34 courses with the subject CJFS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
CJFS 1120Crime and Justice in America4
Goals: To introduce students to the basic framework of the American criminal justice system. Content: This course provides a broad overview of the American criminal justice system. The course examines criminal justice decision-making, police, criminal law, courts, prisons, and the juvenile justice system. This course is designed to introduce students to these broad topic areas and to explore the issues of equality and treatment, and the efficacy of criminal justice policy within the contemporary American criminal justice system. Taught: Fall and spring
Goals: To develop student’s understanding of diversity in American Society, and develop increased understanding and awareness of student’s own implicit and explicit biases regarding persons from different cultures, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, economic position, sexual orientation, and persons with disability. Students will understand how these concepts relate to communication, attitudes, and behavior inside the criminal justice system to increase effectiveness in interactions between law enforcement and criminal justice professions with persons from diverse backgrounds. Content: The course provides an overview of diversity and its importance in criminological studies and in the criminal justice system. The course will focus on issues related to race, gender, and economic equality and also disadvantaged persons from a variety of backgrounds to understand the relationship between the criminal justice system and citizens. The course content will cover historical and present social issues that relate to diversity and disparity in the criminal justice system. Taught: Fall and spring
Goals: In this class students will use writing as the primary mechanism to articulate their critical thinking about investigative challenges. We will collectively conduct brainstorming sessions and develop mind maps which will provide the analytical level to be conveyed through their writing. Content: Crime investigation is, in other than its routine aspects, a high-grade intellectual pursuit. This course will focus on the systematic scientific inquiry needed for modern criminal investigations. The detection, reconstruction, and solution of a criminal event occurs through the interpretation of clues ascertained by investigators. Students will also study how physical evidence can be material in a variety of forms, which in some way is associated with the commission of a crime, and how that item can be of value in the investigation and subsequent adjudication of that crime. Students will apply scientific principles to the recognition, documentation, preservation, and analysis of physical evidence from investigations. Furthermore, students will employ critical thinking processes through writing and reflection to the intellectual endeavor of scientific problem solving. You will be expected to increase your knowledge by analyzing available literature resources; including both assigned articles and through your own research. Taught: Alternate years
Goals: To introduce the research methods and quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques used in criminal justice research and practice. Content: This course covers the research process; research ethics; qualitative and quantitative research designs; sampling techniques; data collection, processing, and analysis; and writing and reporting research results.
One of the following courses with grade of C- or higher: CJFS 1120, PSCI 1000, SJSC 1100, or SJSC 1110; and one course in statistics with grade of C- or higher: MATH 1200 or QMBE 1310 Credits: 4
CJFS 3300Undergraduate Research in CJFS1-4
Goals: To apply research methodologies and the ways that graduate school research groups operate. To foster close student/faculty interaction as these parties join together in a research venture. Content: Application of research methods including survey of relevant literature. Research methods could include the following dependent upon the proposed research study: experimental design, qualitative and quantitative methods, conducting a series of experiments, and analysis and presentation of data. Students enrolled in the course will work independently and with the instructor, and also attend laboratory/and or research group meetings. Students will learn research techniques and conduct investigations in a focused area of criminal justice or forensic science to be decided by the instructor.
Goals: To introduce the practice of forensic science and to recognize how physical evidence is identified and examined. Content: Roles and responsibilities of forensic scientists; the nature of physical evidence; evidence collection, analysis, interpretation and admissibility in court; expert testimony. Taught: Fall and Spring
Goals: Identify the role and responsibilities of a crime scene investigator. To develop skills in the investigation of crime scenes; to work individually and collaboratively to identify, collect, and preserve evidence; produce a thorough crime scene report, and discuss potential challenges posed by death scene investigation and complex crime scenes. Content: This course will provide students with the basic competencies required of a crime scene examiner. This course will focus on developing a consistent approach to the processing of a crime scene. During the class, emphasis will be given to aspects such as entering and securing the crime scene; documentation; note taking; searching for physical evidence; chain of custody; collection and packaging of evidence; crime scene safety and processing of evidence. Procedures will be emphasized to ensure that evidence is protected and recovered for future laboratory examination such as latent prints, trace evidence, impression evidence and biological materials in accordance with known standards. Mock crime scenes are incorporated into this course to facilitate student application of knowledge in practical casework. Crime scenes will also focus on the development of specialized skills and techniques, such as those needed to investigate deaths potentially caused by blunt force injury, gunshot wounds, sharp force injury, and various other mechanisms of homicide. Taught: Annually, spring
CJFS 3415Biological Evidence and Serological Examinations4
Goals: To demonstrate understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of biological evidence collection and forensic serological analysis; and to develop laboratory techniques related to testing. Content: Students will gain knowledge and experience on how to identify and collect potential biological evidence and how to perform forensic serological tests commonly utilized at the crime scene or in the forensic laboratory. Students will explore these topics through gaining an understanding of the scientific theories of how these tests work, how to appropriately apply these techniques to mock evidence, how to draw conclusions based on limitations of these assays, and how to communicate this information to a jury. Students will complete an validation project on current serological research and complete an independent mock case.
