Course Description
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Course Name
Introduction to Criminal Justice
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Host University
The American College of Greece
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Location
Athens, Greece
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Area of Study
Criminal Justice, Justice Studies
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Language Level
Taught In English
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Course Level Recommendations
Lower
ISA offers course level recommendations in an effort to facilitate the determination of course levels by credential evaluators.We advice each institution to have their own credentials evaluator make the final decision regrading course levels.
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US Credits
3 -
Recommended U.S. Semester Credits3
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Recommended U.S. Quarter Units4
Hours & Credits
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Overview
Overview of the American criminal justice system. Examination of its various phases: investigation and detection of crimes by the police; prosecution of alleged offenders; adjudication of cases by courts; imprisonment of convicted offenders; re-integration. Overview of relevant Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and of landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases.
RATIONALE:
The course provides students with an overview of the American criminal justice system and its three sub-systems namely police, courts and corrections. It exposes students to the steps that follow the commission of a crime and the rules that govern each phase. Through the discussion of real cases, students are given the opportunity to understand the legal and institutional framework as well as the social context within which the U.S. criminal justice system operates.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of taking this course, the student should be able to:
1. Demonstrate understanding of the scope and the role of the criminal justice system.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the legal and institutional framework within which the various components of the criminal justice system operate.
3. Analyze the constitutional safeguards that apply to defendants and the limits placed on state/federal power.
4. Assess existing processes, practices and policies in an era of widespread protection of civil liberties and technological advances.
METHOD OFTEACHING AND LEARNING:
In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the college, the following tools are used:
Classes will consist of lectures and class discussions on selected topics.
Office hours: students are encouraged to make full use of the office hours of their lecturer, where they can address issues and ask questions pertinent to the course material.
Use of a blackboard site, where instructors post lecture notes, assignment instructions, timely announcements, as well as additional resources.
INDICATIVE CONTENT:
1. The formal criminal justice process: Formal procedures (initial contact, investigation, arrest, custody, preliminary hearing/grand jury, arraignment, bail/detention, plea bargaining, trial/adjudication, sentencing/disposition, appeal/postconviction remedies, correctional treatment, release, post-release).
2. Perspectives on justice: Crime control perspective; Rehabilitation perspective; Due process perspective; Non-intervention perspective; Equal justice perspective; Restorative justice perspective.
3. Ethics in criminal justice: Ethics and law enforcement; ethics and the court process; ethics and corrections.
4. Criminal law and criminal procedure: Substantive criminal law and procedural criminal law distinction; crime classification; concept of due process; substantive due process; procedural due process.
5. Issues in policing: Police discretion; police corruption; private police; police and use force; technology and law enforcement.
6. Police and the rule of law: IVth and Vth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; search, seizure and arrest; concepts and exceptions; search and arrest warrants; warrant requirements; warrantless searches and arrests; electronic surveillance; interrogation; the exclusionary rule.
7. Courts: State and federal court systems; U.S. Supreme Court.
8. Plea-bargaining.
9. Rights of the defendant, VIth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
10. Prisoners’ rights, prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, VIIIth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
11. Concepts of probation and parole.
12. Leaving prison; problems of re-entry.