Introduction to Criminal Justice

Course Content from McGraw Hill
Course Number: CJ101 Download Course Syllabus
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This course examines the past, present, and future of the American criminal justice system. Topics discussed include how laws are created: the history and types of law enforcement; structure of the court system; and the changing philosophies of the American correctional system. Students also examine the role of legal precedent, the death penalty, prison life, and the juvenile justice system.

This Course Includes:

  • Proctored Exams
  • 48 hours grading turn-around
  • Live technical and student support
  • Free transcription to your destination school
  • 150+ partner college and universities with direct articulation

  • Self Paced
  • Humanities
  • Content by McGraw Hill
Online Course
Introduction to Criminal Justice   +$79.00
Tutoring (included)
Proctoring
Proctoring   +$0.00
Etextbook
CJ101 eTextbook (a $177.23 value)   +$0.00
Credits 3

10/7/14 by firnatine34

This course is built for nearly any learning style, allowing you to get the information you need from your book, the presentations, and additional resources.

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10/7/14 by firnatine34

This course is built for nearly any learning style, allowing you to get the information you need from your book, the presentations, and additional resources.

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9/29/14 by harrison.w54

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9/29/14 by harrison.w54

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9/15/14 by e.chelsea

A thorough overview of the Criminal Justice system: from the history up to today. I would actually recommend anybody studying any field to take this course just to have a good understanding of how the system works being that it is something that may or does affect our daily life.

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9/15/14 by e.chelsea

A thorough overview of the Criminal Justice system: from the history up to today. I would actually recommend anybody studying any field to take this course just to have a good understanding of how the system works being that it is something that may or does affect our daily life.

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8/20/14 by angelc1995

This course was really easy to navigate and learn. I enjoyed it.

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8/20/14 by sporty0895

Needed more time on quizes

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8/20/14 by angelc1995

This course was really easy to navigate and learn. I enjoyed it.

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8/20/14 by sporty0895

Needed more time on quizes

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8/16/14 by marvina_f

N/A

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8/16/14 by marvina_f

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8/7/14 by jade.r

This was a great course to take. I learned a lot about the criminal justice system that I had to idea about. I would recommend this course to anyone.

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8/7/14 by jade.r

This was a great course to take. I learned a lot about the criminal justice system that I had to idea about. I would recommend this course to anyone.

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8/6/14 by champaignehikeem

STUDY!!!

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8/6/14 by champaignehikeem

STUDY!!!

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7/30/14 by brayden.g

This is a very good, thorough and easy way to get credits.

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7/30/14 by brayden.g

This is a very good, thorough and easy way to get credits.

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7/16/14 by brakeemj

the homework barely related to test...

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7/16/14 by brakeemj

the homework barely related to test...

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9/1/13 by jamesjeremyb82

Did not care for the final exam. It is impossible to make a good grade with such limited time.

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8/19/13 by rasheemk

it was pretty good interns of the videos helping with the test taking part and its easy to understand and follow

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8/6/13 by v.manuma2

vocabularys

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5/30/13 by sotaro1_99

This course was very easy for me. I guess it is because I know my rights or the law. If you think you know a lot of the criminal justice systems you will like this course.

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5/9/13 by akujiubainyanma

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5/4/13 by b_fracion

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5/4/13 by b_fracion

This course was very helpful but please remember to BUY THE BOOK!!!

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5/3/13 by b_fraction

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5/3/13 by b_fraction

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5/1/13 by hillary.c

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5/1/13 by hillary.c

I really enjoyed this course, it was easy to complete

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4/24/13 by carora

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3/14/13 by britnee

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2/27/13 by rykar.lewis

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2/1/13 by dbdpreuitt1

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1/26/13 by barb.wilson

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12/5/12 by jonschwan

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11/29/12 by johnnyc

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11/29/12 by johnnyc

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11/28/12 by inaam_64

Easy flowing.

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11/20/12 by inaam_64

Easy flowing.

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11/13/12 by leilanilippincott

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11/13/12 by leilanilippincott

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9/3/12 by allison984

I liked that I could finish it as quickly as I wanted and the text book was easy to follow.

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8/3/12 by Porscheshakes

I liked that we had enough time to finish the quizzes and the exams.

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6/13/12 by bjohnson20

I liked the independence of working at your own pace.

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5/26/12 by tramsunder

I liked the narrarator

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5/3/12 by allison984

I liked that I could finish it as quickly as I wanted and the text book was easy to follow.

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4/24/12 by ireneabrown

I liked the videos and the presentation of the material along with the little tests during the presentation to check my understanding.

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4/23/12 by autumn.ellison

I liked the work

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2/18/12 by Porscheshakes

I liked that we had enough time to finish the quizzes and the exams.

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1/25/12 by amy.derby

The homework assignments were very helpful, because they helped prepare for the quizzes.

