Criminal Justice Courses & Descriptions

Professor DESIRE: Forensic science has been a popular college major in the United States for the past 10 years due to the prominence of the career and portrayal in the media. Educating the entry level forensic scientist is often left to forensic programs or general science academics. The optimal forensic scientist will have a strong background in biology and chemistry with knowledge of the criminal justice system. If a college graduate possesses an education in forensic laboratory methods, general science, and criminal justice, they would be highly marketable for employment by crime labs in the United States. Employers often find that applicants lack either a strong traditional science background or the ability to apply this traditional science to matters of the law. The purpose of this course is to provide both lecture and laboratory training to general science majors who wish to pursue a career in forensic science, and to provide criminal justice majors with an education that applies forensic science to the criminal investigation.

The course is designed to include all disciplines of forensic science while making use of already existing laboratory equipment. The course would consist of a full year of lectures, with a lab each week. Students will get hands-on training in most of the procedures used by modern crime labs, as well as learn about the history of how these techniques came into use. Each laboratory is designed to handle 15 students. Part of the forensic education will include field trips to a county medical examiner to view an autopsy and tour of the New Jersey State Police crime lab to view the trace, anthropology, ballistics, computer crimes, and DNA facilities.

Professor DESIRE: Forensic science has been a popular college major in the United States for the past 10 years due to the prominence of the career and portrayal in the media.  Educating the entry level forensic scientist is often left to forensic programs or general science academics.  The optimal forensic scientist will have a strong background in biology and chemistry with knowledge of the criminal justice system.  If a college graduate possesses an education in forensic laboratory methods, general science, and criminal justice, they would be highly marketable for employment by crime labs in the United States.  Employers often find that applicants lack either a strong traditional science background or the ability to apply this traditional science to matters of the law. The purpose of this course is to provide both lecture and laboratory training to general science majors who wish to pursue a career in forensic science, and to provide criminal justice majors with an education that applies forensic science to the criminal investigation.

The course is designed to include all disciplines of forensic science while making use of already existing laboratory equipment.  The course would consist of a full year of lectures, with a lab each week.  Students will get hands-on training in most of the procedures used by modern crime labs, as well as learn about the history of how these techniques came into use.  Each laboratory is designed to handle 15 students.  Part of the forensic education will include field trips to a county medical examiner to view an autopsy and tour of the New Jersey State Police crime lab to view the trace, anthropology, ballistics, computer crimes, and DNA facilities.

Professor SIULC, Evidence and Witnessing: This course provides an introduction to the multiple methods and evidence people use to document and express legal claims and the injustices they have witnessed or endured. We will consider the role of various forms of evidence, witnessing, testimony, and reporting in formal legal contexts and in the public sphere. Course materials present examples from the United States and around the world that involve written and spoken narrative and testimony, research data and statistics, and media and expressive cultures (documentary, music, poetry) in people’s claims about truth, justice, and rights.

Professor SIULC, Law, Justice, Rights: This seminar explores how law and legalities are socially constructed and deployed and the varied meanings and practices of justice and rights, both within and beyond the law. Readings will review foundational social scientific theories that provide tools for understanding how societies construct social rules and norms, define and administer justice and rights, and maintain social order and cohesion, as well as key texts in the anthropology of law, politics, and governance, and contemporary ethnographic studies focused on topics such as crime, health, immigration, power and inequality, national identity and personhood, social movements, policing, punishment, and security. Course materials present ethnographic examples from communities and social groups in the United States and around the world. Finally, we will consider the role critical engaged anthropology can play in influencing rights claims and ameliorating injustices. This seminar is ideally suited for upper-level students who have already taken an introductory anthropology or other social science course and are comfortable participating in class discussions.

Spring 2018 SIULC, SEC 01
Spring 2018 SIULC, SEC 02

Spring 2017 SIULC, SEC 01
Spring 2017 SIULC, SEC 02
Fall 2016 WEILL-GREENBERG
Spring 2016 WEILL-GREENBERG
Spring 2016 YUZUK
Summer 2015 ZGOBA
Spring 2015 YUZUK
Fall 2014 POSLUSZNY
Spring 2014 SIULC
Fall 2013 POSLUSZNY
Summer 2013 YUZUK
Fall 2012 YUZUK
Fall 2012 WALEN
Summer 2012 MUNI
Spring 2012 MORAN
Fall 2011 WALEN

Professor WILSON, Section 80 & 81, Crimmigration: The intersection of criminal law and immigration law. This course will provide students with a general overview of U.S. immigration law and the paths for legal presence, legal residence and naturalization.  There will be an emphasis on how criminal activity or a conviction impacts the ability of Non-U.S. Citizens to enter or remain in the United States. Students will also learn about the various agencies that share in the formulation of immigration policy, creation of law and the enforcement of the policies and laws.

At the completion of the course, students will be able to analyze a fact pattern and identify the potential laws and outcomes that will impact a Non-U.S. Citizen.  Students will also be informed about new federal and regional polices concerning immigration law enforcement.

Professor COHEN, Section 01, Emerging Issues in Law Enforcement and Homeland Security: This class will explore current issues impacting law enforcement and homeland security professionals in the United States. The class will examine high-profile events impacting public safety and public reaction to these events. Specific areas of focus will include violent crime, use of force by law enforcement officers, homegrown violent extremism, cyber-attacks, international terrorism, transnational drug trafficking, and domestic intelligence and information sharing activities.

Professor WEILL - GREENBERG, Section 02, Wrongful Convictions: This course will cover the causes of wrongful conviction, including eyewitness misidentifications, false confessions, racism, media bias, homophobia, and faulty forensic science. Case studies will be used to illustrate these causes. The course will include both lectures and discussions so please come prepared to discuss assigned readings so you can help contribute to an informed and interesting discussion!

Fall 2017 WILSON
Fall 2017 COHEN
Spring 2017 COHEN
Fall 2016 WILSON
Spring 2016 WILSON
Fall 2015 SIULC
Fall 2015 WILSON
Fall 2014 YUZUK
Fall 2013 SIULC
Fall 2013 YUZUK
Spring 2013 POSLUSZNY
Fall 2012 SIULC