Administration of Justice (AJ Courses)
AJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or Eligibility for English 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer to UC, CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 110
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course introduces students to the characteristics of the criminal justice system
in the United States. Focus is placed on examining crime measurement, theoretical
explanations of crime, responses to crime, components of the system, and current challenges
to the system. The course examines the evolution of the principles and approaches
utilized by the justice system and the evolving forces which have shaped those principles
and approaches. Although justice structure and process is examined in a cross cultural
context, emphasis is placed on the U.S. justice system, particularly the structure
and function of U.S. law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students are introduced
to the origins and development of criminal law, legal process, and sentencing and
incarceration policies.
AJ 102 Criminal Procedures
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or Eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 122
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course provides an examination and analysis of due process in criminal proceedings
from pre-arrest through trial and appeal utilizing statutory law and state and constitutional
law precedents.
AJ 103 Concepts of Criminal Law
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or Eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer to UC, CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 120
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course offers an analysis of the doctrines of criminal liability in the United
States and the classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public
welfare. Special emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, the general elements
of crime, the definitions of common and statutory law, and the nature of acceptable
evidence. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to
criminal law. The completion of this course offers a foundation upon which upper-division
criminal justice course will build. The course will also include some limited discussion
of prosecution and defense decision making, criminal culpability, and defenses to
crimes.
AJ 104 Legal Aspects of Evidence
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 or eligibility for English 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 124
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course examines categories of evidence and legal rules governing its admission
and exclusion in the criminal process. Origin, development, philosophy and constitutional
basis of evidence; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest;
search and seizure, kinds and degrees of evidence and rules governing admissibility;
and judicial decisions interpreting individual rights and case studies.
AJ 105 Community Relations
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or Eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer to UC, CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 160
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course examines the complex, dynamic relationship between communities and the
justice system in addressing crime and conflict with an emphasis on the challenges
and prospects of administering justice within a diverse multicultural population.
Topics covered may include crime prevention, restorative justice, conflict resolution,
and ethics.
AJ 111 Criminal Investigation
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 140
Course Offered:
Fall
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course addresses the techniques, procedures, and ethical issues in the investigation
of crime, including organization of the investigative process, crime scene searches,
interviewing and interrogating, surveillance, source of information, utility of evidence,
scientific analysis of evidence and the role of the investigator in the trial process.
AJ 120 Juvenile Law and Procedures
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or Eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 220
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course is an examination of the origin, development, and organization of the
Juvenile Justice System as it evolved in the American Justice System. The course explores
the theories that focuses on Juvenile Law, courts and processes, and the constitutional
protections extended to juveniles administered in the American Justice System.
AJ 130 Introduction to Corrections
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or Eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 200
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course provides a critical analysis of punishment, the various types of punishment,
alternatives to punishment, and the impact of punishment on the Criminal Justice System.
A Critical examination of the types of Correctional institutions and the clients housed
in each institution.
AJ 150 Introduction to Forensics
3.0 units.
Advisories: ENGL 514 - Writing Skills 4 ; or eligibility for ENGL 101
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
C-ID Course Number: AJ 150
Course Offered:
Fall, Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
This course provides an introduction to the role of forensics in criminal investigations.
It examines the methods utilized in the forensic analysis of crime scenes, pattern
evidence, instruments, firearms, questioned documents and controlled substances.
AJ 189 Independent Projects
1.0 - 3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: Transfer CSU
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
Courses for students capable of independent work who demonstrate the need or desire
for additional study beyond the regular curriculum. Enrollment allows students to
pursue activities such as directed field experience, re-search, or development of
skills and competencies under faculty advisement and supervision. Independent projects
may be earned in most disciplines. Students wishing to enroll in Independent Projects
should contact the appropriate instructor identified in the class schedule. If the
project proposed is acceptable to that instructor, a contract will be developed. All
contracts for these classes must be completed and submitted to the Records Office
no later than the end of the second week of the semester. Students may enroll for
any combination (unit value) of Independent Projects 189 and/or 389 for a total of
four semesters in a specific discipline. Units are awarded depending upon satisfactory
performance and the amount of time committed by the student to the course. Allowable
units vary according to discipline, and are based on the following formula: 1 unit
- 48 hours per semester 2 units - 96 hours per semester 3 units - 144 hours per semester
AJ 315 Introduction to Criminology
3.0 units.
Acceptable for credit: D - Credit - Degree Applicable
Course Offered:
Spring
Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass
Theories of the causes of criminal behavior, focusing on the person and the group;
criminal behavior systems; the police behavioral response to criminal activity and
its nature and causes.