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 is an introductory (although thoroughly comprehensive) course that presents a broad survey of the criminal justice system for both criminal justice majors and non-majors. The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to the fundamental concepts, theories, methods, data, and references in the field of criminal justice in a fresh, exciting, and contemporary manner.

This course (and the use of the ancillary items, research, and projects) will help students to become more informed about crime and the ways that our system deals with it by providing a balanced presentation of the major issues, trends, debates, and legal aspects in criminal justice through a wide variety of perspectives. It will enable students to gain insight into the laws and issues affecting society today through the use of current up-to-the-minute cases, and will demonstrate the application of criminal justice to contemporary issues, such as:

• terrorism attacks,
• cyberterrorism,
• the death penalty debate,
• the use of deadly force,
• how theory plays out in practice,
• the human implications of policies and procedures.

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

• demonstrate critical thinking skills regarding the broad implications of criminal justice,
• enumerate and elucidate basic research processes, concepts, and techniques,
• expound upon the many ways in which new technologies are impacting the field of criminal justice,
• 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, the realities of these careers, and the methods for successfully obtaining employment within the system. It should also help an individual to decide whether they might desire to pursue a career in criminal justice.

The required textbook for this course is:

• Criminal Justice In Action (soft cover), Fifth Edition. Larry K. Gaines and Roger LeRoy Miller. 2009, Wadsworth Cengage 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.

This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course. If you have questions, call ELI at (703) 323-3347 or (888) 435-6822.

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.