CJU-134 Introduction to Criminal Justice
This course provides students with a foundational understanding of how the American criminal justice system operates. Students will examine the types of behavior widely deemed appropriate for criminal justice responses while exploring the range of responses used today. Specific topics include policing, the courts, corrections, and community supervision. Students will be challenged to situate the contemporary criminal justice system within a broader historical and institutional context. Inequalities on the basis of race, class, and gender will be explored. Upon completion, students will have developed a criminal justice knowledge base necessary to succeed in more advanced coursework.