WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 : School of Professional Studies

Justice And Law Administration

JLA 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 SH
A survey of criminal justice agencies: their role, history and development in the criminal justice system. Every semester.

JLA 100FY Introduction to Criminal Justice I FY 3 SH
This course will introduce students to the system, the process and the people involved in the administration of criminal justice. The role, history and development of agencies in the criminal justice system will be examined and discussed in light of today’s trends. Theoretical and practical issues and challenges will be discussed. This competency allows first year students to transition into the University and to appreciate the values, culture, and resources of the academic community. WCSU’s student body is especially in need of such support because of its diversity, including traditional first-year students, students from at-risk communities, active and military veterans, those at varying levels of academic and social preparation, first- and second-generation Americans, and students who are the first members of their families to attend college. Our students need a program that orients them to the expectations, resources, requirements, and rewards of their WCSU experience. Competency: First Year Navigation (FY).

JLA 150 Introduction to Criminal Justice II 3 SH
An overview of the correctional process from its inception to modern times. Interactions between the community and the offender are examined and important developments in probation, parole, treatment, custody and institutional management are considered.

JLA 170 Introduction to American Law 3 SH
Introduction to American Law will provide entry level instruction into the U.S. legal system, and legal thinking.  Students will learn U.S. legal history and philosophy, the fundamentals of the legal system, and the basics of commonly used areas of law. Instruction will be concentrated in three areas. Students will read and listen to lectures about the mechanics of the legal system, sources of law, legal philosophy, and substantive areas of law. Second, students will read and learn to accurately summarize statutes and legal cases from several areas of law. Finally, students will interact with the legal system through the use of experiential learning techniques.

JLA 200 Writing for the Justice Professions 3 SH
This is a “Tier II” Writing Intensive course and is designed to inculcate technical-professional writing skills.  It will focus particularly on writing styles and writing elements prevalent in the criminal justice and legal environments.   Instruction will be concentrated equally in two areas:  first, review and acquisition of the rudiments of Standard Written English with exposure to university-level, detail- oriented language arts composition and second, a thorough familiarity with the specific writing structures most often encountered in the legal and criminal justice career paths, including the research protocols of the American Psychological Association.  The course will emphasize instruction in the fundamental construction of effective written expression and its application to the four Justice and Law Administration career options, namely, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Corrections/Probation/ Parole, and Legal Studies.   Instruction will be accomplished by assignment of extensive technical writing, instructor correction, and review and revision of submissions.  Student composition will be accompanied by textual study, exemplar analysis, lecture, and self-editing reviews.  Prerequisite: WRT 101/101P or appropriate placement. Competency: Writing Intensive Tier 2 (W2).

JLA 201 Criminology 3 SH
An analysis of criminal behavior and its causes in contemporary American society. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or JLA 100.

JLA 205 Juvenile Delinquency 3 SH
An analysis of the problem of juvenile delinquency in contemporary society. The course considers research studies of delinquent youth, theories of delinquency, treatment and prevention and control and disposition of adjudicated delinquents. Problems of youth in a complex society, education, minority group status and youth gangs will also be discussed as they relate to the problem of delinquency. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or JLA 100.

JLA 208 Forensics I 3 SH
This course introduces the student to the various areas of forensic science, including methods and techniques of evidence collection, crime scene examination and laboratory examination. Aspects covered include hair, fiber, body fluids, fingerprint, document, glass and soil analysis, firearms, photography, documentation and crime scene reconstruction. Prerequisite: Laboratory science course; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 210 Criminal Law 3 SH
An examination of the purposes and goals of criminal law, the historical development and structure of its basic concepts, and a review of the substantive laws of federal and state systems.

JLA 212 The Police and Social Order 3 SH
A study of the role of policing in modern society. This course examines the history of policing, the work of police officers, and how police organizations operate. The topics of discretion, police subculture, corruption and the use of force will also be examined. The course will look at policing as a career and at various local, state and federal police agencies. Prerequisite: JLA 100.

JLA 225 Principles of Security 3 SH
Techniques and practices that assist private commercial establishments, particularly large industrial plants and department stores, in minimizing losses through security control. Issues that will be covered are physical security, procedural controls, special problems such as business and industrial espionage, riots, shoplifting, and dishonest employees.

JLA 240 Commercial Law 3 SH
A one-semester introduction to the civil law of business and its regulation. Emphasis will be placed on the law of contracts. Students will examine court decisions and statutes which attempt to control commercial activities. Special attention will be given to the uniform commercial code.

