Criminal Justice
CJ-101
Introduction to Criminal Justice
3 credits
A comprehensive examination of the American Criminal Justice System and its components, including the duties of the police, courts, corrections, and the legislative and executive branches of government at the state and federal levels. Topics include the responsibilities of the system in American society, the purpose, organization, structure and limitations of the criminal law, definitions of specific crimes, the organization of the court system, and the processing of criminal cases through the police, arrest, prosecutorial review, and various judicial stages including plea bargaining, trial, adjudication, and appeal. The juvenile justice system will be addressed. Both the federal and state Constitutional rights of the accused and the roles of key players in the judicial process will be considered. The organization of the police and the correctional system will be examined.
Prerequisite: None
CJ-106
Introduction to Fire Science
3 credits
An introduction to the historical and scientific background of fire protection services in America. Topics include fire service terminology; duties and responsibilities of firefighters; fire equipment use, and function; and the responsibilities of fire service agencies within government and the private sector. Employment and promotional opportunities will be addressed. The course will provide preparation for the FDNY written, open, competitive examination.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-110
Contemporary Security Practices
3 credits
An examination of contemporary security practices, including the history, philosophy, and legal authority of private security operations, and the role of private security in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Systems. Functional security activities will be discussed in detail, including protection theory, the security survey, structural security and design, fire safety protection, and safety planning as they apply to specialized settings. The selection and training of security personnel will also be addressed.
Prerequisite: None
CJ-150
American Legal System
3 credits
This course examines the history, structure, organization, and authorities of the legal systems of justice used in the United States, including the civil, criminal, and juvenile systems. Topics will include the evolution of law, legal education and legal reasoning, jurisdictional issues, the appellate process and judicial review, the civil and criminal judicial process, and contemporary juvenile justice.
Prerequisite: None
CJ-160
Cyber Crime
3 credits
This introductory course will explore the emerging field of cyber crime and the historical, ethical and technological considerations. Students will learn about the various forms of cyber crime such as identity theft, financial fraud, intellectual property and child exploitation. An examination of the importance of data and evidence collection and the various ways computers have served as a contributory tool in facilitating this form of crime will be addressed.
Prerequisite: IT-103
CJ-200
Criminal Law
3 credits
An introduction to the history, theory, and practice of the substantive criminal law; this course examines the sources of law, legislative responsibilities, the major elements of statutory offenses, and their application in the Criminal Justice process. New York State Penal Code will be emphasized.
Prerequisite: CJ-101 and LA-103
CJ-201
Family Law
3 credits
An introduction to the various issues in the area of family law; this course examines matrimonial law (including separation, divorce, and equitable distribution), family offenses, child protective proceedings, parental rights, and adoption. Statutory provisions from the Domestic Relations Law, the Family Court Act, and the Social Services Law will be emphasized.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-202
Prison: Punishment and Rehabilitation in America
3 credits
This course is a study of American penology – the branch of knowledge that studies the theory and practice of prison management and criminal rehabilitation in a sociological context. It will examine the historical developments that have led to the adoption of current practices in American corrections and include an in-depth study of the various theoretical and practical approaches to punishment and rehabilitation. In addition, it will examine the major critical issues in corrections which have helped shape the landscape of American corrections from 1980 to the present. This includes a discussion of current treatment modalities, inmate subcultures, prison management, and sentencing trends. Moreover, the course will explore the use of alternatives-to-incarceration, which are ubiquitous in modern corrections and discuss at-length the latest trends in prisoner re-entry.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-205
Criminal Procedure and Process
3 credits
This course examines the application of relevant U.S. and State Constitutional requirements and restrictions on the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses. Major topics include the laws of arrest, the rules of search and seizure, the use of force, and interrogation practices. Attention will be paid to various aspects of the investigation and judicial process, the concept of due process, and to rights afforded to the accused.
