Undergraduate Certificate in Corrections Management

An examination of the American criminal justice system as an interdisciplinary social science involving aspects of criminology, sociology, law, and political science.This course will enable the student to grasp the complexity of the American Criminal Justice System. As we study the Administration of Criminal Justice, we will see how the several components work, their goals, organizations and how they may have different or competing philosophies.

A study of the stresses of law enforcement, specific stress factors in law enforcement (i.e., shift work, hazards and dangers, dealing with death and severe injury, post-shooting trauma, testifying in court, undercover work, etc.), and methods and techniques used to control stress.

This course has a concentration on the major functions and structure as well as processes that underline ethical issues and types associated within the American Criminal Justice System. This course will explore the structure and nature of the various types of ethical debates within the American judicial system. There will be an assessment of the ethics in criminal justice, as it explores the issues of morality, virtue, honesty, and making ethical decisions in the United States criminal justice system. Assessments of various issues will be examined as they relate to decision making and ethics.

This course will examine a broad range of contemporary criminal justice issues such as racism in sentencing, racial profiling, national drug control policy, police use of deadly force, sentencing guidelines, community policing, prosecutorial discretion, court authorized electronic intercepts, and other oftentimes contentious areas. Students will research current criminal justice issues from weekly/scholarly journals and exchange analytical observations employing concepts and methodologies learned in the class. Professor directed research in a student selected contemporary criminal justice issue area will allow students to recognize the broad impact of crime on society and the complexities of solutions.

A comprehensive study of the context, practices, and special interests of corrections. Topics include the early history and current trends of correctional thought and practice, jails and other short-term facilities, intermediate sanctions, the prison experience, women in prison, institutional management, educational/treatment programs, prisoners' rights, and race/ethnicity challenges.

An examination of the theory and practice of probation and parole, including pre-sentence investigation, supervision of probationers, parole administration and services, treatment theory, parole officers, juvenile services, and new concepts (such as community-based corrections, the justice model, and determinate sentencing) that have impacted traditional probation and parole theory.