Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology
Dr. Thomas Kersen
Interim Dean
Email: thomas.m.kersen@jsums.edu
601-979-2591
Faculty of the Department
C. McNeil, T. Kersen, E.F. Morgan, X. Su. R. Bullie, T. Hoard, and K. Lavine
Introduction/Mission
The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology is to advance knowledge and skills through teaching and research that will lead to a well-balanced education. The department seeks to develop competent social scientists and teachers while preparing students for careers in various professions. Our programs also provide students with the education needed to pursue graduate work in criminology, criminal justice, and sociology as well as other disciplines.
Objectives
The objectives of the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology are as follows:
- To teach students to think critically as they learn about institutions and processes.
- To identify the value choices and ethical considerations involved in decision making in the administration of justice and justice systems in a democratic society.
- To provide students with information and skills needed for employment in a variety of public and private service agencies related to society.
- To advance sociological knowledge and skills through teaching and research.
- To develop competent social scientists and teachers.
Other Requirements/Offerings
- Earn a cumulative academic average of not less than 2.0 (“C”) in all courses.
- A 2.0 GPA in Criminal Justice and/or Sociology courses is required for graduation.
- Students must also take the Departmental Exam in Criminal Justice or Sociology no later than the last semester of junior standing based on hours earned.
- Earn a grade of “C” in all courses applied to the degree in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology whether the course is required for the major or major elective course.
- An incomplete “I” grade must be satisfied within the first six weeks of the next semester after receiving the incomplete grade.
- Complete a degree evaluation in the department each semester.
- File an Application for Degree when cleared by the department.
Course Descriptions
The student of the major components or sub-systems of criminal justice systems in America. Special consideration will be devoted to analyzing Law Enforcement, Law Adjudication and Correction from a functional as well as an administrative perspectives. (F, S, Sum)
Principles of formal control devices, with emphasis on legal systems, philosophical background of criminal justice systems and Anglo-Afro experience. Introduction to criminal jurisprudence and a descriptive overview of present criminal justice components.
Examination of precedent setting cases of procedural criminal law in the United States and their application to American governance in producing a formal social control mechanism. Cases which develop the rights of the individual in a changing legal order.
The history of prison reform in the United States; the facade of reform, anatomy of reform efforts; elements of ¿real¿ reform, discussion of research concerning prison reform.
The American Correctional System. This course provides an overview of the rights of the convicted in the United States. Topics covered include: Conviction, adjudication and their consequences, attacks upon validity of a conviction¿past conviction, legal rights of probationers, prisoners, and parolees¿an overview; and state and federal remedies for enforcement of prisoners¿ rights.
An overview of the Juvenile Justice System in the United States and a case law approach to the topics of jurisdiction, adjudication, arrest search and seizure, preliminary procedures, initiation of proceedings, and the judicial process. (F, S)
A critical analysis of women and crime. Includes theories about crime causation, the women¿s liberation movement and crime and women in prison.,
Acquaints the student with the procedures and techniques employed in criminal justice research. Emphasis is on the scientific processes of social research, problem development, the role of theory in research, research design, sampling, data collection, statistical analysis, table construction and interpretation.
Legal problems from conviction to release; presentence investigations, sentencing, probation and parole; incarceration, loss and restoration of civil rights. (Emphasis on practical SOC 102 legal problems confronting the probation and parole officer and the correctional administrator.)
Techniques and procedures utilized in the supervision of adult and juvenile probationers and parolees. Preparation of social history, pre-hearing; and pre-sentence investigation reports. Emphasis on practical problems confronting the probation and parole officer.
This is a special workshop which informs students, practitioners, and citizens of the historical developments of security and the role of technology in recent developments. Focuses on loss prevention, risk management and safety for personnel in security.
An overview of management and leadership principles as applied to criminal justice organizations l(law enforcement, courts, and corrections).
Comparison of American Criminal Justice System with that of other federated nations.
Physical evidence, people, and documents; their pertinence to criminal investigation. Ethical problems; impact of legal systems on investigative process; elements of effective testimony. Lectures and case materials.
Role of criminalistic as a forensic science. Investigative and probative values of clue materials such as fingerprints, blood, firearms, shoe impressions, tool imprints, and glass. Advantages and limitations of instrumental analysis; nature of expert testimony.
Methods of tracing funds, recordkeeping, interviewing for detecting and resolving crimes, theoretical principles and applications of techniques.
Basic methods of presenting, analyzing and interpreting social data through statistical methods with concentration on statistical series frequency distributions, normal curve measures of central tendency, dispersion, variability, correlations, and such analysis of variance as chi-square.
Consideration of realistic approaches to selected law enforcement problems. Emphasis on establishment of beneficial relationship between law enforcement agencies and subculture group,
Philosophy and procedures of the juvenile court, dependency and delinquency; evaluations of juvenile court practices. Family law.
Designed for academic flexibility. Take the semester prior to graduation.
Counseling psychology with emphasis on principles and procedures; the theoretical foundations of counseling; casework techniques; therapeutic techniques and processes.
In-service students will have to do a minimum of eighteen weeks (one semester). Non-inservice students will be placed in agencies dealing with some aspects of Law Enforcement and Corrections to fulfill the three-hour requirement.
Seminar in current legal problems in Law Enforcement to be taken concurrently with field work. The course deals with issues arising from legal nature of the Criminal Justice System. Primary consideration of recent or currently pending U.S. Supreme Court cases.
This course is designed to be place students in various agencies related to criminal justice and social services. Students will complete a minimum of 240 hours during the semester.