Prerequisite: CJ-200
CJ-206
Police Patrol Procedures
3 credits
This course examines the police patrol function in detail, including common patrol strategies, the types of patrol and their applications, and routine patrol procedures. Specific patrol activities and duties will be emphasized including crises management; traffic control; report writing; crowd control; medical emergencies; communications skills; community relations; and ethical conduct.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-208
History of the New York City Police Department
3 credits
Students participating in this course will examine the history of policing in New York City from 1625 to the current time. Topics to be addressed will include: the evolution of security forces in NYC from the Shout and Rattle Watch, through the transformation of the Municipal and Metropolitan Police Departments into the modern NYPD; the rules and procedures of the various iterations of the police department; hiring and training procedures; scandals and reforms; and the evolving duties and responsibilities of the police in the City of New York.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-210
Criminal Investigation
3 credits
An introduction to the history, theory, and practice of criminal investigation, this course examines the evolution of the investigative process, its basic procedures, and the appropriate use of investigative practices. Topics include the duties of the first officers arriving at the crime scene, crime scene procedures, documenting, protecting, and collecting physical evidence, locating and interviewing witnesses, developing an investigative plan, follow up procedures, the role and limitations of the crime lab, suspect identification practices, and case preparation. Students will examine standard investigative practices for burglaries, larcenies, auto theft, and similar crimes. Ethical issues will be addressed.
Prerequisite: CJ-205
CJ-211
Police and the Community
3 credits
This course examines the relationship between the components of the criminal justice system and the communities they serve. The history and philosophy of the relationship between criminal justice agencies and the community as well as contemporary approaches to crime reduction will be discussed. The various community concerns, both positive and negative, will be addressed. Problems that prevent a cooperative environment, as well as the internal and external barriers to such a relationship will be examined in detail. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the resources of the criminal justice agencies to engage in problem solving with citizens, develop community awareness of criminal justice agencies, community initiatives and promote community crime prevention.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-212
Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice
3 credits
This course examines current ethical and value conflicts within the Criminal Justice System with special attention to those in the System’s police function. Students will examine the purpose and functions of ethics in society; identify the sources of ethics and of ethical conflicts in Criminal Justice; and consider appropriate resolutions. The development of appropriate ethical standards, ethical-decision making practices, and personal and professional value systems will be addressed. Emphasis is placed on individual responsibility, accountability, and the development of values.
Prerequisites: CJ-101
CJ-215
Event Risk Management and Safety
3 credits
This course is a comprehensive examination of managing event risk and liability. Through the use of theoretical and practical procedures and scenarios, students will learn how to recognize, manage and limit risk in venues that vary in size and scope.. In addition to evaluating risk, students will become familiar with the coordination of governmental and private resources to address such issues as overall security and safety, alcohol and drugs, medical facilities, fire safety, availability and quality of food and water resources, bathroom facilities, and the specific issues of indoor v outdoor events.
Prerequisite: 30 Credits
CJ-220
Women in Criminal Justice
3 credits
This course addresses the many issues surrounding women in the Criminal Justice System: women as offenders; as victims/survivors; and as criminal justice professionals. Criminological theories and female patterns of criminal behavior, the effects of labeling on women, the criminalization of abortion, the criminalization of addiction and pregnancy, domestic violence, rape/sexual assault, stalking, and sexual harassment will be examined. The historical and current roles of women as professionals in the Criminal Justice System will be addressed.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-240
Correctional Administration & the Law
3 credits
This course is an examination of the specific aspects of public administration as they apply to correctional organizations. Topics include the principles of effective management and leadership, models for the organization and administration of correctional agencies and their services, policy development, internal and external accountability, budget development and administration, technology and correctional administration, and labor relations. Future trends will be examined. The course will also explain the specific body of law that governs the area of corrections and how the law is applied to protect the rights of inmates and the institution.
Prerequisite: CJ-202
CJ-245
Correctional Counseling
3 credits
This course examines counseling services, methods, and strategies used in the correctional system including probation, institutional, and parole services. Topics include the role of counseling in the rehabilitation process, classification and evaluation of offenders, risk assessment, the correctional counseling process, case work, and crisis intervention. Specific programs for anger management, responsibility training, and behavior modification, and specific counseling techniques will be explored.
Prerequisites: CJ-202, LA-101
CJ-270
Fundamentals of Criminal Trial Practice
3 credits
The course is designed to introduce students to the adversarial trial practice by exposing them to the various facets of the process, culminating in mock trial presentations. Students will be exposed to fundamental processes of trial packet. The packet will consist of a hypothetical case, including witness statements, police reports, medical records, as well as other documentation and possible photographs. Students will be taught how to effectively execute each phase of the trial process, i.e., Opening Statements, Direct Examination, Cross Examination, etc. Students will also be exposed to the Rules of Evidence, Criminal Procedure and Criminal Law as relevant to the hypothetical case file. Students will be required to draft and argue pre-trial motions regarding the exclusion of evidence, both tangible and testimonial.
