400
An overview of how forensic science and legal study intersect in justice entities like courts, the Office of the Medical Examiner, police and investigative agencies and other justice functions. Course will stress the judicial response and oversight as to the use of forensic science in the analysis of physical evidence. In addition, the course will review how forensic, scientific results play out during crucial facets of justice system processing including investigation, prosecution, and defense of a crime. Course will emphasize legal case decision and the aligned evidentiary rules regarding admissibility. Ethical and professional principles regarding scientific evidence will also be covered.
Course provides an experiential exposure to the various agencies of crime and justice, including but not limited to police and law enforcement, code and enforcement at the regulatory level, correctional and prison facilities, courts and legal agencies, as well as private sector entities dedicated to safety and security. Students may also enroll in order to conduct agency research on complex questions relating to crime and justice.
The culminating class for all majors in Criminal Justice calls for authorship of an advanced, esoteric and scholarly research product, whether in the form of a traditional research paper, a policy paper or analysis, authorship of an applied handbook or other project for use by practitioners. Capstone expectations are at senior level and with the understanding that the major has successfully mastered the content of the program at its many levels. Citations and sources for authority in the paper or project are mandatory.
Various topics relating directly to criminology will be taught at the discretion of the department.