Administration of Justice Studies (AJS)
An introduction to crime and society's responses to it. Examines the nature and causes of crime, the criminal law, constitutional safeguards, and the organization and operation of the criminal justice system including the police, courts, jails, prisons, probation and parole departments, and community corrections agencies. Covers the history of the criminal justice system, terminology and career opportunities. Prerequisites: None.
Training program for limited authority peace officers, leading to certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AzPOST - The statutory agency for certifying peace officers - all person with arrest powers - in Arizona.) Includes introduction to Law Enforcement, Law and legal matters, patrol procedures, traffic control, and police proficiency skills. Prerequisites: Student must comply with AzPOST employment standards for peace officers.
Covers philosophy of legal sanctions and historical development from the common law to modern American criminal law, classifications of crimes, elements of and parties to crimes, general definition of crimes, common defenses utilized. Includes specific offenses and the essential elements of each offense. Prerequisites: None.
Focus on changing the distribution of crime opportunities rather than offender motivation. Topics include application of situational crime prevention strategies, problem-oriented crime control approaches, hot spots policing, and crime prevention through environmental design. Prerequisites: None.
Provides literacy in microcomputer applications in major areas of the criminal justice system. Examines availability and uses of current software packages in criminal justice work. Provides hands-on experience with appropriate integrated software packages pertaining to justice studies. Prerequisites: None.
Introduces and explores ethical issues and the justice system. Focuses on ethics and the law, the police, courts and corrections. Reviews ethical theory, concepts and practices as they relate to administration of justice. Explores issues of how media/social media shape ethics. Encourages critical thinking and value decision making in criminal justice system situations. Prerequisites: None.
An examination of correctional institutions with an emphasis on personnel and security measures, care and treatment programs and institutional planning. The criminal justice system and matters of custody and treatment. Inmate subcultures, and organized crime in correctional institutions and jails. Prerequisites: None.
Fundamentals of emergency response to suspected terrorist events. Historical perspective of terrorist activities and methods by which responders can identify and protect themselves and the public from these threats. Coordination of responding agencies. Prerequisites: None.
Emergency preparedness related to natural and man-made disasters. Planning concepts and the planning process; awareness and education programs and strategies for the general community as well as business and industries. Prerequisites: None.
Emergency management systems including career opportunities, function, tasks and responsibilities of the emergency management program manager, role of the emergency manager in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Past civil defense and current emergency management systems since evolution from World War II. Prerequisites: None.
Knowledge and skills required to develop programs to reduce losses from future disasters, emergencies, and other extreme events caused by natural and man-made hazards. Prerequisites: None.
Moral aspects, legal provisions, safety precautions and restrictions covering the use of firearms, and the firing of sidearms. Prerequisites: None.
Advanced familiarization with handguns. Variations of basic shooting stance. Legal and moral repercussions of self-defense. Includes range practice. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in AJS151 or equivalent certified firearms training as reviewed by the Department.
Familiarization with different types of long weapons and associated ammunition. Emphasis on safety techniques for use and storage of weapons. Limited use of range for practice. Prerequisites: None.
Explores domestic violence as a social problem within the United States from historical, cultural, political, legal, and law enforcement perspectives. Provides an overview of theories, definitions and causes of, and interventions for domestic violence involving spousal, elder and child abuse along with teen dating violence. Examines the dynamics and effects of domestic violence. Addresses research issues and contemporary domestic violence policy. Prerequisites: None.
An overview of the history, structure, goals, and activities of domestic and international terrorist groups. Explores theories explaining terrorism and reviews methods used to combat it. Prerequisites: None.
Examines current issues, techniques and trends in the Criminal Justice System. Prerequisites: None.
A practical insight into the rules of evidence to include how to recognize evidence: the general rules governing admissibility of evidence; the hearsay rule and its exceptions; the use of documentary evidence, written memoranda, photographs, recordings and electronic surveillance; corpus delicti; opinion evidence, circumstantial evidence, evidential privileges. Prerequisites: None.
A continuation of the basic, entry-level training program leading to full authority peace officer certification as required by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board I (AzPOST). Subjects to include: Patrol Procedure, Accident Investigation, Records and Report Writing, Community Relations, Criminal Investigations, and Officer Survival. Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in AJS/LEO102 or AzPost Limited Authority Peace Officer certification.
Overview of effective communication for criminal justice agencies. Covers the communication process and flow. Written communication emphasized with report writing, including characteristics of reports and field notes, and the importance and uses of each. Form, style, and procedures for writing various reports, including elements of composition, required substance, proper and improper conclusions, and descriptions of persons and property. Prerequisites: None.
An examination of the U.S. Constitution as it relates to the law enforcement function. Includes statutory law and judicial decisions governing the areas of arrest, search and seizure, interrogations and confessions, self-incrimination and other constitutional guarantees. Required in AJS curriculum. Prerequisites: None.
