Students examine each topic within the realm of relevant state and federal law. This course is especially fitting for practitioners who are faced with policy-related decisions in the criminal justice field. This course surveys the latest technology used in the criminal justice field for investigative procedures, crime scene analysis, interviews, surveillance, and evidence collection. The course is designed to balance the limitations of advancing technology within the limitations of the law. Guest speakers with expertise in the technology field enhance the student's understanding of and appreciation for the use of investigative techniques.
Attention is paid to the invisible effects of discretion as a part of the decision making process.
This course reviews individual and group models of relationships between criminal justice agencies and the public, with emphasis on gender, race, and ethnic differences. Special attention is paid to areas of potential conflict and cooperation with distinctive cultural groups. Alternative dispute resolutions are emphasized, including problem solving, negotiation, meditation, and conflict resolution strategies. The student is responsible for systematically applying theoretical concepts in an applied and practical way to the work of the organization and contributing to the goals of the criminal justice system. Placement is facilitated through the Field Placement Office, Department of Behavioral Sciences, in accordance with departmental policies.