Prerequisite: CJ-205
CJ-271
United States Court Systems
3 credits
This course will examine the history, traditions and philosophies underlying our system of justice for the Federal, state and local levels as it relates to the criminal court construct. Students will learn about the roles and impact of the prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, defendant, jurors and victims who are involved in the evolution of case outcomes. Public opinion, policy implications, and future trends will be examined.
Prerequisite: CJ-101 and LA-103
CJ-280
Physical Fitness for Law Enforcement Personnel
3 credits
This course is designed to develop the basic skills and techniques necessary for lifetime physical fitness as it relates specifically to law enforcement careers. It will focus on the realistic physical activities and demands of police and correctional work as demonstrated in physical agility entrance examinations. Topics will include aerobic and anaerobic exercises, diet and nutrition, foot pursuits and chases, arrest techniques, strengthening exercises, and rescuing activities. The basic elements of lifelong healthy living will be discussed.
Prerequisite: This course is open to Criminal Justice Students who have Sophomore Standing and can satisfy the course’s basic pre-test agility and fitness requirements.
Non-CJ students may register with Dean’s approval.
CJ-281
Defensive Tactics
3 Credits
This course is designed to develop the basic skills and techniques necessary for law enforcement officers to control resistance from aggressive or passive subjects. It will focus on less-lethal tactics that meet current legal and department use of force standards. Topics will include aerobic and anaerobic exercises, use of force issues, pressure point control, hard empty-hand control, impact weapon techniques, tactical handcuffing, escorts, handgun disarming, and joint locks.
Prerequisites: CJ-280
CJ-290
Field Experience in Criminal Justice I
3 credits
Open to students with sophomore standing, the course is designed to observe learned theory in a practical setting. Police agencies, para-professional positions in probation, correctional counseling, juvenile facilities, or in custodial and non-custodial correctional facilities, detention centers, and similar agencies are most appropriate. Agencies that require extensive security clearances are not suitable for this course. Students employed in Criminal Justice will develop a specialized internship within their existing agencies. Classes meet periodically to assess student progress and share individual experiences. This course is a CJ elective.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-292
Seminar in Criminal Justice Studies
3 credits
This course serves as a culmination of the criminal justice major at the associate level. The course is designed to integrate a student’s knowledge of the coursework taken to date into a practical understanding of the critical and contemporary issues facing criminal justice agencies today. In addition, the course will provide a framework for the student to identify potential career opportunities within criminal justice agencies.
Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing
CJ-300
Current Issues in Criminal Justice
3 credits
Selected contemporary critical issues affecting the Criminal Justice System will be examined through lectures and directed student research. Topics will vary according to current events and may range from gun control and prison violence, to police corruption, racial profiling, community issues, and more. Students, working individually or in groups, will present their research findings in both oral and written format.
Prerequisite: 60 Credits
CJ-301
Homeland Security & Counterterrorism
3 credits
This course is a comprehensive examination of domestic and foreign terrorist threats confronting the nation and the national, state and local governmental responses to those threats. The recent history of attacks against America; the politics of contemporary terrorist groups and their organizational structures; the reorganization of the federal government to combat terrorism; the Patriot Act; threat assessment and intelligence activities; and the role of local government authorities and the private sector will be examined. Case studies and best practices will be considered.
Prerequisites: CJ-101, CJ-200, CJ-205
CJ-305
Drugs in America
3 credits
This course examines the history of illegal drug activity in the United States and its impact on the nation’s economy, health system, and Criminal Justice System. The National Drug Policy, the national war on drugs, appropriate state and federal drug laws, the international drug trade, and current law enforcement tactics will be considered. Drug user profiles and current treatment modalities will be discussed. Alternatives to the National Drug Control Policy will be examined, including the European Experiments, decriminalization, legalization, and new treatment strategies.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-307
Forensic Applications in Criminal Investigation
3 credits
This course is an introduction to the application of the scientific method and the principles of contemporary science to criminal investigation. It is designed to familiarize students with the evidentiary value of crime scenes and physical evidence, and the appropriate scientific techniques for the discovery, recovery, and preservation of physical evidence. Various methods of forensic examination and analysis, and their investigative significance, will be discussed. Practical applications, legal issues, and critical thinking skills will be emphasized. Students will learn how forensic experts apply scientific principles and methods to the analysis, identification, and classification of physical evidence in criminal cases.
