Catalog Description

Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Exploration of the history and philosophical roots of the U.S. justice system; in-depth study of the system and its sub-systems with emphasis on the total environment in which they operate; roles and role expectations of professionals as perceived from within and outside of the system; study of theories of crime, punishment, rehabilitation; exploration of research methodology of the discipline; analysis of the system interrelationship with society, punishments and incarceration alternatives. (C-ID AJ 110) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Analyze current and historical crime trends in the U.S.
  • CSLO #2: Identify and analyze the three components of the administration of justice system.
  • CSLO #3: Analyze the Constitutional principles relevant to the administration of justice.
  • CSLO #4: Diagnose how multicultural diversity presents challenges and opportunities for solving problems within the administration of justice.

Effective Term

Fall 2025

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

Through written activities and/or directed discussion activities, the student will:
1. Analyze current crime trends in America and contrast them to other periods in history;
2. Identify the three components of the criminal justice system and how they administer justice;
3. Distinguish the differences between the consensus and conflict models of the criminal justice system;
4. Explain how multiculturalism and diversity present special challenges to, and opportunities for, the American criminal justice system;
5. Compare and contrast current national crime data-gathering programs in the United States today;
6. Apply the basic vocabulary relevant to administration of justice;
7. Compare and contrast the impact of traditional vs. modern community policing efforts on community relations;
8. Analyze the Constitutional principles relevant to the administration of justice;
9. Differentiate between state and federal court systems of operations;
10. Identify and describe the roles of the professional courtroom work group;
11. Compare and contrast probation and parole and the advantages and disadvantages of each;
12. Distinguish between county jails and state prison populations and operations;
13. Summarize prison life and subculture from the inmates' point of view; and
14. Explain the similarities and differences between juvenile and adult systems of justice.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Social Sciences
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D Social Sciences
    • CSUGE - D8 Pol Sci/Govt/Lgl In
    • CSUGE-D0 Sociology/Criminology
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • Cal-GETC 4 - Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
    • IGETC - 4 Soc./Behav Sciences
    • IGETC - 4J Sociology/Criminlgy

Articulation Information

  • CSU Transferable
  • UC Transferable

Methods of Evaluation

  • Essay Examinations
    • Example: Given a hypothetical criminal violation, students will describe and analyze how justice is administered by each component of the criminal justice system (Law Enforcement, Courts and Corrections).
  • Objective Examinations
    • Example: Given a list of Constitutional Amendments and associated definitions or key phrases, students will match the correct Amendments and corresponding definitions.
  • Reports
    • Example: Students will write a research report on each of the three components of the criminal justice system and explain the importance of ethical behavior in the administration of justice.

Repeatable

No

Methods of Instruction

  • Lecture/Discussion
  • Distance Learning

Lecture:

  1. Using PPT slides to guide class discussion, Instructor will identify specific Amendments from the Bill of Rights and explain their connection to the administration of justice; students will connect these Amendments to daily functions of the Criminal Justice System.

Distance Learning

  1. Instructor will post interactive links to various crime database websites such as the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, CA DOJ, and Crime Mapping.com. Instructor will host a discussion board on current and historical crime trends at the national, state, and local levels; students will use these resources to try to compare and contrast the actual occurrences of crimes by crime type, location, and timespan.

Typical Out of Class Assignments

Reading Assignments

1. Collect and analyze five current event articles on volume and rates of criminal activity. 2. Read from the text regarding the correctional philosophies of traditional incarceration vs. alternative sentencing methodology and analyze merits of these various theories during class discussion.

Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

1. Provide a written analysis of five current event articles on criminal activity with a description of the relationship between the information in the articles and the concepts discussed in class. 2. Prepare a five-page paper analyzing how each component of the criminal justice system administers justice in its respective role within the system.

Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

Students will write three Research Papers on self-chosen topics, one for each of the three components of the criminal justice system (Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections).

Required Materials

  • Criminal Justice: A Brief Introduction
    • Author: Schmalleger
    • Publisher: Pearson
    • Publication Date: 2019
    • Text Edition: 13th
    • Classic Textbook?: No
    • OER Link:
    • OER:

Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.