CRIM 100Introduction to Criminal Justice

3 credits · Criminology · Penn State

Criminal Justice 100 is an overview of the United States criminal justice system and the major components of police, courts and corrections. Students will engage in reviews of, evaluate and consider legal foundations, types and causes of crime, the development of policing, the influence and evolution of the court process, and rehabilitative and reintegrative components of corrections. Specific topics can include, but are not limited to, the extent of crime in the United States; competing and complementary goals within the criminal justice system; sources of criminal law; interactions between various agencies within the criminal justice system; and the impact of crime on victims. During the course of study of the criminal justice system, students will have various opportunities to examine how age, gender, race and ethnicity impact and are impacted by the criminal justice system at critical phases.