Prerequisite: CJ-210
CJ-311
Organized Crime and Gangs
3 credits
This course is a historical and contemporary analysis of organized crime and gangs in America: their origins, components, structure, and activities. Topics will address traditional and emerging organized crime groups; current gang organization and structure; the sociological influences that give rise to the formation of gangs and organized crime groups; their specific criminal enterprises; as well as investigative and enforcement efforts. The impact of organized criminal activities on American social, economic and political life will also be examined.
Prerequisite: CJ-101 and LA-102
CJ-312
Domestic Violence
3 credits
Domestic violence is the largest crime and public health issue confronting women. Additionally studies indicate that as many as 60% of youth incarcerated for manslaughter and homicide have killed their mothers’ abusers. Since 1970, huge strides have been made in confronting this issue. All 50 states have enacted DV-related reform, domestic violence social service programs are present in every county in the US and innovative DV courts now provide enhanced legal relief and social services in many parts of the country. This history and these trends and innovations present new challenges and many new professional opportunities for health, social services and criminal justice professionals. The course will prepare the student to meet these challenges with information and intervention strategies appropriate for awareness of this issue and careers in this dynamic field.
Prerequisite: LA-101
CJ-317
FORENSICS APPLIED TO COMPUTER INVESTIGATIONS
3 credits
The focus of this course is the unlawful use of the computer, computer programs and software to facilitate crimes initiated on the internet. The course will examine the use of the computer to commit crimes of identity theft, hacking, on line auction fraud (EBAY, CRAIG’S LIST), credit card fraud and child pornography.
The course is designed to provide students with the application of skills to forensically examine computers and computer programs for the recovery of evidence. The computer’s significance is that it both the repository and tool utilized for the criminal activity described. The student upon completion of course will be equipped with skills to become a computer forensic investigator.
Prerequisites: CJ-160
CJ-320
Diversity in the Criminal Justice System
3 credits
This course examines current issues of race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, and religion as they affect the Criminal Justice System. The myths and realities of criminality and victimization will be addressed, as well as the impact of these issues on the internal structure and operational practices of the System, with special emphasis on the police and the correctional services. Specific types of disparity will be identified and analyzed, and remedies to the problems of internal and external bias and discrimination will be considered.
Prerequisite: CJ-101
CJ-324
Principles of Disaster Management
3 credits
This course is an introduction to the theories, principles, and practices of disaster management with emphases on the roles and functions of key governmental agencies at the state, local and federal levels in natural and unnatural disasters. Topics will include emergency planning and preparedness, mitigation, disaster management in the private sector, response and recovery, and interagency cooperation. Relevant case studies and legal issues will be examined.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
CJ-325
Homicide Investigation
3 credits
This is an advanced course in criminal investigation designed to integrate and expand concepts introduced in Criminal Investigation and Criminal Procedure. Students will examine death investigations from the crime scene through the prosecution process. Specific topics will include crime scene processing, forensic examinations, interviewing and interrogation, identification procedures, investigative planning, documentation and report writing, relevant search and seizure issues, court preparation and testimony. Applications to other types of major case investigations will be discussed.
Prerequisite: CJ-210
CJ-326
Sex Crimes
3 credits
This is an advanced course in criminal investigation that focuses on the investigation and prosecution of crimes of sexual abuse against women and children. Students will examine the investigative process from the crime scene through the judicial process. Specific topics include crime scene processing, forensic examination, scientific evidence, interview techniques for victims of sexual crimes, offender psychology and behavior, identification procedures, relevant legal issues, investigative planning, court preparation, and testimony. Special attention is given to the pathology of sexual offenders, the psychological effects of victimization, and care and treatment of victims.
Prerequisite: CJ-210.
CJ-327
Crime Scene Management
Civil and criminal litigation are among the most prevalent and common ways in which mankind and institutions interact. An analytical approach, used in engaging the world around us is no longer a casual pursuit but an essential element, to achieve efficacy and self determination. Crime Scene Evaluation is a multi-disciplined, forensic intensive course that will challenge the Criminal Justice student to think objectively while employing an elevated discernment of the relevance of crime scene indictors. Diluted blood stains, injury patterns, putrefactive odors, patent friction ridge imprints, DNA laden substratum and tool-mark impressions, comprise a short list of the many classes of evidence encountered by peace officers, city and state agency investigators, insurance claim adjusters and forensic nurses, to name just a few. Course material will be conveyed via a modified lecture method, guest presenters and a field trip to the New York Police Department’s Forensic Identification Division.
