Trinity’s criminal justice program focuses on the role of criminal justice within the broader concept of social justice in a multi-cultural, industrialized democracy. Our students explore the historical, theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline and are challenged to analyze current issues in the field, including evaluating the performance of the criminal justice system in deterring crime, protecting the public and fostering a just society.
Our location in the nation’s capital affords students the opportunity to observe the criminal justice system firsthand, from traffic court to the U.S. Supreme Court, from a cop on the beat to the Director of Homeland Security, and from the policy created by the city council to the policy laid out by the U.S. Congress. Through an integration of interdisciplinary learning with the needs of criminal justice in the 21st century, the program prepares the student for a wide variety of careers in criminal justice, including law enforcement, corrections and homeland security, and for graduate study in criminal justice and related fields, such as the law and social services.
CJUS 200 CorrectionsComprehensive survey of the correctional process in the U.S., including present philosophies and practices of punishment and rehabilitation; procedures of custodial institutions; functions of correctional officers; functions of probation and parole; classification program assignment; and release procedures.
3 creditsCJUS 205 CriminologyThis course presents a framework for the scientific study of the nature and causes of crime and antisocial behavior. The course focuses on explanations provided through criminal typologies and criminological theories, by focusing on definitions, history, types, causes, and consequences of crime as well as the responses of the criminal justice system to crimes, criminals, and the victims of crimes. Topics will include crime causation, the extent of crime, victimization, social/psychological theories, and various types of criminality, including violent, property, and public order offenses. Formerly SOCY 205 - Criminology.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NoneCJUS 307 Criminal ProceduresThis course reviews procedural aspects of criminal law governing the acts of law enforcement personnel, with a special emphasis on the constitutional rights of the accused. This study includes arrest, search and seizure, confessions, right to counsel, and similar topics.
3 credits
Prerequisite: CJUS 101CJUS 381 Homeland SecurityThis course examines the organization, functions, and strategies of the Department of Homeland Security and its member agencies. How can the department meet the new challenges caused by global and domestic terrorist threats, natural, and man-made disasters and cultural changes within the United states and the world? Students will also explore examples of various security threats and the DHS response to them and examine management style and structure in the department.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneCJUS 388 International and Domestic TerrorismThis course examines aspects of extremism and terrorism in a historical, cultural and tactical context and relates the use of terrorism to contemporary issues of international domestic terrorism facing the United States today. Paramilitarism, white supremacy groups, hate groups, religious fundamentalism, and foreign terrorist groups throughout the world and through history will be investigated and studied with sophisticated theories of analysts.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: NoneCJUS 410 Theories of Crime and DevianceThis course examines various explanations of crime and deviance from a variety of perspectives: Biological, Psychological, Sociological, Feminist, and Conflict, among others.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CJUS 205CJUS 471 Law, Justice, and the American FamilyLaw, Justice, and the American Family: Modern Family Law draws from constitutional law, criminal law, conflict of laws, and the laws of contracts, torts, property, inheritance, and even taxation. Students will examine the law as it involves the formation and dissolution of modern families, both traditional and non-traditional, violence against family members, adoption, custody and support of children, and government interventions in family issues. This course will also cover evolution the family law and dispute resolution process.
3 creditsPSYC 402 Juvenile Forensic PsychologyThis course will enhance students' knowledge, skills, and resourcefulness related to detained and institutionized juveniles in the Juvenile Justice System. In addition, this course will increase students' knowledge of theoretical explanations and the etiologies of juvenile delinquency and juvenile crime from a psychological perspective.
3 credits
Prerequisites: PSYC 101, PSYC 221 or PSYC 325SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social ScientistsIntroduces the student to various research methods used in the social sciences. Topics include causal analysis survey, observational, and evaluating strategies; feminist methods; database management; and statistical data analysis. Formerly SOC 342 Research Methods.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100 and MATH 110
Trinity’s criminal justice program focuses on the role of criminal justice within the broader concept of social justice in a multi-cultural, industrialized democracy. Our students explore the historical, theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline and are challenged to analyze current issues in the field, including evaluating the performance of the criminal justice system in deterring crime, protecting the public and fostering a just society.
