Examines methods of crime and justice research. Topics include the nature of scientific inquiry, framing a research problem, choosing a research design, developing hypotheses, sampling designs, and measuring variables. Topics will be covered as students conduct their own study. This course will examine and analyze the various means by which society attempts to control the deviant and criminal conduct of its members. Moreover, social control has evolved considerably over time and various social control philosophies and techniques have been prevalent in one time frame but not in others.
Emphasis is placed on both criminal statutes and case law.
This course examines the concept of juvenile delinquency as a distinct type of criminal activity from that committed by adults. The course will also critically assess the juvenile justice system that has evolved to handle juvenile crime as opposed to the criminal justice system which handles criminal offenses committed by adults. This course provides an introduction to crime and the efforts to control crime through public policy. Although crime is most often committed by private persons against individual victims, crime is a public problem and society's reaction to crime and criminals is one of the most controversial areas of public policy. Public policy surrounding crime will be examined in a variety of crime and justice contexts.