Prerequisite: CJ-307
CJ-329
Forensic Psychology and Serial Offenders
3 credits
The goal of this course is to introduce students to some representative areas of forensic psychology and to teach how forensic psychologists contribute to the legal system. Students will be introduced to the methods used by forensic psychologists to explain behavior by examining a number of studies devoted to topics related to forensic psychology. Special attention will be paid to the so-called, serial offender and what motivates their compulsive behaviors. This course will examine the aspects of Clinical, Neuro, and Counseling psychology and the forensic relationship of these variables. The course will clarify the meaning of serial offenders and will encourage the student to explore all facets of repeated abuse and/or deadly actions that meets the standard for serial victimization. Societal, psychological, political, biological and environmental issues will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: LA-108, LA-242, & Junior Standing
CJ-350
Research Methods in Criminal Justice
3 credits
This course is an introduction to the standard social science research designs and methodologies as they apply to Criminal Justice. It addresses the scientific method, the interpretation and uses of scientific data in Criminal Justice, and the analysis of research results regarding crime data, offenders, crime patterns, and related issues. Topics include introduction to the scientific method, the development of hypothesis and research questions, research design, basic research techniques, sampling, reliability and validity, and the evaluation of findings. Standard surveying techniques will be emphasized. Program evaluation will be discussed. Students will design an original research project.
Prerequisites: CJ-300, MA-135, CP-101 and Junior Standing
CJ-395
Corporate Internship
6 credits
This course provides students with the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom within their discipline to a corporate experience. The goal is to better prepare students to be professionals in their chosen career by gaining “Real Life” experience while immersing them fully into a corporate setting.
Students are required to complete 320 hours at the Corporate Internship setting.
The Internship can be an integral part of each of the majors and its primary goals are the following:
1. To enable the student to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom in a practical business
setting.
2. To help the company solve particular business problems and get to know a prospective full-time candidate, assessing his/her profile and fit in the company.
CJ-430
Leadership in the Criminal Justice System
3 credits
Leadership in the criminal justice system has become increasingly demanding within democratic societies. This course will examine the critical attributes of leadership and the extent to which an effective leader in criminal justice must comprehend the external environment to mobilize leaders within their agencies towards effective management and policy implementation.
Prerequisite: CJ-300
CJ-480
Criminal Justice Capstone Course
3 credits
This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in a culminating experience in which they use critical thinking skills to analyze, integrate, and synthesize the knowledge gained in their major program of study. The course also focuses on applying major criminal justice theories that have contributed to an understanding of deviant, delinquent, or abnormal behaviors and crime. This capstone course provides senior students the opportunity to demonstrate they can successfully analyze, evaluate, and interpret issues, problems and policies confronting the criminal justice field through a critical thinking, problem-solving process. This will take place in the context of a large-scale research project that focuses on a contemporary issue in Criminal Justice and will culminate in a presentation of their findings. Additionally, the course will serve as a bridge and preparation for either entry-level positions in the criminal justice field in the criminal justice field or graduate studies.
Prerequisite: CJ-350 and Senior Standing
CJ-490
Field Experience in Criminal Justice II
3 credits
Open to students with senior standing, this course exposes students to higher-level Criminal Justice positions that require a Bachelor’s degree for entry-level employment, and should prepare students for entry into the work force. Students spend a minimum of 100 hours over the course of the semester in a criminal justice field placement suitable to their career interests, under the supervision of the Program Coordinator and an agency representative. Placement sponsors like the Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, U.S. Probation Department, the New York City and New York State Department of Investigations, prosecutors’ offices at the county and federal levels, United Nation’s Security Services, counseling and case management functions in correctional facilities, courts, probation services, and similar organizations are most appropriate. Students employed in Criminal Justice develop a specialized internship. Classes meet periodically to assess student progress, share individual experiences, and to develop skills necessary for finding and obtaining suitable employment. This course is required for all Bachelor’s level students.
Prerequisite: CJ-290 or CJ-292
CJ-492
Senior Seminar
3 credits
This course is a critical review and examination of the existing literature in the field of criminal justice relative to the three main components of the system: police, courts, corrections. The course will assist students in their exploration of career possibilities in criminal justice. Students will undertake a series of short papers that focus on the social, public policy, political and occupational issues of the criminal justice field.
Prerequisite: EN-110 and Senior Standing
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