ 520/530/540.
Prerequisites: An overall GPA of at least 2.0 and a GPA of at least 2.0 in Criminal Justice.

Credits: 3.00

An individualized program involving study in depth of some aspect of criminal justice management or research under direction of the Criminal Justice faculty. Research paper required. Students must present a proposal for approval and subsequently defend the research paper at a meeting with the Criminal Justice Committee. Open only to Criminal Justice Seniors. Students will take at least one of CRJ 520/530/540.
Prerequisites: An overall GPA of 2.0 and a GPA of at least 2.0 in Criminal Justice.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides students with an opportunity to reflect broadly upon their education at Salem State University and apply accumulated knowledge and course materials to organizations in the criminal justice system. Specific learning acquired through academic experiences will be applied to the various agencies in criminal justice. The course emphasizes the connection between theory and research to current practices in the field of criminal justice. One and a half lecture hours and 6 hours field work per week. Students will visit law enforcement, courts, and correctional institutions on their own. Open only to Criminal Justice Seniors. Students will take at least one of CRJ 520/530/540.
Prerequisites: An overall GPA of 2.0 and a GPA of 2.0 in Criminal Justice.

Credits: 3.00

This course will provide students with the opportunity to address some of the latest issues in criminal justice. Course topics will vary from semester to semester but some examples include homeland security, cybercrime, restorative justice and gangs. Three lecture hours per week. The course may be repeated once for credit.
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing, 12 credits of Criminal Justice, or permission of Department Chairperson.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines racial, ethnic and socioeconomic factors and explores the possibility that the criminal justice system may be influenced by such factors. The course concentrates on comparative and historical analyses of the relationship between these factors and the criminal justice system and seeks to identify and critically analyze the work of scholars who have developed theories related to this issue.

Credits: 3.00

This course will focus attention on the origin, evolution and current administration of the juvenile justice system. The major theories of delinquency will be introduced and assessed. In addition, special attention will be devoted to gang violence, drug dealing in schools, and the increasing problems associated with anti-social offenses committed by youths.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the role of women in the criminal justice system, as victims, offenders, inmates and professionals. This course analyzes: (1) variations and patterns in female criminality; (2) the rehabilitation of female offenders; (3) the context and meaning of female victimization; and (4) gender and criminal justice professions. In addition, special attention is devoted to criminal justice theories and their relevance to women.

Credits: 3.00

This course will examine violence among intimates, including partner abuse, marital rape, child abuse, child neglect and elder abuse. The major foci will be on domestic violence and child abuse. This course will highlight theories of intimate violence, such as intergenerational transmission and social exchange.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the role of victims in the criminal justice process. A study of the theories of victimization and the nature and extent of victimization is pursued. Special attention is devoted to the treatment of victims by the criminal justice system, the emergence of the victim rights movement and victim services.

Credits: 3.00

A study of current policies and issues that affect modern confinement practices at the federal, state and local levels in the U.S. The emphasis is on rationale, classification, control, programs, treatment, supervision and outcomes. Analysis and examination of the effects of various confinement environments on federal and state prisoners are examined from sociological and psychological perspectives.

Credits: 3.00

This course analyzes the movement with corrections to provide offenders with rehabilitative and reintegrative services outside of the traditional institutional settings. The historical, theoretical and philosophical rationale for the community-based approach will be critically examined, as well as a wide variety of functioning programs. Attention will also focus on how this movement has addressed special needs offenders, including juveniles, women, substance abusers and the mentally ill.

Credits: 3.00

Initially, this course will review the historical developments of police policy and police practice. It will examine the changes associated with policy and practice over the past several decades and will focus on how well those practices have serviced specific communities across the U.S. This evaluation will include ideological paradigm shifts between stated mandates versus actual experiences of various communities and specific groups.

Credits: 3.00

This course will review the history of criminal profiling as well as the current strategies utilized in criminal profiling. Research on reliability, validity and ethical issues of profiling will be reviewed. There also will be an emphasis on application of currently utilized models in developing profiles through analysis of case studies. The course will extensively cover the three main areas of profiling: forensic analysis, victimology, and crime scene characteristics. Administration Concentration Elective

Credits: 3.00

This course reviews issues in alcohol misuse, licit and illicit drug use, and the criminal justice system. Topics range from contemporary drug issues to the history of drug use as well as policy approaches. Students will assess the role of drugs in American society, the psychological and physiological effects of abuse, past and current drug control policies, and effective drug treatments. Administration and Criminology Concentration Elective

Credits: 3.00

This course explores the relationship of mental illness to crime and violence as well as the policies and programs concerning the treatment of individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. The course focuses on the nature, prevalence and consequences of mental illness among criminal offenders, the assessment of violence risk, the evolving concept of legal competence, and the institutional and community-based treatments of mentally ill offenders. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course will examine the causes and consequences of hate crimes, as well as the social contexts within which they occur. We will explore why some individuals become motivated to commit violent acts based on their prejudices and intergroup rivalries. We will also analyze how various actors and conditions in the social environment influence the incidence of hate crimes, including hate groups, the media, and political leaders. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the history of gangs in the United States, myths and realities of gangs, the nature and extent of gangs, statistics and demographics on gangs, gang structures and process, national gang trends, gangs and social media, gang theories, and criminal activities of gangs, including the link between urban gangs and violence. Special attention is given to best practices in combatting gang problems, including gang prevention, intervention and suppression. Three lecture hours per week.

Credits: 3.00

This course provides students with an understanding of the major theories of crime causation developed over the last three centuries. Special attention is devoted to issues related to the measurement of crime and what can be discerned from the available empirical data about the nature and extent of crime. In addition, explanations of various crime types such as violent and white-collar crime are highlighted and discussed.

Credits: 3.00

This course examines the processes involved in the administration of the criminal justice system, specifically policy, court and correctional agencies. Special attention will be focused on the external and internal factors that currently impact criminal justice administration and policy formulation.

Credits: 3.00

This course will include a discussion of criminal law, its historical development, function and purpose in American society. The essential elements of crime and principles of criminal liability will be studied. Various laws pertaining to offenses against persons, property, public order and the government will be reviewed. The course will also include discussion of the judicial system and its procedures. Judicial processing of criminal violators, and their due process rights, will be examined. Current legal and judicial issues will be selected and analyzed.

Credits: 3.00

This course will examine the logic and validity of research procedures in experimental, quasi-experimental, survey and field research. Students will develop critical abilities in analyzing social science research and will formulate research proposals using the techniques studied.

Credits: 3.00

This course introduces statistical concepts used for analyzing crime and evaluating crime policies. Students will survey statistical methods for establishing correlations, interpreting trends, conducting time series analysis, and prediction. The underlying concepts integral to these techniques are reviewed including probability and sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, effect size, and statistical power. An undergraduate course in statistics is required.

Credits: 3.00

This course offers students the opportunity to integrate knowledge gained in the classroom with real-world social science problems. It builds upon the understanding and concepts of Criminal Justice and Criminology learned throughout the program. Students may be required to complete a major paper and presentation. Community-based and agency-based participatory projects are encouraged. To the extent possible, the paper completed for this course has as a goal an active contribution to the field of Criminal Justice and/or Criminology.
Pre-requisites: completion of at least 18 credits total. 3 credit hours.

Credits: 3.00

An independent research project supervised by a faculty member of the department of Criminal Justice.

Credits: 1.00 - 6.00