Examines the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency to the present. Including but not limited to the history, jurisdictions, terminology, procedures, and institutions of the juvenile justice system. Prerequisites: None.
Covers the fundamental principles of fingerprints, including the history of fingerprint classification, the biology of friction ridge skin, pattern analysis, comparison, and identification as well as their application in significant court cases. Also includes techniques for obtaining inked prints and developing and preserving latent prints. Prerequisites: None.
The use of photography and other aids in identification and preservation of evidence such as fingerprints, footprints and impressions. Techniques in crime scene and traffic accident photography. Prerequisites: None.
The scientific analysis and examination of physical evidence with emphasis on scientific investigation, recognition, collection, and preservation of evidence. Topics include fingerprints, shoe prints, tool marks, firearms identification, paint chips and arson. Prerequisites: None.
The scientific analysis and examination of biological evidence with emphasis on collection and preservation of evidence. Topics discussed include blood, drugs, blood alcohol, hairs and fibers, and topics of special interest in criminalistics. Prerequisites: None.
Scientific analysis and examination of physical evidence with emphasis on scientific investigation, recognition, collection, and preservation of evidence. Fingerprints, shoe prints, tool marks, firearms identification, paint chips and arson. Prerequisites: None.
Study of deviance, society's role in defining behavior; theories of criminality and the economic, social, and psychological impact of crime; relationships between statistics and crime trends. Examines crime victimization and the various types of crime and categories of offenders. Required in the AJS curriculum. Prerequisites: None.
Theories of procedures and methods of operations of public police with emphasis on discretionary powers available to the working police officer. Career opportunities and current trends in law enforcement presented. Prerequisites: None.
Examines the history and development of correctional theories and institutions. Prerequisites: None.
Emphasis on proper procedure for photographing crime scenes, accident scenes, and laboratory specimens. Discussion of photographic techniques, equipment, lighting techniques, aerial photography, video and motion pictures, macro and micro photography, filters, and preparation for court presentation using selected simulations. Prerequisites: None.
Examines techniques used to reconstruct the physical actions that occurred at a crime or accident scene. Involves the use of physical, testimonial, and documentary evidence, knowledge of criminal modus operandi and the scientific method, including deductive and inductive logic. Includes analysis of case studies. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in AJS215 or AJS216 or AJS219 or AJS275 or FOR105 or permission of Instructor.
An introduction to methods police, court and correctional personnel employ specific to the mentally ill. Covers various types of mental illnesses, police emergency responses, how criminal and civil courts deal with the mentally ill, diversion programs and the correctional response both within the community and under confinement. Prerequisites: None.
Victimology, the criminal justice system, techniques of crisis intervention and management, and the importance of a multicultural and global perspective. Includes violent crimes, sexual assault, family violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, the role of substance abuse, developing effective coping skills of victims and responders, appropriate community resources, and the cultural responsiveness of the justice system.
Concerned with the understanding of procedural criminal law. Examines the processes and procedures followed by law enforcement, attorneys, and the courts in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders. Examines the rationale underlying major court holdings impacting the criminal justice process, the procedural requirements that stem from these holdings and their effect on the daily operations of the criminal justice system. Prerequisites: None.
Examination, recognition and understanding of community problems; community action programs; methods of coping with human behavior, victimology, conflict and communication; ethnic and minority cultures and environments; the community and relationships with the criminal justice system. Prerequisites: None.
Introduction to the theory of criminal investigation. Examines crime scene procedures, case preparation, interviewing, and basic investigative techniques. Prerequisites: None.
Phase I of the training program for peace officers, leading to certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AzPOST), the statutory agency for certifying peace officers in Arizona. Covers current industry-specific training including expectations of recruits in the areas of academics, physical fitness, mental, and emotional preparation. Emphasis on professional and ethical behavior. Prerequisites: Students must comply with AzPOST standards for peace officers. Course Notes: Successful completion of this course and appointment by an agency qualifies students for limited authority certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AzPOST), the statutory agency for certifying peace officers in Arizona.
Phase II of the training program for peace officers, leading to certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AzPOST), the statutory agency for certifying peace officers in Arizona. Covers current industry-specific training including expectations of recruits in the areas of academics, physical fitness, mental, and emotional preparation. Emphasis on professional and ethical behavior. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in AJS/LET280AA or permission of Program Director. Course Notes: Successful completion of this course and appointment by an agency qualifies students for full authority certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AzPOST), the statutory agency for certifying peace officers in Arizona.
Examines issues related to the use of force by and against police officers. Explores police use of force decision-making options. Reviews recent changes in Arizona law relative to police officers. Prerequisites: Permission of Department or Division.
Courtroom demeanor and protocol. Role and primary functions of witness and legal counsels. Prerequisites: None.