This course is designed to place students in various agencies related to criminal justice and social services. Students will complete a minimum of 240 hours during the semester.
Data analysis and permission of the instructor. This course will introduce students to the basic techniques of crime mapping and analysis. Students will acquire skills for collecting, entering, and interpreting crime data using ArcGIS for crime mapping.
An introduction to the basic concepts and generalizations in the field of sociology and a descriptive study of culture, societal processes, social institutions, and the significance of group behavior.
A brief survey of some of the social problems prevalent in contemporary America. Attention will be given to their nature, type, causes, and collective action toward them.
The marriage-family system, a critical approach to the study of courtship, marriage and the family modern functions, characteristics, and maladjustments.
A study of the historical evaluation of community organizations, methods of securing community support, the ecological characteristics, the social processes and interactional patterns. Attention is given to agency organization and functions. Student participation in organizational practices and professional supervision.
This course will examine basic issues in the mental health service delivery system. Emphasis will be placed upon clients rights, mental health laws, goals of mental health systems, and areas of specialization. Students will study selected interdisciplinary literature as related to: (a) the psychosocial and historical context of mental illness and community mental health services, (b) problems and needs of target populations, and ( c) implications for health practice.
Encompasses factual and scientific information on alcohol and drug use, misuse and non-use. The physiological, psychological and social manifestations of the use of mind altering substances will be explored.
To examine the interrelationship of sex-role stereotypes and the translation of sex-roles into social institutions. It will provide a description and an analysis of the experiences of women in social and individual roles¿the social structure and social institution which both serve and are served by the differential treatment of the female/male roles.
Explores the philosophy and principles of the helping relationship including the theoretical orientation to counseling, techniques of counseling, counseling approaches and overview of counseling theories and techniques.
This course is designed to study the role of culture in the development of personality and the range of personal adjustments in the light of cultural variability.
This course focuses attention on basic alcohol content and exposure to the state-of-the-art alcohol/drug research.
An introduction to basic anthropological concepts and a descriptive and analytical study of selected cultural traits, patterns and themes found among contemporary preliterate culture groups, with emphasis focused on cultural similarities and differences.
Will be designed to offer insight into the socialization process of women. It is to pursue the process of adaptation, which starts at birth and continues for a considerable period in the life of the individuals. It will also focus on stress techniques used by women in every day life.
An introduction to basic anthropological concepts and a descriptive and analytical study of selected cultural traits, patterns and theme found among contemporary preliterate folk, and literate culture groups, with emphasis focused on cultural similarities and differences.
A study of processes of interrelationships and of stimuli as they affect individual and group reactions and behavior such as fashions and social movements.
An analysis of American social structure. Topics to be considered include criteria for differentiation, types of stratification, the composition of strata and status systems, mobility and consequences of stratification.
Special attention is given to types of cities. Consideration is given also to the rise of urbanism, suburbanism, the culture of cities, segregated ethnic areas, community and neighborhood organization and disorganization.
Concern with the basic principles and theories of social change, trends in the major societal institutions, e.g., family, government, religion, economics, and education, special emphasis on the roles that technology and invention play as factors in social change.
Sociological implications of urban-rural transportation network systems interfacing with the ecological, social political and other established social institutions in America.
An examination of various symptoms of social disorganization, such as individual maladjustment, and a general survey of the processes through which societies become disorganized.
To enhance the existing interrelated concepts of the family and women studies. It will offer a descriptive account of how women have, and still are, a significant force in implementing the major functions of the family which include: replacement of the species, e.g., nurturing its offsprings, initial status ascriptions tension management, household maintenance, cultural transmission, and informal education. Special attention will be given to black women heads of household with a relationship or the lack of a relationship to a ¿culture of poverty thesis.¿
Special focus on the problems of rural-urban migration of ethic minority groups and subsequent adaptation of them within the United States explored in terms of methods and perspective of anthropology.
A critical examination of contemporary social issues which have produced unrest in the cities. Emphasis will be upon urban problems in Mississippi. The topics to be studied will include poverty, housing, racism, riots, power structure, educational problems, and the community organizing.
A systematic investigation of the qualitative and mobile aspects of the human composition of the various nations. Special attention is given to the United States and those areas experiencing population pressure.
Consideration is given to the essential tools of sociological research; field work is given to the student to orient him/her in collecting, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting sociological data.
A comparative and historical survey of a basis concepts and theories in sociology, a critical analysis of trends in theory construction of early European and American pioneers in sociological theories from Comte through Weber.
A sociological analysis of the development of the modern family, its structure, its interrelationships in society, and its sociological functions.
Basic methods of presenting, analyzing and interpreting social data through statistical methods with concentration on statistical series, frequency distributions, normal curve, measures of central tendency, dispersion, variability, correlation, and such analysis of variance as chi-square.
A description and analysis of the race and ethnic characteristics of groups within the United States, with special emphasis on patterns of racial and ethnic relationship and factors influencing them.
This course focuses on the practical experience of conducting various survey techniques in data collecting, coding, putting data in the computer, and data analysis. Special attention is given to provide hands-on experience in the use of computers as the students analyze data by using a number of statistical techniques such as chi-square, T-test, correction and others.
Emergence of social organization from unorganized collect behavior. Conditions giving rise to crowds, mobs, riots, panic, social unrest. Attentions to dynamics of small group behavior, patterns of leadership, and formation of public opinion.
Critical analysis of research papers presented by the students. Methods of finding and organizing source and secondary materials..