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12/29/11 by ireneabrown

The videos within the course were interesting

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12/28/11 by reilly.fetzko

The way that the course was divide up makes it easy to understand

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10/21/11 by bjohnson20

I liked the independence of working at your own pace.

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9/10/11 by tramsunder

I liked the narrarator

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8/7/11 by michaelbullock1

 

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8/6/11 by chrislane125

 

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8/6/11 by christilsnyder

 

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8/6/11 by desantotony

 

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8/5/11 by douglaslarry53

 

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8/5/11 by k1w169

 

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8/4/11 by kevinslagle24

 

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8/4/11 by mcvittiethomas

 

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8/4/11 by pilotkeiko

 

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6/26/11 by ireneabrown

I liked the videos and the presentation of the material along with the little tests during the presentation to check my understanding.

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6/22/11 by autumn.ellison

I liked the work

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11/26/10 by amy.derby

The homework assignments were very helpful, because they helped prepare for the quizzes.

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9/23/10 by ireneabrown

The videos within the course were interesting

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9/20/10 by reilly.fetzko

The way that the course was divide up makes it easy to understand

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10/17/09 by michaelbullock1

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10/16/09 by chrislane125

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10/15/09 by christilsnyder

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10/14/09 by desantotony

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10/13/09 by douglaslarry53

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10/12/09 by k1w169

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10/11/09 by kevinslagle24

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10/10/09 by mcvittiethomas

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10/9/09 by pilotkeiko

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Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the three components of the United States criminal justice system.
  • Contrast the due process and crime control model.
  • Explain crime measurements and costs.
  • Describe the history of law enforcement.
  • Explain the roles of local, county, state, and federal law enforcement officers.
  • Explain the structure of the American court system.
  • Identify the criminal court steps from arrest, conviction, to appeal.
  • Describe the history of the correctional system.
  • Identify correctional institutions at the local, state, and federal level.
  • Describe the future of criminal justice in America.

*Graded items in bold

#

Topic

Subtopics

Objectives

Assignments

1

Law Enforcement, Courts, & Corrections

  • Crime in the United States
  • Criminal Justice: An Institution of Social Control
  • Criminal Justice: The System
  • Criminal Justice: The Nonsystem
  • Describe how the type of crime routinely presented by the media compares with crime routinely committed.
  • Identify institutions of social control, and explain what makes criminal justice an institution of social control.
  • Summarize how the criminal justice system responds to crime.
  • Explain why criminal justice in the United States is sometimes considered a nonsystem.
  • Ch 1 Reading, pgs 1-15
  • Presentation
  • Topic 1 Extra Resources
  • Reflective Response: Law Enforcement, Courts, & Corrections
2

Models & Cost of Criminal Justice

  • Crime control model
  • Due process model
  • Crime control v. Due Process
  • Costs of Criminal Justice
  • Point out major differences between Packer’s crime control and due process models.
  • Describe the costs of criminal justice in the United States, and compare those costs among federal, state, and local governments.
  • Explain how myths about crime and criminal justice affect the criminal justice system.
  • Ch 1 Reading, pgs 16-24
  • Presentation
  • Topic 2 Extra Resources
  • Chapter 1 Practice Quiz
  • Reflective Response: Models & Cost of Criminal Justice

3

History of Law Enforcement

  • English Roots
  • The Development of American Law Enforcement
  • History of Four Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Briefly describe the jurisdictional limitations of American law enforcement.
  • Trace the English origins of American law enforcement.
  • Discuss the early development of American law enforcement.
  • Describe the major developments that have occurred in American policing.
  • Ch 5 Reading, pgs 139-168
  • Presentation
  • Topic 3 Extra Resources
  • Reflective Response: History of Law Enforcement
  • Case Study 1

4

Local, County, State, and Federal Law Enforcement

  • The Structure of American Law Enforcement
  • The Department of Homeland Security
  • American Private Security
  • Describe the structure of American law enforcement.
  • Explain the relationship between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Discuss the development and growth of private security in the United States.
  • Ch 5 Reading, pgs 169-199
  • Presentation
  • Topic 4 Extra Resources
  • Chapter 5 Practice Quiz
  • Reflective Response: Local, County, State, and Federal Law Enforcement

5

Issues in Policing

  • Discretion
  • Job stress
  • Use of force
  • Police corruption
  • Describe the general attitude of the public toward the police and the police toward the public.
  • Summarize the steps in an effective police officer selection process.
  • Identify factors that affect the exercise of police discretion and methods of limiting discretion.
  • Describe two general ways that law enforcement agencies can reduce stress on the job.
  • Explain the circumstances under which police officers may be justified in using deadly force.
  • List some of the ways to control and reduce police corruption.
  • Ch 7 Reading
  • Presentation
  • Topic 5 Extra Resources
  • Chapter 7 Practice Quiz
  • Reflective Response: Issues in Policing

