Criminal Justice

Associate in Science Degree

This curriculum of study is designed for students seeking further education in criminal justice, as well as those needing career-oriented skills and knowledge. The ability of police, judicial and correctional agencies to control and respond to crime is inherently related to the human interaction skills of those who staff the system. This curriculum provides course work to guide the student in understanding the complex issues related to the role of law.

For more information, visit the Criminal Justice website.

AS Criminal Justice

(P2950)

General Education Foundation
Communication9
English Composition I
English Composition II
Speech Fundamentals
Math-Science-Technology 110
Computer Concepts With Applications
or
Computer Technology and Applications
Forensic Science
Mathematics Elective
Social Science6
Principles of Sociology
General Psychology
Humanities3
History of Minorities in U.S.
General Education3
Cultural Diversity in America - the Sociology of Ethnic and Minority Groups
General Education Foundation Credits31
Criminal Justice Core
CJS-105Introduction to Careers in Public Safety2
CJS-121Criminal Justice System3
CJS-116Introduction to Criminology3
CJS-213Police and the Community3
CJS-221Criminal Law and Procedure3
Criminal Justice Restricted Electives 19
Free Elective6
Criminal Justice Core Credits29
Total Credits60
1

Please see a faculty advisor when selecting courses.  

 AS Criminal Justice - Justice Studies Option

(P2951)

General Education Foundation
COMMUNICATION
ENG-111English Composition I3
ENG-112English Composition II3
COM-109Speech Fundamentals3
MATH/SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY10
Computer Concepts With Applications
Computer Technology and Applications
Forensic Science
Math Elective Students may be required to take remedial classes in order to graduate
GENERAL EDUCATION ELECTIVE
SOC-120Principles of Sociology3
POL-111American Government3
SOC-214Cultural Diversity in America - the Sociology of Ethnic and Minority Groups3
HIS-203History of Minorities in U.S.3
General Education Foundation Credits31
LEGAL ASSISTANT/PARALEGAL CORE
CJS-105Introduction to Careers in Public Safety2
CJS-121Criminal Justice System3
CJS-221Criminal Law and Procedure3
Free Elective3
Jurisprudence: The Philosophy of Law
Public Safety Internship
or Criminal Justice Elective Taking CJS-120 or CJS-228 will also earn the student the Legal Assistant Certificate of Acheivement3
CJS-118Fundamentals of Law3
CJS-230Ethics in the Law3
CJS-220Litigation Procedures3
BUS-213Business Law I3
POL-222Constitutional Law3
LEGAL ASSISTANT/PARALEGAL CORE Credits29
Total Credits60

A program that prepares individuals to perform research, drafting, investigatory, record-keeping and related administrative functions under the supervision of an attorney or court. Includes instruction in legal research, drafting legal documents, appraising, pleading, courthouse procedures, and legal specializations. .A program that prepares individuals to perform research, drafting, investigatory, record-keeping and related administrative functions under the supervision of an attorney or court. Includes instruction in legal research, drafting legal documents, appraising, pleading, courthouse procedures, and legal specializations.

Legal Assistant

A Certificate of Achievement within Criminal Justice

(P0510)

The Legal Assistant Certificate of Achievement is designed to provide students with the foundation needed to perform substantive legal work. Paralegals, or legal assistants, as they are sometimes known, assist attorneys in the practice of law. Legal Assistants provide an important service within the justice system. They work in private law firms, government offices, corporations, non-profit organizations, and within the judiciary. Legal Assistants aid attorneys in investigating facts, researching legal issues, preparing defenses and legal documents. This certificate of achievement focuses on developing strong specific analytical skills, while stressing the importance of strong research and writing skills throughout each of each of its classes. Students will have the opportunity to learn various foundational legal topics and how to apply this knowledge in practical scenarios. The certificate will provide students with knowledge of law, legal precedent, procedural courtroom requirements, as well as the ethical standards that are required for working with clients and handling legal issues.

