Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

 Course Title:   Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

 Title Abbreviation:   CONTEMP ISSUES IN CR JUS

 Department:    CJ

 Course #:    224

 Credits:    3

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    3

 CIP:    430103

 EPC:    832

 REV:    2018


 Course Description  

Discuss current trends and issues concerning all aspects of the criminal justice system.

 Prerequisite  

None

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 33

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Elective  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Discuss many of the current issues, with knowledge, facing the criminal justice profession.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the pros and cons of current issues facing policing and Criminal Justice as we enter the 21st Century.
  3. Develop a position paper by utilizing available resources in the community.
  4. Verbally defend the various positions each has on the criminal justice issues studied.
  5. Identify several legal issues which stifle the advancement and professionalism of criminal justice in our society.
  6. Discuss the various ethical issues facing the police and correction officers.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.3 Evaluate information and its sources critically.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.
2.4 Evaluate decisions by analyzing outcomes and the impact of actions.
2.9 Apply and/or create problem-solving strategies to successfully adapt to unpredictable and/or changing environments.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.3 Demonstrate effective listening skills.
3.4 Produce academic and/or professional writing and integrate it into written and spoken projects.

5. Global & Local Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding the complexity and interdependence of, and stewardship responsibilities to, local and global communities and environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
5.2 Identify diverse communities and their shared/competing interests and develop strategies for prevention and resolution of conflict.

Course Contents

  1. Controversial crimes, perspectives and polices in criminal justice.
  2. Police strikes: are they effective?
  3. Human relations and police work.
  4. Critical issues in police civil liability.
  5. Legal issues facing the criminal justice system.
  6. Enforcing ethics�is it necessary?
  7. 21st Century policing: a look into the future?
  8. The correlation between policing and the U.S. military.