SOC 1111 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

The basic aim of the course is to present an overview of the criminal justice system in the USA: its principles and goals, its organization, its personnel, its policies, and its impacts. We will briefly touch on perspectives of justice and the various theories that attempt to explain crime. We will also address issues relating to race, ethnicity, class, and gender which have been historically neglected. Should you choose a degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice, the courses you can take later will explore each of the major sub-parts of the system (law, police, courts, corrections) in much greater depth and detail.