JLA 245 Introduction to Civil Litigation 3 SH
A survey of the civil legal process with respect to the public and private sectors. This course will cover the enforcement of private rights and compensatory claims against individual parties. Specifically, the course will identify and analyze the following areas: torts, contracts, individual liability and domestic relations.

JLA 250 Family Law 3 SH
This course introduces the student to the historical background and the current civil law of the family in American society, focusing on the rights of women and children as they have emerged from the common law. The course examines the rights and liabilities of all members of the family, recent case decisions and statutes that affect and control these rights and liabilities, and possible future developments in these areas as the traditional family is modified and traditional family roles are altered.

JLA 260 Introduction to Homeland Security  3 SH
This course provides an overview of the characteristics, functions, and resources of the emergency management system and how various management services work together. Emphasis will be placed on how this system is applied to all hazards and at all levels of government. It includes the role of national, regional and local services in a variety of disasters. Focus is placed on U.S. policies, programs and agencies to address the hazard posed by international and domestic terrorism. Prerequisite: JLA 100.

JLA 297 Cooperative Education 1–12 SH

JLA 298 Faculty Developed Study 1–6 SH

JLA 299 Student Developed Study 1–6 SH

JLA 300 Management Issues in Law Enforcement 3 SH
This course examines the various contemporary issues and problems confronting managers of American law enforcement organizations. Classroom study and discussion will assist students in developing their awareness of the relevant concerns, their appreciation of the differing perspectives and their ability to analyze the arguments and options. Specific examples from the field will be used. Prerequisite: JLA 212.

JLA/WS 301 Women and Criminal Justice 3 SH
This course explores issues surrounding women as offenders, victims, and criminal justice professionals. It investigates explanations for the involvement of women in illegal activities, analyzes the plight of battered women, rape victims, and other female victims, and examines the participation of women in law enforcement, judicial proceedings, corrections and law-making.

JLA 305 Justice and Law Administration I 3 SH
An analysis of the structure and processes common to all complex organizations, with specific focus on the organizations that constitute the criminal justice system.  Prerequisite: JLA 100, JLA 150; Junior standing; GPA 2.3 or higher.

JLA 310 Justice and Law Administration II 3 SH
The essentials of personnel administration, including the fundamentals of supervision and leadership as applied to administration. Consideration of administrative problems such as recruitment, selection, human resource management, and discipline will be discussed. Prerequisite: 75 credits; GPA 2.3 or higher.

JLA 311 Forensics II 3 SH
This course continues the study of the forensic sciences by offering an in-depth look at the many methods for collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Intended for advanced students, the course supplements classroom study with actual experiments to enable students to develop both the knowledge and the skills necessary to conduct crime scene examinations. Prerequisite: JLA 208; a laboratory science course; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 312 Community-Based Corrections 3 SH
This course covers the importance of community treatment programs for juveniles and adult offenders. The principles and philosophy of community treatment are explained as well as the nature of the community treatment agent’s work. Major issues and trends in the field are examined.  Prerequisite: JLA 100,  JLA 150; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 315 Police Organization & Administration 3 SH
In this course, students will analyze the role of police in the U.S. Criminal Justice System and examine the fundamental principles in organization and administration as they relate to the departmental structure of a typical police agency. Students will also be introduced to the practical application theories and methods in police management. Emphasis will be placed on U.S. police officers and the role of the law enforcement agencies in a democracy. At the conclusion of the course, students will engage in a critical analysis of the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Not open to students who have successfully completed JLA 305 and/or JLA 310.  Prerequisites: JLA 100 and minimum 60 credits.

JLA/FIN 318 Real Estate Law 3 SH
See FIN/JLA 318.

JLA/WRT 321W Legal Writing, Research and Analysis 3 SH
See WRT/JLA 321W.

JLA 322 Constitutional Law 3 SH
An analysis of the basic principles of due process as enumerated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. A study of leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court and their impact on the administration of justice throughout our history, with particular emphasis on recent developments.

JLA 323 Criminal Procedures and Process 3 SH
A survey of policies and problems involved in the criminal justice process and constitutional criminal procedure. Specific topics include an overview of the criminal justice process, the scope of the 14th Amendment, the right to counsel and the bill of rights of criminal defendants.

