A survey of the various institutions by which the criminal justice system is administered: the police, the legal profession, the court systems, and the penal institutions. The problems that the criminal justice system faces and evaluation of the adequacy of the existing system will be given emphasis. Fall/Spring.

A variable content course for intermediate students who will study in depth a specific topic of interest in criminal justice, such as the death penalty, private prisons, sentencing reforms, gun control, intermediate sanctions, or a number of other topics. Often offered as CRJ 271: Mock Trial, in which students study all aspects of trial court procedure and the litigation process. Students in the Mock Trial course become members of the Carthage Mock Trial Team and represent Carthage in the annual American Mock Trial Association Tournament. Students develop an understanding of how both criminal and civil trials work.

This course provides a detailed examination of alternative forms of punishment within the criminal justice system, namely probation, parole and community supervision. Given the enormous strain on the prison system, these forms of punishment have become increasingly common in recent years. This course examines the nature of such programs within the larger socio-historical context.

This course examines the nature, extent, and distribution of crime in the United States. Theories of crime causation are also examined in this course.

The organization and content of criminal law with attention given to its origin and development and the elements of crimes of various types. Specific attention will be given the Model Penal Code.

A study of the balance of power and resources of the government and the liberties of citizens as provided for in the U.S. Constitution. The course focuses on arrest and search issues, but proceeds to examine questions related to pre-trial and trial processes and concerns for fundamental fairness. Attention is given to power and limits of power as they apply to people in the criminal justice system.

This course will rely on a variety of scholarly materials to answer questions such as: Why do we have police? What is the role of the police in a democratic society? What do we want the police to do? Who decides what the police do? How do we want the police to do their job? The course will also address other key issues including: (1) the history of the American police; (2) the nature of police work; (3) the police as agents of social control; (4) the structure and function of police organizations; (5) police misconduct; and, (6) police accountability.

This course examines the history and structure of the American court system. Understood as one of the primary institutions within the criminal justice system, emphasis will be placed on exploring the values, traditions and philosophy of the courts.

This course presents the historical patterns of response to crime and modern methods of dealing with criminally-defined behavior, including the major reactive models. Also examined are treatment approaches in corrections, corrections personnel, and corrections as an institutional system.

This course examines alternative approaches to the traditional corrections-based and/or punitive models of the criminal justice system. Topics covered in this course include victim-offender mediation programs. The theoretical basis of restorative justice is contrasted to retributive models of justice.

Students who participate in this course will become a member of the Carthage Mock Trial Team and will represent Carthage College in the annual American Mock Trial Association Tournament. In this course students will study all aspects of trial court procedure and the litigation process. Students will develop an understanding of how both criminal and civil trials work and will learn about the various roles played by the participants in the trial court process. Students will act as witnesses, prosecutors, and plaintiff and defense attorneys. Students will also work on and develop important skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, negotiation, communication, debating and team building.

A variable content course for advanced students who will study in depth a specific topic of interest in criminal justice, such as the death penalty, private prisons, sentencing reforms, gun control, intermediate sanctions, or a number of other topics.

The capstone experience for all majors in the department, the primary emphasis of this course will be writing the senior thesis. An oral presentation of the thesis is required for this course.