Criminal Justice Courses

CRJ 113 (3-0-3)

Introduction to Criminal Justice

This course provides the philosophical and historical background of the agencies that compose the criminal justice system. It focuses on the development of justice and law, crime and punishment, the administration of laws, the agencies’ functions, career orientation and public policy. 
F,S

CRJ 120 (2-3-4)

De-Escalation and Force Options for the Police Practitioner

This course provides police practitioners with comprehensive training on the use of de-escalation techniques, defensive tactics, and various force options to manage critical situations effectively and ethically. The curriculum covers legal frameworks, situational awareness, and practical skills needed to assess and respond to escalating situations. Through a mix of theoretical discussions and hands-on scenarios, officers will gain proficiency in the safe use of control tactics, non-lethal weapons, and firearms. The course also emphasizes the importance of continuous practice to maintain proficiency in decision-making under pressure.

CRJ 121 (2-2-4)

Police Practical Skills Lab

Police Practical Skills is an intensive course that integrates physical fitness training with hands-on policing skills and decision-making exercises. It focuses on essential physical conditioning and the practical application of police procedures, including crisis intervention, observational skills, civil disturbance management, vehicle stops, crash investigation, and traffic control. By blending rigorous physical conditioning with scenario-based training, students gain proficiency in law enforcement’s physical and operational demands

CRJ 122 (2-3-4)

Police on-the-job Police Training

Police On-the-Job Field Training is an experiential course that equips students with foundational, practical skills essential for effective law enforcement. The course emphasizes hands-on field training under the guidance and supervision of New York State Certified Field Training Officers who mentor students in the real world, reinforcing the application of theoretical knowledge. The recruit officers’ progression through this on-the-job training results in progressively higher degrees of independent operation as they effectively demonstrate the comprehension and ability to perform in real-world encounters with the public and police professionals in all aspects of police patrol duties.  Through this immersive experience, students comprehensively understand community interaction, procedural law, handling specific offenses, officer safety, and more. This course is the final field exercise required to determine if student is educated and equipped to be a police officer in New York State. This course will assess and test the recruit’s ability to bridge academic knowledge with field-ready skills, preparing them for a responsible, informed, and ethical career as a police officer in New York State.

CRJ 131 (3-0-3)

Criminal Law

This course emphasizes the study of substantive criminal law. Selected crimes most likely to be dealt with by the criminal justice professional are explored through discussion, where applicable, of the English Common Law precedents, general modern application and specific New York Penal Law. 

CRJ 133 (3-0-3)

Criminology

This course provides an etiology of crime and criminal behavior. The course delves into biological, psychological and sociological theories that examine arrest and conviction data. Analysis of criminal activity through an understanding of the theories is undertaken. Spring only

CRJ 143 (3-0-3)

Criminal Evidence and Procedure

This course presents an in-depth analysis of the rules of criminal evidence. The process of the American criminal justice system will be examined and special emphasis will be placed on Constitutional limitations in the area of criminal evidence and the law of search and seizure. Topics also include concepts of evidence and rules governing its admissibility, theoretical and pragmatic considerations of substantive and procedural laws affecting arrest, and search and seizure. This course demonstrates the importance of case law at the state and federal levels and its impact on the administration of law. Spring only

CRJ 147 (3-0-3)

Terrorism and Public Security

This introductory course investigates the criminal, economic, historical, political, psychological, and social roots of terrorist phenomenon. The course explores existing and potential terrorist threats and how local, national, and global communities may counter these threats.

CRJ 160 (3-0-3)

Serial Killers

This course focuses on the investigation and prosecution of the high impact crime of murder and the transition to multiple murders. Topics include identification and linking of heinous crimes with crime event signatures, motivations of the offender who murders numerous human beings, and patterns of behavior that increases the likelihood of this type of crime. 

CRJ 215 (3-0-3)

Juvenile Delinquency

This course offers an intensive study of the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency. It addresses the nature of youth crime and the critical issues of juvenile delinquency. The course provides students with a greater understanding of the present juvenile justice system including the biological, psychological and sociological approaches being administered in an attempts to reduce juvenile crime. 
Fall only

CRJ 217 (3-0-3)

Principles of Investigation

This course offers an introduction to the basic principles and a detailed examination of specific offenses. The course focuses on the crime scene, physical evidence interviewing and interrogation, and the use of informers and confessions. The study of specific offenses focuses on the scientific approach and the methodology used in crime detection. Fall only

CRJ 219 (3-0-3)

Corrections

This course provides a broad-based representation of the American correctional system and how it relates to our society. The course will delve into the history of punishment before confinement evolved into modern penal concepts. Analysis of the correctional client as well as facility management is undertaken.
Fall only

CRJ 230 (3-0-3)

Interpersonal Violence

This course will provide a unique perspective on the issue of interpersonal violence concentrating on the public perception and criminal justice approach to sexual assaults and sexual offenders. An emphasis will be placed on characteristics and behavioral patterns of the offender and the crime itself. Particular attention will be given to the critical issues of victimology, rape typologies, stalking, domestic violence and criminal/constitutional law. Students will benefit from this course as it explores the etiology of sexually deviant behavior from both sociological and psychological approaches within the functioning of the criminal justice system. Students will learn to develop an informed analysis of sexual offenses, sexual offenders, the public perception and the handling of such offenders within the criminal justice system. 
PR: CRJ 113 or SOC 121 
Spring only

CRJ 233 (3-0-3)

Current Issues in Criminal Justice

This course focuses on relevant issues of most current concern affecting components of the criminal justice system. It includes such issues as hiring practices, community relations, court decisions, use of force, human performance, and the impact of the mass media in relation to the administration of justice in America. 

CRJ 237 (0-0-3)

Criminal Justice Internship

This course provides the opportunity to explore and gain experience in a career area related to criminal justice. Textbook theory and classroom experience is enhanced while working in a supervised professional setting. The field study will incorporate criminal justice or criminal justice related assignments. All field work will be supplemented by scheduled meetings with the instructor. The course requires completion of 120 hours of field work. Grading is on a pass/fail basis. 
PR: Criminal Justice major, completion of 30 credit hours, completion of CRJ 113 and CRJ 131, minimum overall GPA of 2.5, and permission of the Division.