Completion of this certificate qualifies the student to sit for the NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants) certification exam.

BUS-213Business Law I3
CJS-221Criminal Law and Procedure3
CJS-230Ethics in the Law3
CJS-118Fundamentals of Law3
CJS-220Litigation Procedures3
CJS-120Jurisprudence: The Philosophy of Law3
or CJS-228 Public Safety Internship
Total Credits18

Dr. William Solomons
Chairperson, Criminal Justice Science
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice
Ph.D., Capella University
M.A., Seton Hall University
B.A., CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
SH 203   973-328-5648   wsolomons@ccm.edu 

Dr. Maureen Kazaba
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice
Ph.D., Capella University
M.A., Fairleigh Dickinson University
M.A., Seton Hall University
B.A., William Paterson University
A.S., County College of Morris
SH 203   973-328-5635   mkazaba@ccm.edu  

Catherine Broderick, J.D.
Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice
M.A.S., Fairleigh Dickinson University
J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law
B.A., Seton Hall University
SH 203 973-328-5633   cbroderick@ccm.edu


 

Courses

Course usage information

CJS-105. Introduction to Careers in Public Safety. 2 Credits.

LECT 30 hrs
This mandatory first-semester hybrid course is an introduction to careers in the Public Safety field, as well as an introduction to research and writing, ethics, and critical thinking. The course also incorporates student success initiatives designed to address and improve the student experience.
Corequisites: CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-110. Introduction to Policing. 3 Credits.

LECT 30 hrs LAB 30 hrs
This course will provide an overview of policing, both from an historical and contemporary perspective. This will include an introduction to police organizations and operations, police culture and ethics, as well as providing relevant information about police hiring practices. Community relations, minorities in policing, and the law are also incorporated. It includes an element of health education training, including such topics as stress, nutrition, and physical fitness. This portion will include physical fitness activities that are intended to prepare the student for the physical training portion of the police academy recruit training program.
Prerequisites: CJS-116 and CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-115. Introduction to Security. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
The historical, philosophical and legal basis of security. The role of security and the security individual in modern society; the concept of professionalism; and the survey of the administrative, personnel and physical aspects of the security field.

Course usage information

CJS-116. Introduction to Criminology. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
The study of crime, crime statistics, theories of crime causation, crime typologies, the impact of crime, limits of criminal law, and society's reactions to criminal behavior.

Course usage information

CJS-118. Fundamentals of Law. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Fundamentals of Law is an introduction to the court system and the principles of substantive law in the field of contracts, torts, property, and family law.
Prerequisites: CJS-105 AND CJS-121
Corequisites: ENG-111 or ENG-111CL or ENG-111CW.

Course usage information

CJS-120. Jurisprudence: The Philosophy of Law. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Explores the principles upon which law is based. The course seeks to define, categorize and relate those principles to each other and ascertain not what the law is, but rather why it is, and its capacities and limits.

Course usage information

CJS-121. Criminal Justice System. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
A study of the overall system of criminal justice from its early historical development to its evolution within the United States. Identification of various sub-enforcement, courts and corrections; their role expectations and systems and components - law interrelationships; and basic premises of crime, punishment and rehabilitation.
Prerequisites: CJS-105
Corequisites: CJS-105.

Course usage information

CJS-122. Classics of Criminology. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
The goal of this course is to gain an intellectual understanding of criminology by reviewing its progress in the past 20 years. It presents the causes of crime and the effect of crime on society, victims and criminals. A review of the literature is accomplished by investigating sociological, psychological and biological theories of crime.

Course usage information

CJS-126. Introduction to Emergency Management. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course examines the necessity for Emergency Management. It covers the evolution of Emergency Management in the United States. The course covers an introduction to Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery. Employment in the Emergency Management Field is also discussed. The course also examines types of disasters that may be experienced.

Course usage information

CJS-127. Introduction to Homeland Security. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course examines the necessity for Homeland Security. It covers the development of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) including its organization and function. The course covers an introduction to Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery. This course also gives a brief overview of International and Domestic Terrorism, and examines the future of Homeland Security.