BIOL 1510, BIOL 1520, and CJFS 3400, grades of C- or higher Credits: 4
CJFS 3420Forensic Biology4
Goals: To develop skills in the analysis of biological evidence; and to understand the role of science in the legal system. Content: Properties of biological evidence; evidence collection procedures; analysis and interpretation of evidence; reporting analysis results; and admissibility of evidence and expert testimony. Taught: Annually
CJFS 3400 and BIOL 1510, grades of C- or higher Credits: 4
CJFS 3425Forensic Chemistry4
Goals: To introduce and develop the theoretical concepts and laboratory practices of quantitative forensic chemical analysis. Content: This course covers underlying chemistry concepts and scientific methods as applied to the study of forensic evidence. Students will become familiar with the following topics: 1) the appropriate handling a storage of evidence/samples; 2) selecting the appropriate methods and procedures for the analysis of evidence/samples; 3) appropriate recording and storage of experimental results and data; 4) appropriate reporting experimental results; 5) the scope of chemistry and the law and providing expert testimony; and 6) troubleshooting and maintaining analytical instrumentation.
CJFS 3400 and CHEM 1140 or 1500, grades of C- or higher Credits: 4
CJFS 3435Forensic Photography2
Goals: To analyze various scenarios to select the proper equipment and parameters which create a fair and accurate photographic representation of the evidence/scene for subsequent usage in criminal trials. Content: This course focuses on the use of digital photography in the field of forensic science. Topics include the use of digital cameras, scanners, photomicrography, and macrophotography to document a wide range of evidence types. Students will also learn how such images may be processed and enhanced without compromising legal requirements.
CJFS 3400, grade of C- or higher, and Major in Forensic Science Credits: 2
CJFS 3440Forensic Fingerprint Examination4
Goals: To understand the scientific foundations of fingerprint analysis, develop skills in the examination of fingerprints, and to understand and apply the current methods and procedures used in fingerprint collection, preservation, and development. Content: This course covers the fundamentals and theory of identification techniques used in fingerprint development for processing crime scenes and evidence for latent prints, focusing on latent print development and preservation, including crime scene processing and blood prints. Students will learn and develop latent fingerprints on a variety of surfaces through practical laboratory and casework exercises as outlined by FBI and IAI standards. Taught: Annually, spring
CJFS 3450Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Examination4
Goals: To develop skills in applying the techniques used by forensic scientists in examining firearms and toolmarks, and to understand the role of science in medico-legal and forensic contexts. Content: Course content will focus on the role of forensic firearm and toolmark examination in civil and criminal cases. Content specific to forensic firearm and toolmark examination will include properties of evidence, admissibility of evidence and expert testimony, evidence collection procedures, methods of evidence analyses, and interpretation and communication of results. Taught: Annually, fall
Goals: To develop skills in both written and oral communication that are necessary for a career in forensic science. To understand how effective communication can help advance science and understanding within the field and be applied to casework and the criminal justice system. Content: Students will develop and practice their knowledge and skills in scientific/professional, technical, and layman communication. Students will critically evaluate literature, presentations, and mock scenarios related to situations they will encounter in their future careers. Students will also participate in various activities in order to strengthen oral and written communication of scientific or casework information as well as everyday activities like report writing, procedure writing, etc.
