This course provides an overview of the history and present-day operation of the criminal justice process in the United States. Students will analyze the role, responsibility, and authority of each of the components of the system: police, courts, and corrections. They will also explore and examine the underlying principles and values of justice.
Conflict is a natural phenomenon. However, its ability to produce positive or negative results is dependent on the factors and processes used in response to it. Students will use academic and news articles, movies, book chapters, and case studies to explore the theoretical and empirical factors that influence conflicts, how these conflicts escalate to violence, and the various nonviolent mechanisms that can be used for their peaceful resolution. This course is an introduction to peace studies and nonviolent conflict resolution mechanisms, and will review the primary literature on the roots of peace at the societal level and methods for finding mutually acceptable solutions to conflicts at the individual and group levels. It examines the theories and causes of conflict from the global, national, and human perspectives and explores the stages of conflict, why some conflicts escalate into violence, why some don’t, and what mechanisms help with ensuring peaceful resolution.
All readings for this course will be provided. Assignments include two short papers (1000 words each), a final paper (2000 words), and a 15-minute presentation on the final paper. Students will also be expected to participate in class activities and discussions actively.
This course will give students a broad overview of the United States Immigration legal system. Students learn about the INS and study important immigration cases that helped to shape the US immigration laws. Students will learn about different categories of immigrants and non-immigrants, and learn about the different immigration forms. Lastly, students will have an opportunity to have hands on experience by volunteering at a citizenship clinic to put their knowledge into practice.
Mediation is one of the essential alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in conflict resolution. This course introduces the concept, principles, and practice of mediation as a conflict resolution tool. It provides a historical understanding of mediation, how it differs from other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and how practitioners use it in various types of conflicts (workplace, interpersonal, intragroup, intergroup, and international conflicts). The course also has a required internship component that allows students to observe actual mediations in person, and to utilize their knowledge and skills acquired through the class meetings by gaining mediation experience themselves. The course will enable students to understand and practice mediation in diverse conflict scenarios. It will use academic articles, book chapters, case studies and scenarios, and simulations to explore the concept and principles of mediation and the factors that enable its use as a suitable conflict resolution mechanism for various conflicts.
PREREQUISITE: ENG101
This course introduces the student to the major perspectives, concerns, controversies, and debates that characterize the contemporary study of crime, criminals, and criminal behavior. It examines these problems by drawing upon other disciplines such as sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology, philosophy, medicine, and biology i.e. to provide an integrated approach to understanding the problem of crime in contemporary society and to advance solutions to the crime quagmire.
PREREQUISITE: ENG 101
COREQUISITE: Introduction to Criminology and either General Psychology or Intro to Sociology.
This course provides criminology students with a study of the psychological perspective of offending related to violent crimes, sex crimes, gang activity, drug crimes, property crimes and criminal justice analysis. Through field study research, the student will identify, discuss, analyze and critically evaluate the contributions of psychological theory to understand motive and intent of human criminal behavior. The psychological and social effects of crime on the criminal, the victim and society at large will also be explored.
PREREQUISITE: ENG101
This course examines criminal law in the United States from a broad perspective. It will present the general principles and doctrines that affect the whole of criminal law, such as elements of criminal offenses, defenses to crimes, theories of punishment and rehabilitation, and perspectives on crime and criminal law. In addition, students will learn the elements of some specific crimes, such as homicide, criminal sexual conduct, crimes against public order, crimes against public morals, and crimes against property, including burglary, larceny and arson. A brief discussion of criminal procedure and constitutional limitations on government will be presented as preparation for future study of criminal justice procedure.
PREREQUISITE: ENG101
This course traces the development and evolution of law enforcement to current practices in the United States. Students will analyze the role of police agencies in our society and current problems faced by law enforcement. Career opportunities in local, state, and federal law enforcement will be discussed.
PREREQUISITE: ENG 101
This course provides a comprehensive look at the criminal justice process from arrest to sentencing. Students will analyze the responsibilities of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges and the role that each plays in the process. Topics will include: plea-bargaining, victim-witness assistance, jury selection, diversion and sentencing options.
Prerequisite: No Prerequisite
This course traces the historical development of the juvenile justice system and examines how and why youthful offenders and children designated "in need of service" are treated differently from adults. Recent legislative changes and the impact of these changes on the handling of certain categories of juveniles will also be studied.