Course usage information

CJS-131. Introduction to Corrections. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
An introduction and overview of fundamental process, trends and practices of probation, institutional treatment, parole and contemporary community-based correctional programs. Included is a review of the history and philosophy of corrections, with emphasis on the constitutional rights of offenders.

Course usage information

CJS-140. Basic Emergency Telecommunicator. 3 Credits.

LECT 48 hrs
The 40-hour basic Telecommunicator Training Course, as approved by the Office of Emergency Telecommunication Service (OETS), is designed for dispatchers having less than 320 hours of public safety dispatch experience. The course addresses both functional jobs of complaint taker and dispatcher, rather than dealing with them separately. Likewise, it deals with the basics of telecommunications for all public safety services. All participants who successfully complete this course will be certified by the State Office of Emergency Telecommunication Service as a P.S.A.P. (Public Safety Answering Point) operator.

Course usage information

CJS-141. Basic Emergency Medical Dispatch. 2 Credits.

LECT 39 hrs
A required course for 9-1-1 Telecommunicator. This state-approved certification course will enable the student to properly answer, prioritize and dispatch calls for medical aid, and to provide instructions for preliminary emergency medical care prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel. This class will include practical exercises and demonstrations.

Course usage information

CJS-201. Emergency Services Management. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course introduces the student to the principles of personnel management through the use of effective leadership techniques. Topics include overview of emergency services operations as an organization and the person's role in it, financial management, skill development, leadership techniques, public policy analysis, and principles of emergency services management. This course is applicable to any type of emergency services operation, including police and fire organizations.
Prerequisites: FST 101 AND FST 102 OR CJS 121.

Course usage information

CJS-205. Disaster Response and Recover. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course introduces the student to the principles of disaster response and recovery. Topics include knowing what to expect when a disaster strikes, management approaches, initial response measures, managing public information, caring for the injured, dead, and distraught, and overcoming typical challenges. Case studies of disasters and disaster responses will be utilized to reinforce course concepts. This course is applicable to any type of public or private emergency services operation.
Prerequisites: CJS-105.

Course usage information

CJS-213. Police and the Community. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course focuses on the importance of and strategies for positive police-community interactions and addresses the internal and external communities the police serve. The interdisciplinary approach of the course draws data and discussions from a wide range of disciplines and gives students a well-rounded perspective to help them better recognize the importance of, appreciate, and practice positive police-community relations.
Prerequisites: CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-214. Juvenile Delinquency. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
A review of the historical reasons for the establishment of juvenile courts in the United States, an examination of the juvenile justice process, and an introduction to the functions of the various components of the system. Sociological concepts and theory of the adolescent subculture are explored. Delinquency prevention aspects, as well as treatment methodologies, are included.

Course usage information

CJS-215. Investigative Function. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
Fundamentals of reconstructing a chronological sequence of events as to if, when and how a crime was committed. This includes searching, collecting, preserving, evaluating and cross-comparing physical and oral evidence within the framework of accepted procedural and constitutional laws. Procedures using proven scientific methods and analysis to meet the ideal standards of an investigation to resolve the issue, identify the offenders and professionally present the findings in court are included.

Course usage information

CJS-220. Litigation Procedures. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course is an introduction to the legal system with a focus on the New Jersey Court System. A review of substantive areas of law and application of procedural concepts from initiation of a lawsuit through entry of judgment will be undertaken. The course will also address the process of client interviewing, investigation, drafting of pleadings and other documents, and preparation for trial.
Prerequisites: CJS-105 AND CJS-121
Corequisites: ENG-111 or ENG-111CL or ENG-111CW.