JLA 332 Contemporary Issues in Justice and Law Administration 3 SH
An examination of contemporary topics within the justice and law administration areas will be conducted. This course may be taken twice, upon permission of a JLA adviser, as long as the topic chosen is different each time taken.

JLA 334 Organized Crime 3 SH
Explores the types, causes and extent of organized and white-collar crime in America. The impact and cost to society as well as the methods of prevention and control are studied.

JLA 336 White Collar Crime 3 SH
This course explores the types, the impact and the cost of white-collar crime, along with its theories of causation. Highlighted will be the approaches of cessation, containment and prevention utilized by private and public law enforcement organizations.

JLA 339 Torts 3 SH
A general overview of the law of torts with emphasis on the law of civil injuries and litigation. Students will understand the relationship between civil wrongs and criminal law and examine the civil legal system from the perspective of tort law. Both theory and practice will be explored.

JLA 340 Wills, Estates, Trusts and Administration 3 SH
A general overview of the areas of estates, trusts, wills and probate administration with emphasis on descent and distribution, intestacy, probate courts, estate and gift tax returns.

JLA/MIS 341 Information Systems Security 3 SH
See MIS/JLA 341.

JLA 342 Correctional Counseling and Offender Rehabilitation 3 SH
This course studies the treatment process as applied to the psychopathology of correctional clients. The principles and philosophy of correctional counseling are explained and major issues and trends in the field are examined. Prerequisite: JLA 100, JLA 150; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 346 Seminar on Sex Crimes 3 SH
The course is designed as a broad-based “seminar” style class in which students are given weekly reading assignments from the required textbooks and timely academic articles on specific subjects, as well as weekly case studies (via news reports, court documents, film documentaries, etc.) on a real-world incidents of sexually motivated crime, which students assess and “profile” in the context of their criminology readings. Each topic section begins with a foundation based on scholarly research, followed by discussion and application of case studies to the literature for analysis by the group. Student participation is critical, and students are encouraged to use library, internet, and media sources to supplement their research on each week’s topic. Many topics are also supplemented with video documentary on a particular case (e.g., multiple allegations against Jeffrey Epstein) or particular offender (e.g., Mary Kay LeTourneau) to provide fact-based variables for analysis. Offered every fall. Prerequisites: JLA 201 and minimum 60 credits completed.

JLA 347 Justice Issues in Domestic and International Terrorism 3 SH
This course defines and discusses terrorism. Terrorist groups in the United States and throughout the world are examined, including an up-to-date analysis of recent attacks. Discussion will focus on the history of terrorism from both a global perspective and as it relates to U.S. interests, the different ideologies and tactics of various terrorist groups, successes and/or shortcomings of the government’s response to terrorism, constitutional issues that may arise in law enforcement’s efforts to thwart terrorism, and preventive measures to reduce the chance of future terrorist attacks.

JLA 348 Visual Criminology 3 SH
This course would explore the aesthetics of visuals in building narratives, as well as the fallibility of these narratives. To do so, it is important to understand and explore scholarly works and study the field of visual criminology as a discipline. It includes understanding different methodological approaches to visual criminology and their affordances. It also requires the ability to distinguish between fiction, film, and framing of arguments surrounding policing, courts, and corrections. This course will also explain evidentiary and statistical limitations in drawing conclusions about individuals, groups, and cultures based on images, videos, and documentaries. Every Fall.

JLA 349 Justice & Law Administration Practicum 3–12 SH
Field experience in a justice and law administration related government or non-government organization. Each student is required to participate in at least 50 hours of practical work experience of every one hour of academic credit. Additional requirements include the submission of journals, a term paper, the student’s review of the practicum experience and a review of the student’s performance by the on-site practicum supervisor. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

JLA 350 Bias in the American Justice System 3 SH
This course will examine the historical and contemporary context of how the American criminal justice system has been influenced by race, class, and gender in the pursuit of fairness and equity. Each criminal justice component (police, courts, corrections, and legislature) will be examined to identify the existing biases in the American Justice System, using in-depth discussions, case studies, court cases, and legislative action. In addition, this course will examine how reform at all levels of the system needs to balance individual rights within civil society, while also maintaining law and order. This course will also discuss future issues related to race, class, and gender and the approaches necessary to achieve a truly fair and balanced system. Offered every fall. Prerequisites: JLA 100, 150, 170, and 45 credits completed.