Prerequisite: ENG101
In this course, students will focus on selected aspects of civil liberties and civil rights in the United States. It will address government limitations of power, and constitutional law questions about "who" should decide the content and nature of liberty as well as the issues of judicial activism and restraint. The primary goal of the course is to discuss our rights-not who defines them. Therefore, emphasis is on the Constitution and US Supreme Court cases which delineate the legal doctrines relevant to defining the constitution's guarantees of liberty. The student will be expected to learn about freedom of speech and press, freedom of religion, privacy, discrimination, capital punishment, and future directions. This course will help students grow as citizens and enable them to critically analyze the events surrounding them. Previous course code and title CJP 260 CIVIL LIBERTIES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
PREREQUISITE: ENG 101
This course traces the development and roles of probation, parole and other community sentencing alternatives in the United States. Particular attention is paid to the legal, functional and administrative aspects of these sanctions, as well as the impact on recidivism and offender reintegration.
Course Prerequisites: English 101 Concurrent
Restorative justice is a centuries-old approach to crime, with roots in tribal cultures. It seeks to empower people to address the harms, needs, and obligations that arise from crime by bringing together victims, offenders, and members of their respective communities. In most restorative justice processes, parties engage in face-to-face dialogue focused on personal accountability and repairing the harm that occurred.
This course will explore the theoretical underpinnings of restorative justice, practical applications of it in criminal and civil cases, and potential ways to integrate it into the legal system. Students will first learn about the origins of restorative justice principles and then will evaluate modern applications of those principles to legal conflicts, both in and out of the courtroom
PREREQUISITE: ENG101
The development of correctional institutions and current correctional practices in the United States. Students will analyze the function and operation of correctional facilities, with particular emphasis on the Massachusetts correctional system.
PREREQUISITE: ENG 101
This course provides criminology students with a study of the psychological perspective of offending related to violent crimes, sex crimes, gang activity, drug crimes, property crimes and criminal justice analysis. Through field study research, the student will identify, discuss, analyze and critically evaluate the contributions of psychological theory to understand motive and intent of human criminal behavior. The psychological and social effects of crime on the criminal, the victim and society at large will also be explored.
PREREQUISITES: ENG 101 and CJP 200
This course will examine the origin, development, and enforcement of law in society from a multi-paradigmatic perspective. It will probe into the sociological, political, anthropological, and philosophical context of law, and critically consider the relationship of law to social change and vice versa. The course will also investigate the role of class conflict and dissent in the legislative process.
PREREQUISITE: ENG 101
This course explores the social context for the constructs of race and ethnicity and analyzes the racial and ethnic implications of the United States Constitution and other federal and state laws. Particular attention will be paid to identifying and analyzing landmark cases and their impact on the political and legal structure of the nation. Students will also evaluate the effects of racial, ethnic and gender bias in jury selection, jury verdicts, sentencing, corrections and other areas of the criminal justice system.
PROFILING SERIAL CRIME
This course will present a description of the history of the United States Constitutional interpretation and current doctrine concerning judicial review, the Federal and State System, the Bill of Rights, Separation of Powers, Freedom of Speech and Religion, Due Process and Equal Protection. Special attention will be given to current controversies regarding Judicial Activism, Judicial Restrain pointing directly to the recent United States Supreme Court's role in the election 2000. Particular emphasis will be made regarding challenge against the "Right of Privacy" and Affirmative Action.
Prerequisite: Permission of Department Chair/Program Coordinator; completion of 3 CJP required courses; 2 or above GPA; good academic standing; completion of English Competition 101.
Internship Requirement:
This three-credit course will provide students with “real world” experience within the criminal justice system. Students will be exposed to and contribute to actual day to day functions of various criminal justice professions. Students will be directed and mentored in performing specific required tasks by designated site supervisors while also learning more about the critical interplay between law enforcement agencies and all criminal justice proceedings through various reading assignments and scheduled class discussions.
Students will be required to work 150 hours during the semester at the internship site. Internships can be held at law enforcement agencies, private or public research entities, policy making bodies, the legislature, the court system, substance abuse treatment facilities, probation, parole or human services agencies that are connected to the criminal justice system. The internship, along with other assigned class work, is designed to help students improve their practical understanding of the criminal justice system. Interns are required to maintain a written daily journal documenting the Internship experience. Documentation should cover, types of tasks performed and observed. Actual work hours must be logged into electronically into RCC’s time sheet system. Each Student Intern will receive at least one site visit from the Faculty Advisor during the course of the internship. A 2-3 page written summary is required at mid-term. This written summary should highlight the student’s internship observations to date. Also, there will be a meeting between the Intern, site supervisor, and faculty to review the Internship Agreement to affirm that the original objectives are still appropriate and obtainable, making modifications if necessary. There will be an End of Semester Presentation/Internship Showcase. All student interns must complete a final self-assessment, evaluation of the internship site and our program, as well as receive a formal evaluation from the site and faculty.
Please see Internship Agreement for more information.