Goals: To engage in an advanced study in a specialized topic in the field of forensic science. Content: An intensive study of a specific area of forensic science. Topics vary from semester to semester. Taught: One to three times per year
Goals: To develop knowledge of the principles and methods of analyzing human subject samples for alcohol and other drugs and interpreting alcohol and drugs test results. Content: Death investigation toxicology; human performance toxicology; forensic workplace drug testing; drug metabolism; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; analytical techniques; interpreting drug test results; expert witness testimony; working with attorneys. Taught: Annually, spring
Goals: Students will assess the latest theory, research, and practice of forensic psychology in the criminal justice system. Content: This course examines the role that forensic psychology plays in the criminal justice system. Students will critically examine forensic psychology policy and procedure through a social scientific lens. Students will explore a variety of forensic psychology topics including assessment, expert testimony, psychopathy, the insanity defense, competency, lie detection, eyewitness identification, and sexual offenses. Taught: Annually, fall
CJFS 1120, LGST 1110, and PSY 1330, grades of C- or higher Credits: 4
CJFS 3700Policing in America4
Goals: The objectives for this course are for students to understand police organizations/operations from a social science perspective. Content: The course covers topics related to police conduct, community policing, police subculture, professionalization of the police, ethical decision making in law enforcement and evidence-based policing. Taught: Annually, fall
Goals: To develop an understanding of the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system by examining research, public policy, history, and contemporary issues. Content: Students will understand how mental health and serious mental illness interact with policing, courts, and corrections. Topics include the relationship between mental illness and crime, the criminalization of mental illness, mental illness in jails and prisons, evidence based practices for working with mentally ill offenders, de-escalation techniques for police officers, prevention and intervention policies, and the impact of trauma on the mental health or system professionals. Taught: Annually, spring
CJFS 3725Constitutional Procedure and Criminal Law4
Goals: To acquaint the student with theory and practice of criminal procedure, and the theory and practice of substantive criminal law, including traditional elements of crimes, statutory definitions, and judicial interpretations of specific crimes and motor vehicle offenses, as well as inchoate crimes, defenses to legal liability and sentencing procedure. Content: This class will include an overview and examination of the procedural aspects of criminal law, focusing on constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, unlawful gathering of incriminating evidence through interrogation and identification procedures. In addition, this class will study substantive aspects of criminal law, including detailed aspects of criminal law and traffic codes in Minnesota. Students will be expected to apply their learned knowledge of criminal law in Minnesota to real life scenarios of professionals involved in the criminal justice system. Taught: Annually, fall
Goals: To introduce students to the field of victimology through research, theory, history, policy and exploration of victims’ roles in the criminal justice system and society. Content: This course examines research on victimization including trends and rates of occurrence, current theoretical explanations of victimization, the history and development of the crime victims’ rights movement in the United States, policies aimed at helping victims, and consequences of victimization for victims and society. Taught: Annually, fall
ECON 1200 or MATH 1200 or QMBE 1310, grade of C- or higher Credits: 4
CJFS 3740Courts and Sentencing4
Goals: To introduce students to the history and current practices of the American criminal court system through the exploration of empirical research and theoretical frameworks. Content: This course examines the role that the criminal court plays in society. It explores courtroom decision making from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on research and theory from criminological, sociological, and organizational perspectives. Specific topics include empirical research and theory on bail and pre-trial procedures, the roles and decisions of prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and juries, plea bargaining practices, sentencing guidelines, mandatory minimums and truth-in-sentencing reforms. Taught: Annually, spring
Goal: The objectives for this course are for students to understand the causes of crime and why individuals commit crimes. Content: The focus of this course are theories of crime and of criminal behavior and the contexts (individual and societal characteristics, family, and neighborhood) associated with crime and offending. Taught: Fall and spring
Goals: To acquaint the student with the history and inception of the juvenile court; the evolution of adolescence; understand, evaluate and apply theories of delinquency; and describe the organization of the juvenile justice system and intervention strategies. Content: Topics covered in this course include the historical development of the concept of delinquency, theories related to delinquent behavior, and how theories influence and impact the development of juvenile justice policy. The course will also cover the structure and operations of the juvenile justice system, and examine recent legal reforms and juvenile correctional strategies employed by professionals today. Taught: Annually, spring