JLA 360 Advanced Issues in Homeland Security  3 SH
This course examines various contemporary issues and problems confronting homeland security managers. Skills needed by homeland security managers shall be considered including: catastrophic preparation and response, risk assessment, intelligence analysis, and networks and systems. Organizational issues related to homeland security management shall be considered. Recent and future trends in homeland security shall be discussed. Prerequisite: JLA 260

JLA 370 Crime Mapping 3 SH
The Crime Mapping course covers both the theory and practice of Geographic Information Systems (“GIS”) for law enforcement and public safety purposes. The class introduces the theoretical framework for the study of the ecology of public safety, or “crime and place,” the descriptive and analytic procedures of crime mapping, and how spatial analysis is used in designing and implementing effective programs of crime prevention, problem solving and community policing. Various GIS and crime mapping topics are explored, with emphasis on their impact on current policies and practice in modern-day policing. Prerequisites: JLA 100, MIS 155.

JLA 380 Data Analytics 3 SH
Data analytics is the study of the generalizable extraction of knowledge from data. Being a data analyst requires an integrated skill set spanning mathematics, statistics, and databases, along with a comprehensive understanding of problem analysis. This course will continue the study of data analysis and equip the students with an understanding of the concepts, techniques, and tools that they need to conduct meaningful statistical interpretation of data. Focus will be on the integration of statistical concepts and their application to understanding data to inform policy decisions in criminal justice. Prerequisites: JLA 100, MAT 120.

JLA 390 Legal Forensics and Cybersecurity 3 SH
This course examines computer-related regulations to provide students with the legal investigation tools for electronic devices including computers. The course also provides prior Court decisions to conduct legal computer-related investigations and includes the processes involved in preparing an affidavit for a search warrant. For the cyber security part, the course introduces students to organizational policy, wireless networking, security management, and cryptography. Prerequisites: JLA 100, JLA 150, and JLA 322.

JLA 400 Research Methodology in Justice and Law Administration 3 SH
This course continues the basic knowledge of elementary statistics and applies it to a discussion of research in the justice and law administration area. Specific examples from the field will be used for analysis. Prerequisite: MAT 120 and JLA 200W

JLA 405 Research Seminar in Justice and Law Administration 3 SH
 In-depth consideration of justice and law administration issues through individual student research culminating in the creation of a research paper. Prerequisite: JLA 400; 75 credits; a writing intensive (W) course; GPA 2.0 or higher. Competency: Culminating Experience (CE), Writing Intensive Tier 3 (W3).

JLA 408 Human Rights: With Liberty and Justice for All 3 SH
This course will explore current topics in the areas of human rights and civil rights. It is intended to expose advanced students to current conflicting views, and will require critical thinking, writing and argument. Topics will vary from term to term. Prerequisite: Junior standing; a writing intensive (W) course; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 409 Addiction and Crime 3 SH
This course will examine various psychological and chemical dependencies and the effects they may have on individuals who become involved in crime. The focus of this course is on chemical dependency (drug and alcohol abuse), but will include the study of gambling as an addiction, obsessive compulsive disorders and other control disorders. The correlation of these dependencies with crime and criminal behavior will be examined as well. Required course in the corrections concentration. Prerequisite: JLA 100, JLA 150; Junior standing; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 410 Advanced Criminology 3 SH
This course will be an in-depth examination of the major crime theories. Readings of the classic studies that are the bedrock of crime theory will be required. Students will be expected to apply their theoretical knowledge to modern-day crime and utilize advanced skills of logic and analysis to understand the formation of crime-control policy. Prerequisite: JLA/SOC 201; Junior standing;  a writing intensive (W) course; GPA 2.0 or higher.

JLA 460 Legal Issues in Homeland Security 3 SH
This course will be a survey of the legal history of homeland security measures undertaken by the U.S. government since its founding as applied within the framework of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court decisions and international law. Additionally, the post-9/11 environment of homeland security and the legal authority and consequence of U.S. actions within the United States and extra-territorially will be explored and discussed in class.

 

The following courses also have been approved and are offered periodically:
JLA 230 The Role of Regulatory Agencies in Criminal Justice
JLA 316 Juvenile Justice Management I
JLA 317 Juvenile Justice Management II
JLA 343 Mental Health of Justice Professionals
JLA 345 Seminar on Violent Crime
JLA 426 Conflict Resolution and Management
JLA 435 Labor Law and Legislation