An introduction to criminal justice class will give students a basic foundation in how justice is meted out in a society. Topics will include a survey of the history and theories that govern law enforcement, the role and function of police, the court system and the corrections system. Drexel University in Philadelphia goes a step further, allowing students in its criminal justice class to take court and prison visits in order to supplement their class education with direct observation.
A criminology class provides students with an overview of the cause and effect of criminal behavior and the different methods of studying that behavior. Students will learn legal definitions of criminal and delinquent behavior, common profiles of criminals and crime prevention methods. In many classes, controversial issues such as gun control and capital punishment are discussed.
Students in a juvenile justice class are instructed in the history of the juvenile justice system, examine the underlying causes of juvenile delinquency and learn about the legal, psychological, political and sociological factors that contribute to how society views and deals with young offenders. The class will also explore the negative effects on the families of juveniles who commit crimes and on society as a whole.
A class in police and society covers the development of police forces in the United States. Topics will include the professionalization of police forces, the role of police in a society, how police interact with communities, the administration and bureaucracy of police departments and the police subculture and how it may create conflicts within a society.
Students in a criminal law class study the basic elements of what constitutes a criminal offense under state and federal statutes including crimes against property, examine how justice is administered, learn about the limitations of criminal law in certain cases and survey case studies in the most common types of criminal law.