Criminal Justice has a variety of meanings. Some scholars speak of the criminal justice system when they refer to the various agencies and individuals that on a daily basis deal with crime, victims, criminal offenders, enforcers, and all of the other individuals that are part of the criminal justice "system". Most agree that the system is comprised of three major elements: Law Enforcement, Courts, and Corrections. 

Some say that the system works, others point to many disparities, and others are even more vocal in their criticism. Some years ago, I was surprised to hear one of my professors state, "The criminal justice system is neither just nor systematic, but it certainly is criminal"!

This course will help you become more informed about crime and the ways that our system deals with it. It may also help you decide whether you will pursue a career in criminal justice. 

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the extent and type of crime in the United States. 
• Describe the basic organization of each of the major elements of the Criminal Justice System. 
• Describe the operation of the court system, from first appearance through trial. 
• Recognize the challenges of the law enforcement, judiciary, and corrections elements in today's dynamic societal environment. 
• Describe the variety of career opportunities available in the Criminal Justice System, and the methods for successfully obtaining employment within the system. 

The required textbook for this course is:

• Criminal Justice In Action (soft cover), Fourth Edition. Larry K. Gaines and Roger LeRoy Miller. 2007, Wadsworth/Thompson Learning Publishers

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Your course grade will be determined by the successful completion of the weekly assignments and discussion forums, quizzes and exams, according to the following points:

There are (2) proctored exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : llinville@nvcc.edu,
Telephone : (703) 323-3218
You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in Annandale. 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.