Administration of Justice (ADJ)

Public and International Affairs

100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3:3:0). Overview of the American system of criminal justice, covering theories of justice, criminal law, policing, courts and associated pretrial and posttrial legal processes, punishment and corrections, and juvenile justice.

300 Research Methods and Analysis (4:3:1). Prerequisite: GOVT 103. Required for all administration of justice majors. Students are strongly encouraged to take ADJ 300 before or during the first semester of enrolling in 300-level courses. Emphasis is on asking clear, researchable questions and using appropriate evidence to answer them. Students are introduced to and learn to use a broad range of evidence, including quantitative and qualitative information. Design and analysis of surveys, government archives, case studies, and interpretations of events in journals are studied. The ethical implications of information technologies are examined.

301 Public Law and the Judicial Process (3:3:0). Prerequisite: GOVT 103. American judicial organization and operation, role of the Supreme Court in policy formation, and selected constitutional principles.

302 Sociology of Delinquency (3:3:0). Prerequisite: SOCI 101 or permission of instructor. Theories of juvenile delinquency and societal reactions to delinquency. Presents gender differences in rates and types, historical overview emphasizing origins, and development of juvenile justice system. Critical assessment of juvenile justice and its alternative.

303 Experiencing the Criminal Justice System (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302; COMM 100, 101, or 104, and 60 credits. An experiential learning course designed to give preservice administration of justice students a firsthand, practical journey through the criminal justice process and system.

306 Criminal Justice Ethics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 credits or permission of instructor. Analysis of the ethical principles relevant for those working in criminal justice.

377 Public Safety Officers and the Law (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ENGL 302. Law applicable to fire and police protection, firefighters, and police officers, and their relationship to the public, their employers, the courts, and other societal institutions. Rights and obligations of the uniformed services in tort and criminal law, historical development of each, Virginia law, and other local topics are discussed. Writing-intensive course.

400 Applied Criminal Psychology (3:3:0). Uses an overview of psychological and criminological theories to apply behavioral science theory to practical application in forensic settings. Focuses on such subjects as analysis of various crime scenes, such as homicide and rape, and the characteristics of the various offenders.

401 Policing in America (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Fundamental issues relevant to contemporary public policing in America: the role and history of police; impact on crime, disorder, and other social problems; discretion and its control; moral hazards; police legitimacy and public support; police culture and the police organization; and community policing.

402 Sociology of Punishment and Corrections (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 6 credits of sociology including SOCI 101, or permission of instructor.Theories explaining forms of punishment systems; punishment and corrections as a product of historical, cultural, and political changes; differences by race and gender in punishment and corrections. Problems of social control and violence in prisons, alternative rehabilitation, and community prevention strategies.

404 Crime Victims and Victimization (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Exploration of the experiences of crime victims, the distribution of the risks of victimization, and the causes and consequences of victimization. Nature and impact of victim's rights advocates are also considered.

405 Law and Justice around the World (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Comparative inquiry into the models of legal and justice systems around the world. Consideration of how social and legal norms are created and how different societies exercise their powers of social control. Evaluation of justice models in action, including such areas as law and courts, policing, corrections, and juvenile justice.

406 Family Law and the Justice System (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Introduction to the elements of family law and exploration of its influence on American social life and contemporary notions of justice. Topics include marriage and parenting, divorce, custody and support, nontraditional families, and domestic violence.

407 Law and Society (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100 or GOVT 301. Exploration of the relationship between law and society, including the concept of law; the origin, development, and role of law in society, and the relationship between law and social change. Different approaches to the study of law and society will be considered and different methodologies assessed.

408 Criminal Courts (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100 or GOVT 301. Study of the workings, advantages, and frailties of the criminal courts. How the criminal courts are set up, what they do, how they vary, why they are structured as they are, and whether the system works effectively and efficiently.

409 Community Policing (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Study of community policing, focusing especially on the United States. Covers history and development of community policing, community relations, problem solving, and issues of organizational change.

423 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties (3:3:0). Prerequisite: GOVT 103. Study of the First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion; the right to privacy; and Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection.

424 Constitutional Law: Criminal Process and Rights (3:3:0). Prerequisite: GOVT 103. Study of constitutional law pertaining to the rights of the criminally accused from the stages of investigations and evidence through attorney, trial, and punishment stages at federal and state levels.

425 Criminal Justice Management (3:3:0). Explains the management function for current and future criminal justice managers. Emphasis on communication, motivation, leadership skills, and organizational development.

460 Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society (3:3:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Philosophical perspectives, historical context, technological developments, and institutional changes that surround controversies about privacy and surveillance in contemporary society. Explores public and private institutions doing surveillance, how they calculate and manage risk, and legal constraints on surveillance activities.

471/SOCI 471 Prevention and Deterrence of Crime (3:3:0). Theoretical and practical strategies for crime prevention and deterrence. Social, environmental, and mechanical developments, police courts, and correctional elements of law enforcement in terms of current effectiveness and future potential for crime prevention are discussed.

475 Theory and Politics of Terrorism (3:3:0). Explores the origins of terrorism and traces its development from early states to a modern mode of conflict. National, regional, and global perspectives are presented.

479 Preparation for Internship (3:3:0). Prerequisites: ADJ 100, ADJ/GOVT 300, ADJ 303, and at least 21 credits of other upper-level courses required for the Administration of Justice major (from one or more of the following categories: justice system, law, and the legal process; social and human problems; legal, philosophical, and ethical standards). Students may be simultaneously enrolled in ADJ 303 and ADJ 479. Prepares students to conduct an internship in a justice organization or perform justice-related work activity. Students develop a relationship with a prospective internship sponsor and develop a plan for the internship and the research to be reported.

480 Internship in Justice Administration (3-9:0:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 479. Before enrolling, students must have a plan approved by the instructor. Application of classroom learning to an applied justice setting. Students maintain daily journals, conduct research, and deliver both written and oral reports. Seminars are held three times during the semester for discussion and oral presentation. Minimum of 50 hours of on-the-job work time is required for each credit hour. Students may take the course for 3, 6, or 9 credits. Course may be taken more than once, but total accumulated credits may not exceed 9. Amount of required written work is calibrated to credit hours.

490 Special Topics in Administration of Justice (1-3: 1-3:0). Recent developments in the field. Content varies. Recent topics have covered violence in the workplace and international terrorism. May be repeated for credit four times.

491 ADJ Honors Seminar I (3:3:0). Prerequisites: Admission to the Administration of Justice honors program. First of a two-course sequence. Subject varies. Course includes readings, individual or group projects, and discussion of seminar papers.

492 ADJ Honors Seminar II (3:3:0). Prerequisites: ADJ 491.Second of a two-course sequence. Subject varies. Course includes readings and discussion of seminar papers, leading to a research project under the direction of a faculty member. Oral examination on the research and report may be required.

499 Independent Study in Administration of Justice (1-3:0:0). Prerequisite: ADJ 100. Open to majors in Administration of Justice and Public and International Affairs with 90 credits and permission of instructor and program. Reading and research on a specific topic under the direction of a faculty member. Written report is required; an oral examination or report may also be required. Degree requirements to be fulfilled by a particular independent study will be determined by the student's advisor.

577 Legal Issues for the Law Enforcement Manager (3:3:0). Examines the civil liability of individual officers, managers, and agencies. Constitutional right of public employees, employee rights, and constitutional issues are covered.

590 Special Topics in Administration of Justice (1-3:1-3:0). Recent developments in the field. Content varies. Recent topics have covered violence in the workplace and international terrorism. May be repeated for credit.