Criminal Justice

CRJ 101 – Introduction to Criminal Justice

This course will give a general overview of the criminal justice system in the United States.  It will focus primarily on the role of law enforcement, the court system and the correctional industry.  The course will examine how each phase of the system currently works, or does not work, from the point of initially reported crime, to possible arrest and prosecution, to case resolution and ultimately through the arrestee’s outcome at sentencing.  As an introductory course, its primary goal is to help prepare the student majoring in criminal justice with a broad foundation of knowledge from which to pursue more comprehensive and rigorous analysis in advanced courses.

CRJ 102 – Introduction to Law Enforcement

This course will examine the critical issues faced by American police through analyses of research relating to the historical, sociological, and legal bases for policing with an emphasis on contemporary trends in law enforcement.

CRJ 202 – Corrections and Punishment

This course will give an overview of the history of punishment of crime in the United States, whether through community sanctions (such as probation or restitution) or through community removal (incarceration in jails, prison, or community corrections facilities). It will examine theories of deterrence, behavior modification and recidivism rates. This course provides an in-depth introduction to the historical evolution and current state of incarceration and detention in the United States. Students will take a critical look at life in prison by exploring how incarceration affects the inmate and the potential consequences for society. Special emphasis is given to current controversies in jail and prison policy, such as family disruption, and physical and sexual violence. Finally, the course will address the causes that have led the United States to having the highest population of incarcerated persons in the world.

CRJ 203 – American Judicial System

This course will survey the function and process of courts in the U.S. from low-level district courts through appeal filings all the way to the United States Supreme Court. It will outline the history of the U.S. system and examine changes made in an increasingly technological society. Finally, the course will address current issues within the judicial system and suggest reforms and improvements.

CRJ 310 – Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure

This course examines the origins and sources of criminal law as it has developed in the U.S. Students will gain an overview of the historical foundation of rights accorded those involved in the criminal process as well as the limitations placed on government actors.

CRJ 311 – Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice

This course will relate the foundations of ethical thought to everyday practice among criminal justice professionals.  Police, prosecutors, probation and parole officials, prison staff, attorneys and judges all have a tremendous amount of discretion as to how they perform their various duties (i.e., who to arrest, who to prosecute, who to release early, how harshly to punish, on whom to spend the most time defending, etc.) The course will examine the Biblical foundations of ethics and investigate case studies on which students can reflect as they prepare to engage in their own style of practice.

CRJ 222 – Juvenile Justice System and Administration

This course will give an in-depth description of the juvenile justice system as currently practiced in the U.S.  Students will compare and contrast the process and administration of the juvenile justice system with its adult counterpart in the larger criminal justice system.

CRJ 470 – Criminal Justice Internship I

This class (pass/fail) allows students to be placed in a local field placement within their chosen area of interest.  This allows them to get a closer, more “hands-on” view of their area of interest to determine whether or not they will continue to pursue this particular career option after graduation.

BST 400 – Cross-Cultural Experience

Each student is required to have a cross-cultural experience sometime during their studies at LBC. Students should confirm with their advisors as to whether one of the following available options will fulfill their major’s cross-cultural requirement. It should be noted that each of the programs below has its own enrollment procedures and policies, so see the Registrar for information before applying.