6

Midterm Exam

  • Midterm Exam
  • Midterm Exam

7

The American Court System

  • The American Court Structure
  • Key Actors in the Court Process
  • Identify the type of court structure in the United States, and describe its various components.
  • Summarize the purposes of courts.
  • Identify the most powerful actors in the administration of justice, and explain what makes them so powerful.
  • Summarize the types of attorneys available to a person charged with a crime.
  • Describe the responsibilities of a judge.
  • Ch 8 Reading, pgs 300-327
  • Presentation
  • Topic 7 Extra Resources
  • Reflective Response: The American Court System
  • Case Study 2

8

Substantive and Procedural Due Process

  • Pretrial stages
  • Plea bargaining
  • The Criminal Trial
  • Describe the purposes of an initial appearance.
  • Explain what bail is, and describe the different methods of pretrial release.
  • Describe what a grand jury is, and explain its purposes.
  • Describe the purposes of the arraignment and the plea options of defendants.
  • Describe the interests served and not served by plea bargaining.
  • List and define the stages in a criminal trial.
  • Explain the different roles of judges in adversarial and inquisitorial trial systems.
  • Ch 8 Reading, pgs 328-353
  • Presentation
  • Topic 8 Extra Resources
  • Chapter 8 Practice Quiz
  • Reflective Response: Substantive and Procedural Due Process

9

History of Corrections

  • Historical Overview of Institutional Corrections
  • The Incercation Boom
  • Summarize the purposes of confinement in Europe before it became a major way of punishing criminals.
  • Describe how offenders were punished before the large-scale use of confinement.
  • Explain why confinement began to be used as a major way of punishing offenders in Europe.
  • Describe the recent trends in the use of incarceration in the United States.
  • List some of the characteristics of the incarcerated population in the United States.
  • Ch 10 Reading, pgs 386-413
  • Presentation
  • Topic 9 Extra Resources
  • Reflective Response: History of Corrections
  • Case Study 3

10

Local, State, and Federal Corrections

  • Incarceration facilities
  • Describe how incarceration facilities are structured, organized, and administered by the government in the United States.
  • Name some of the common types of correctional facilities in the United States.
  • Identify some of the procedures that institutions employ to maintain security and order.
  • List the services and programs that commonly are available to inmates.
  • Ch 10 Reading, pgs 414-449
  • Presentation
  • Topic 10 Extra Resources
  • Chapter 10 Practice Quiz
  • Reflective Response: Local, State, and Federal Corrections

11

Future of the Criminal Justice System

  • The future of criminal justice
  • Criminal justice in the Age of Terrorism
  • Describe the possible future of law enforcement if the crime control model dominates and the possible future if the due process model dominates.
  • Describe the possible future of the administration of justice if the crime control model dominates and the possible future if the due process model dominates.
  • Identify perhaps the most divisive issue that will confront correctional policy makers in the future.
  • Describe the possible future of corrections.
  • List some of the cost-reduction strategies likely to be advocated in corrections in the future.
  • List specific reforms of the “smart justice” movement and identify its overarching goal.
  • Describe some of the challenges faced by criminal justice in the Age of Terrorism.
  • Ch 14 Reading
  • Presentation
  • Topic 11 Extra Resources
  • Chapter 14 Practice Quiz
  • Reflective Response: Future of the Criminal Justice System

12

Review & Final Exam

  • Final Exam
  • Final Exam

There are no prerequisites to take Introduction to Criminal Justice.

The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost. More information on StraighterLine eTextbooks

Prefer the hard copy? Simply purchase from your favorite textbook retailer; you will still get the eTextbook for free.

Bohm, Robert, and Keith Haley. Introduction to Criminal Justice. 10th ed., McGraw-Hill Education, 2021. ISBN: 9781260253870

StraighterLine provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.

If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.

There are a total of 1000 points in the course:

Topic

Assessment

Points

1

Reflective Response: Law Enforcement, Courts, & Corrections

10

2

Reflective Response: Models & Cost of Criminal Justice

10

3

Reflective Response: History of Law Enforcement

10

3

Case Study 1

150

4

Reflective Response: Local, County, State, and Federal Law Enforcement

10

5

Reflective Response: Issues in Policing

10

6

Midterm Exam

150

7

Reflective Response: The American Court System

10

7

Case Study 2

150

8

Reflective Response: Substantive and Procedural Due Process

10

9

Reflective Response: History of Corrections

10

9

Case Study 3

150

10

Reflective Response: Local, State, and Federal Corrections

10

11

Reflective Response: Future of the Criminal Justice System

10

12

Final Exam

300

Total

1000


Final Proctored Exam

The final exam is developed to assess the knowledge you learned taking this course. All students are required to take an online proctored final exam in order complete the course and be eligible for transfer credit.

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