CJFS 1120; CCJ majors are strongly encouraged to complete CJFS 3750 prior to enrolling in this course Credits: 4
CJFS 3770Punishment, Corrections and Society4
Goals: The objectives of this course are to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the issues and methods of punishment and social control used within American correctional practice and to review the empirical research assessing the effectiveness of correctional practice. Content: This course examines theories of punishment and asks questions such as “Why do we punish and how much? Is punishment a deterrent for future criminal offending behavior? What are current correctional, sentencing, and punishment techniques being used in the United States and do they lead to a more just society? The course will also cover theories of punishment, the structure and operations of the U.S jail, prison, and correction systems, and explore current correctional policies and their impact on individuals and society. Taught: Annually, fall
CJFS 1120 or LGST 1110 or PSY 1330 or SJSC 1100 or SJSC 1110 Credits: 4
CJFS 3780International Crime2
Goals: The course introduces crime in a global context, including international crime, the avenues for bringing perpetrators of international crimes to justice, and transnational crime. Content: The course introduces crime in a global context, including international crime and the avenues for bringing perpetrators of international crimes to justice, as well as transnational crimes, including human smuggling and trafficking, the illegal drug trade, organized crime, cybercrime, piratry, and trade in illegal goods. Beyond this, we focus on inherently international (and contentious) issues in criminal justice including globalization, terrorism, drug trafficking, war crimes, human rights, and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
CJFS 1120 or GLOB 1910 or LGST 1110 or PSCI 1430, grade of C- or higher Credits: 2
CJFS 3785International Criminal Justice2
Goals: This course introduces criminal justice administration (policing, judiciary, and corrections systems) in a comparative perspective. Content: This course presents an introduction to criminal justice systems in a global perspective. We compare criminal justice in the United States to countries around the world to understand the interconnections between culture, politics, crime, and the administration of justice. We focus on the three stages of the criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections) and how these stages vary across nations.
CJFS 1120 or GLOB 1910 or LGST 1110 or PSCI 1430, grade of C- or higher Credits: 2
CJFS 3800Inside-Out Prison Exchange4
The Inside-Out prison exchange program brings incarcerated individuals and Hamline undergraduates together to take a course behind prison walls to investigate issues related to crime, justice, freedom, inequality, and other social justice issues. Both inside and outside students will read various texts and write response papers throughout the semester. Students will work together to complete a class project. The course will take place at a Minnesota Department of Corrections Institution. This course is open to all Hamline undergraduate students who meet the prerequisite requirements.
One of the following courses: CJFS 1120, CFST 1100, SOC 1110, SOCJ 1100, WSTD 1010, and at least sophomore standing. Additionally, all students must complete an essay and interview to obtain instructor approval. Credits: 4
CJFS 3810Topics in Criminal Justice4
Goals: To engage in an advanced study in a specialized topic in the field of criminal justice. Content: An intensive study of a specific area of criminal justice. Topics vary from semester to semester. Recent examples: Investigating Criminal Cases, Case Management for Court-Ordered Populations. Taught: Once per year
Goals: To recognize challenges to forensic science examinations and professional issues facing forensic scientists. Content: Accuracy and reliability of forensic science techniques; key legal rulings on the admissibility of scientific evidence; quality management; ethics; expert testimony. Taught: Annually, spring
CJFS 3400 and one forensic science elective with grades of C- or higher Credits: 4
CJFS 5660Senior Capstone and Internship in CJFS4
Goals: To enable students to pursue internships and explore the connections between criminal justice and/or forensic science knowledge and skills and experiences in professional workplace settings. Content: An exploration and application of discipline specific concepts to professional workplace practices; independent research projects and frequent on-campus seminars are designed to connect academic and internship experiences. Taught: Fall and spring
CJFS 1120, CJFS 3750 OR CJFS 3400, and senior standing
CJFS 5790Crime Policy Evaluation4
Goals: The goal for this course is to cover “hot topic” crime programs and policies from a practitioner and research perspective. This course will be both writing and speaking intensive. By the end of the course, students will be able to describe and evaluate both the justification for use and efficacy of special criminal justice and crime policies using the crime policy evaluation hierarchy. Content: Topics covered include, but are not limited to: Supermax prisons, juvenile waiver and transfer laws, drug policy, sex offender laws, and prisoner reentry initiatives. Taught: Every other year
