LET 101 - Introduction to Criminal Justice

1. define the parts of the criminal justice system, describe the principal duties of each and explain how they collectively function as a system;
2. describe the major steps in the criminal justice process and explain the role of constitutional protections in each step; 
3. explain the role of research in the criminal justice system; 
4. describe how social scientists collect and analyze information about the nature and frequency of crime as well as the characteristics of its perpetrators and victims, and how they use this information to postulate theories of causation and strategies to prevent and control crime;
5. define criminal behavior and identify the major categories of crime;
6. describe the common criminal defenses;
7. describe the history, mission, organization and operation of the police and examine major legal, social and political challenges facing them;
8. describe the history, mission, organization and operation of the courts at the federal, state and local levels of government; 
9. explain the different types of sentences and compare and contrast the major philosophies of sentencing;
10. describe the history, mission, organization and operation of probation, parole and community corrections agencies and examine legal, social and political challenges facing them;  
11. describe the history, mission, organization and operation of prisons and jails and examine major legal, social and political challenges facing them;
12. describe career opportunities in the criminal justice system, including position duties and qualifications;
13. describe the role of media/social media as it relates to the criminal justice system;
14. explain the use of technology and the challenges the criminal justice system faces with.