Online Class: Criminology Basics

The criminal justice system is a living, breathing organism that exists to help protect people, maintain order, punish wrongdoers, and compensate victims. We call it a living breathing organism because it operates under many of the same principles that an organism does, it has a purpose, it uses the principle of cause and effect, and it has many parts that function independently. Nevertheless, to see the primary purpose come to fruition, it can grow or collapse according to a variety of circumstances, and it can be considered "sick" or "healthy" just to name a few. 

It is important to know, however, that the criminal justice system is not something you can easily point to and say, "That is the criminal justice system." It is not only an organism but it is also a concept, like political power. With politics, you can point to the White House or to Capitol Hill and say, "That is where politics happens." although everyone knows that political power stretches out from the White House and Capitol Hill into the very fabric of society, through our democratic process, in all levels of government (federal, state, and municipal).

In the same way, the criminal justice system cannot be pointed to, specifically. Instead, because it is a concept, the best you can do is point to one part of the criminal justice system, the courts, or a lawyer, or a police car, and say that that thing is just a part of a greater thing. 

The ultimate purpose of a criminal justice system is to maintain order. To achieve this, different parts of the criminal justice system use different tactics and strategies to help maintain order: The Constitution outlines rights of people, lawmakers create laws, police use patrolling techniques, courts impose punishment, and so on, all to help maintain order. 

The concept of maintaining order is just that, a concept. Will we ever get to a place in which we do not need a criminal justice system? Unfortunately, no. It can never be fully achieved in spite of what shows such as Star Trek, might have us believe. We will explore why this is the case later in the course. 

To "achieve" this ultimate, and by "achieve" of course, we mean simply to strive to achieve it, the various parts of the criminal justice system work independently, but together to create confines (laws) in which people can act and to proactively and reactively deal with people who step outside of those confines. 

Some of the proactive measures include education, socialization, community policing, and the threat of punishment. Some reactive measures include incarceration, capital punishment, fines, restitution, and loss of rights. Neither of these lists are comprehensive, but are simply meant to show you how the criminal justice system goes about trying to achieve its unachievable goal. 

Although the unachievable goal of the criminal justice system is to maintain order, that is not the intended result. The intended result of the criminal justice system is to have happy citizens who can live their lives peacefully. In general, this is very achievable, although it will never be fully achievable because the saying is true, "You can't please everyone all the time."  

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Business Ethics

Contract Law 101 - An Introduction

Legal Terminology 101

Course Motivation

Are you fascinated by the criminal mind?

Are you captivated by the processes, procedures and – most importantly – the results of forensic evidence and detective work?

Are you a big fan of “true crime” bestsellers and blockbusters?

Are you contemplating breaking into a career in the field of criminology?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you can’t afford to miss out on the knowledge to be gained from this online course.

It’s an exciting world – full of clues, criminals, and sometimes frustrating legal and ethical constraints, added to the heady satisfaction of knowing that at the end of the day, justice has prevailed.

It’s also a world that demands dedication and a sharp mind. It can be challenging – even downright tough - but it’s not once constrained to cops, the justice system or criminal justice.

Criminology Basics offers continuously open enrollment and offers you the chance to dive in and explore the inner workings of the police, courts, and the corrections system.

In the space of six lessons – everyone one of which is understandable and easy to digest – you’ll have gained a balanced, impartial “birds-eye-view” of both the legal issues and public policies that decide how (and if) the criminal justice system works.

There’s no need to site around, waiting for the semester to open. Enrollment is open 24/7 so don’t put it off any longer…

Criminology Basics is a great match if you’re on the lookout for educated insight into crime control, the criminal mindset, police related controversies, due process, life inside our prison systems and rehabilitating criminals – just to name a few.

It serves as an essential foundation for those considering careers in the fields of criminal law, business law, or behavioral science. However, it’s equally ideal for any criminology enthusiast hoping to gain a comprehensive understanding of how and why the criminal system works.

All course materials are provided by the instructor, so the only thing you need to bring with you is a high school reading ability.

Criminology Basics is broken down into six individual lessons – all working
together to achieve nine essential course goals. By the time you’re finished, you’ll have everything you need in order to:

·        Define the purpose and objectives of the criminal justice system

·        Identify the system’s supporting concepts

·        Understand crime in relations to it’s two major aspects – legal and behavioral

·        Instantly identify the structure of the police system

·        Truly understand the nature of police work

·        Comprehend police powers, citizen’s rights and their relationship to our nation’s constitution

·        Grasp the structure of America’s criminal courts and the roles of the players who are involved

·        Better understand the trial process, and

·        Achieve an accurate representation and understanding of our nation’s prison system.

The course comes complete with all of the materials and resources that you’ll need in order to excel. There’s no need to purchase any additional books, supplies or memberships.

Every one of the six lessons is followed by one or two assignments. These aren’t the typical multiple choice variety either – they’ll actually encourage you to form your own opinions and judgments regarding numerous issues. In order to successfully complete the course, you’ll need to maintain an average grade of 70% or better.