Course usage information

CJS-221. Criminal Law and Procedure. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course consists of a fundamental overview of the historical development and philosophy of law including definitions, classifications, and Constitutional origins. Additional topics are case law, methodology, and the concept of law as a social force; a study of the rules of evidence with emphasis upon the nature of evidence, burden of proof, confessions, admissions and witnesses, as well as a consideration of judicial procedures and the application of legal concepts to the justice process.
Prerequisites: CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-224. Introduction to Police Operations. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course provides the student with an opportunity to observe and interact with the fundamentals of police operations. The student is provided with a basis for resolving everyday operational dilemmas from a proactive and reactive perspective. The course emphasizes the need for officers to think critically and to be creative as they interact with citizens in their communities.
Prerequisites: CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-225. Probation and Parole. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course examines the history of the fields of probation and parole, detailing how it moved from a focus on treatment/rehabilitation and the indeterminate sentence, toward a model based on control/law enforcement and the determinate sentence. The course will discuss how the historical changes affected the roles and responsibilities of probation and parole officers. Additional, students will explore the use of cognitive behavior therapy and motivation interviewing, "broken windows"/community-based supervision, and the importance of evidence-based practice.
Prerequisites: CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-226. Internship Work Experience - Criminal Justice (45-100 Hours). 1 Credit.

COOP 15 hrs
This course provides students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program with job-oriented training and practical work experience in a work environment prior to permanent employment and requires a minimum of 45 hours of engagement. The course may be taken in fulfillment of requirement of an elective in the Criminal Justice curricula. Students desiring to participate in this experience must make their intention known to the coordinator of Criminal Justice internships prior to beginning the internship.
Prerequisites: Students must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and completed a minimum of 30 credits.

Course usage information

CJS-227. Internship Work Experience - Criminal Justice (90-200 Hours). 2 Credits.

COOP 30 hrs
This course provides students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program with job-oriented training and practical work experience in a work environment prior to permanent employment and requires a minimum of 90 hours of engagement. The course may be taken in fulfillment of requirement of an elective in the Criminal Justice curricula. Students desiring to participate in this experience must make their intention known to the coordinator of Criminal Justice internships prior to beginning the internship.
Prerequisites: Students must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and completed a minimum of 30 credits.

Course usage information

CJS-228. Public Safety Internship. 3 Credits.

COOP 45 hrs
This course provides students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program with job-oriented training and practical work experience in a work environment prior to permanent employment and requires a minimum of 135 hours of engagement. The course may be taken in fulfillment of requirement of an elective in the Criminal Justice curricula. Students desiring to participate in this experience must make their intention known to the coordinator of Criminal Justice internships prior to beginning the internship.
Prerequisites: CJS-121 and CJS-116.

Course usage information

CJS-230. Ethics in the Law. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course will introduce students to the ethical issues that are present in the legal system. Emphasis will be placed on the New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct. Students will analyze case studies and apply the appropriate Rules of Conduct. This class is designed for students seeking positions in the legal system including careers as paralegals, judiciary staff, attorneys, and law enforcement officers.
Prerequisites: ENG-111 or ENG-111CL or ENG-111CW and CJS-105 CJS-121.

Course usage information

CJS-231. Domestic and International Terrorism. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
This course offers an in-depth examination of both Domestic and International Terrorism. Topics include; the history and definitions of terrorism, the motivation behind terrorism, how terrorists fund and plan their operations. Portions of the course will address preparedness and response to terrorism. The course will conclude with current and future issues of terrorism.
Prerequisites: CJS-121 or CJS-127.

Course usage information

CJS-291. Special Topics in Criminal Justice. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
An examination of selected topics or issues in criminal justice. Topics differ each time the course is offered. Students should consult the department chair for further information.
Prerequisites: An introductory course in Criminal Justice.

Course usage information

CJS-292. Special Topics in Criminal Justice. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
An examination of selected topics or issues in criminal justice. Topics differ each time the course is offered. Students should consult the department chair for further information.
Prerequisites: An introductory course in Criminal Justice.

Course usage information

CJS-ELE. Criminal Justice Elective. 3 Credits.

LECT 45 hrs
.