Criminal Justice
Professor Kelly A. Dagan
Assistant Professor Jaclyn Tabor
Assistant Professor David Walter
Instructor Angela Gonzales Balfe
Instructor Tony Williams
The Criminal Justice Major at Illinois College is housed in the Department of Sociology and is rooted in the liberal arts and the sociological perspective. At Illinois College, a major in Criminal Justice is dedicated to developing students’ knowledge of the breadth, depth, and complexities of the criminal justice system. Through our courses, experiential learning, and faculty advising, 1) we ask students to examine the impact of larger cultural values and social dynamics on the operation of this social institution, paying particular attention to issues of stratification, and 2) we prepare students to pursue various criminal justice careers. In addition, we encourage students to recognize the ways in which various academic disciplines usefully illuminate issues in criminal justice.
Students must earn a ‘C-’ or better in each course to be counted toward the major or minor. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a C or better. Courses in the Criminal Justice major can share only three courses with a Sociology major. Courses in the Criminal Justice minor can share one course with a Sociology minor.
Note: CJ 160 is a prerequisite for CJ 210 and CJ 215. CJ 160 or SO 101 is a prerequisite for SO 286, SO 341, and SO 343. Status as a sophomore or above is a prerequisite for CJ 220, CJ 310, and PO 379.
Majors & Programs
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Criminal Justice, Major -
Criminal Justice, Minor -
Gender and Women's Studies Certificate in Criminal Justice, Certificate
Courses
CJ 160: Introduction to Criminal Justice
CJ 201: Criminal Justice Administration and Leadership
CJ 210: Issues in Policing
CJ 215: Criminal Investigations
This course design is to introduce students to the unique aspects of criminal investigations. Students will explore the investigative theory, the collection and preservation of evidence, concepts of interviewing and interrogation, the use of forensic sciences, and trial preparation. The course focus is investigative techniques employed, how to gather information, and applying legal concepts to solving crime. The course will examine concepts and methods of investigation of major index crimes.
CJ 220: Victimology
This course focuses upon crime and the justice system from the victims' perspective. Students will study and gain an understanding of the legal, social, psychological, and economic perspectives, approaches, and consequences of victimization from an individual, institutional, and legal point of view. The course will examine the levels, dynamics, and major correlates and consequences of primary and secondary criminal victimization, and the appropriateness of a variety of formal and informal responses aimed at preventing and/or remedying them Emphasis throughout the course will be upon developing students skill at systematically clarifying the definition of those problems and proposed or existing responses as well as understanding and applying criteria and methods by which alternative responses might be evaluated.