Courses

Offers an overview of both substantive and procedural law related to the definitions, investigations, processing, and punishment of crimes. The course will introduce students to the legal idea of criminal responsibility, the concept and elements of criminal responsibility, required state of mind (mens rea), and prohibited conduct (actus reus).

This course introduces the student to the basic concepts of substantive criminal law and its procedural aspects with an emphasis on the constitutionally protected rights of the accused in the criminal justice system. Topics include: substantive criminal law and procedure and criminal litigation support.

This course introduces criminal law in the United States, but emphasizes the current specific status of Georgia criminal law. The course will focus on the most current statutory contents of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) with primary emphasis on the criminal and traffic codes.

This course will survey the research and theories related to the psychology behind criminal behavior. The course will look at the risk factors associated with juvenile delinquency and criminal behavior. The course will also cover psychological factors associated with mental illness and crime, homicide, and sex offenses.

Criminal Procedure covers the major U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding law enforcement. These cases provide the boundaries which facilitate as well as limit the actions of law enforcement officers in such activities as: 'stop and frisk', arrest, questioning, surveillance, vehicle stops and searches, as well as search and seizures which yield evidence admissible at trial. Also emphasizes legal reasoning and interpretation as well as the fundamental elements of case briefing and jurisdiction.

A study of the nature and function of the law regulating the criminal processes, policies, and procedures in the administration of criminal justice. Special attention will be given to United States Supreme decisions.

Introduces the procedural law of the criminal justice system which governs the series of proceedings through which government enforces substantive criminal law. The course offers an emphasis on the laws of arrest and search and seizure; the rules of evidence, right to counsel, and the rights and duties of both citizens and officers. The course covers in depth appropriate Case Law and court rulings that dictate criminal procedure on the State and Federal Level.

Examines sociological and psychological evidence that can be useful in the context of criminal investigations. Explores the types of questions that profiling attempts to answer; the aspects of crimes, crime scenes, and criminals that profilers are interested in; and, the general types of information often contained within criminal profiles.

An overview of the major historical developments in criminological theory, with an emphasis on basic assumptions, concepts, and propositions of criminological theories of crime.

A study of the nature and scope and crime in society with an emphasis on criminological theories