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 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 303 Inequality, Discrimination, and Gender in Criminal JusticeRace, ethnicity, sex, and other characteristics may define individuals as minorities who deserve equitable treatment in the criminal justice system. This course examines the roles of racism, sexism, and homophobia in theories of crimes and the treatment of minorities by various components of the criminal justice system. Formerly CJUS 303 - Women and Minorities in CJ.
3 creditsCJUS 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 351 Probation, Parole, and Community CorrectionsThis course provides an overview of the administrative and operational aspects of community-based corrections. Students will examine, in detail, the functions and strategies of various community corrections agencies, in the context of individual, political and community influences, and criminological theories. Students will also study the historical development and future trends in probation, parole and other noncustodial alternatives to prisons and other correctional institutions.
Prerequisites: CRJ 100, CRJ 200, CRJ 205
Credits: 3CJUS 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 323 Forensic PsychologyIntroduces students to psychological issues in the area of criminal justice, including the topics of juvenile delinquency, mental illness and criminal responsibility, and rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological theories and research on the causes of criminal behavior and the role of the psychologist in the criminal justice system are presented. Formerly PSY 333 and PSYC 323 Criminal and Forensic Psychology.
3 credits
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 3 additional Psychology credits at the 200 levelPSYC 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.
