Criminal Justice

Upper Level Courses: 3000-Level

CJ-3107 Criminal Justice and the Media:
This course critically examines the depiction of the criminal justice system in the media, including television, film, print and the Internet. Key research findings and theoretical approaches to studying criminal justice in the media are discussed. Implications for policy, public opinion and the operation of the agencies of the criminal justice system are examined. Prerequisite: CJ-1101/6 and CJ-2100.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3117 Crime Careers:
This course will examine a selection of criminal careers, focusing on a variety of dimensions. Specifically, criminal careers will be examined with respect to degree, frequency and progression of criminal involvement; seriousness of the offence, public reaction to the offence; legal responses and criminal processing. The types of crimes to be examined include conventional crime (such as theft or vandalism), violent crime, political crime, organized crime, occupational crime and professional crime. Prerequisite: CJ-1101/6 & CJ-2100/3.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3121 Race Relations and the Criminal Justice System:
This course examines the relationships among racial and ethnic minorities and the criminal justice system. The over-representation of minorities, such as Aboriginals, in the criminal justice system in Canada and other nations will be assessed using contemporary theoretical perspectives on implications of problems such as racial profiling at the police, court and corrections levels will be examined. Prerequisite: CJ-1101/6 & CJ-2100/3.

CJ-3130 Criminal Procedure:
This course surveys critical legal issues in the Canadian criminal procedure with an emphasis placed on investigation. The course considers the relevant Criminal Code sections, constitutional provisions, common law rules and recent case law as they relate to the powers of search and seizure, electronic surveillance, charging, arrest and detention, interrogation, and an accused's right to counsel and silence. The course analyzes what constitutional, common law and statutory remedies an accused can seek when evidence is obtained improperly or there has been abuse of police or prosecutorial powers. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of other pre-trial phenomena including bail. Prerequisites: CJ-1101/6, CJ-2130/3.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3133 Sex and the Criminal Law:
The main focus of the course is on the development of obscenity and the indecency laws in the Canadian context and in attempting to place these developments in a broader socio-legal context. The course thus explores theories underpinning freedom of expression, the development of anti-pornography law, the development of anti-indecency law in Canada and the development of the criminalization of prostitution in Canada. Prerequisites: CJ-1103(6) or CJ-2130(3) or POL-2315 (3) or POL-2410(6) or POL-3320(3) or POL-3315(6) or SOC-1006(3) or SOC-2119(6) or Permission of the Instructor

CJ-3204 Crime Prevention:
This course explores the history and development of perspectives on crime and crime prevention and critically examines the theoretical approaches within the field. The course also focuses on contemporary spatial perspectives on crime prevention. Perspectives from disciplines such as geography, criminology, city planning and architecture are used to analyze the relationship between crime, fear and space. Specific situational and physical environmental strategies of crime prevention are discussed. Prerequisite: CJ-1101/6, CJ-2100.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3205 Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice:
This course focuses on understanding and dealing with ethical issues that arise in the criminal justice system. Different theoretical perspectives will be used to explore the social and organizational processes that lead to corruption and abuse of power, systemic discrimination, and illegal behaviour by criminal justice practitioners. The use of case studies will provide a realistic picture not only of what ethical questions arise in the criminal justice system, but also of how sound moral decisions are made in response to them. Prerequisite: CJ-1101/6, CJ-2100/3.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3205 Professional Ethics in Criminal Justice:
This course focuses on understanding and dealing with ethical issues that arise in the criminal justice system. Different theoretical perspectives will be used to explore the social and organizational processes that lead to corruption and abuse of power, systemic discrimination, and illegal behaviour by criminal justice practitioners. The use of case studies will provide a realistic picture not only of what ethical questions arise in the criminal justice system, but also of how sound moral decisions are made in response to them. Prerequisite: CJ-1101/6, CJ-2100/3.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3400 Selected Topics in Criminal Justice:
This course studies specific topics in Criminal Justice at the third year level. Students should consult the department regarding potential offerings in a given year. Prerequisites: CJ-1101/6, CJ-2100/3.

CJ-3500 Interpersonal Violence & Abuse:
This course utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to examining interpersonal violence as a critical and complex social issue. Specific types of interpersonal violence to be covered include child abuse and neglect, child sexual violence, spousal abuse, elder abuse, date rape and other forms of intimate sexual and physical violence. The course includes a comprehensive examination of theoretical perspectives regarding the nature and origins of interpersonal violence as well as a critical examination of the effectiveness of the mental health, child welfare, and criminal justice systems approach to interpersonal violence prevention, intervention, and policy. Prerequisites: CJ-1101/6 and CJ-2100/3.
Course Syllabus [PDF]

CJ-3800 Criminal Justice Field Placement:
This course places students in a criminal justice or humans services agency. Students provide service to the community while gaining the benefit of practitioner experience. The course instructor will assist students int applying lessons leaned in the class room to their respective placements through structured class discussion, reflective journals and a library paper assignment. Prerequisites: CJ-1101/6 and CJ-2100/3 and written permission from the department.
Course Syllabus [PDF]