Hot Topics in Criminal Justice
The American criminal justice system is in need of reform. We incarcerate too many people. We pay insufficient attention to scientific advances that can help separate out the most and least culpable and dangerous. We grant the police far too much power to use force and technological surveillance. As a way of thinking about dealing with these problems, this course examines two over-arching issues: What should we do with people who have committed crime, and how should we identify who they are? On the first issue, we will look closely at the nature and causes of mass incarceration, the death penalty, the lawfulness and usefulness of preventive detention and risk assessment, and the role of the insanity defense and neuroscience in assessing responsibility for crime. On the second issue, we will explore the laws regulating the police use of force, the growing role of technology and big data in facilitating police surveillance and detection and deterrence of crime, and the remedies for police malfeasance, including the exclusionary rule and damages actions.
The overall goal is to help thinking individuals assess today’s criminal justice system and consider ways of making it better. After completing this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the mass incarceration problem in the United States and why it might exist;
- Suggest ways of reducing incarceration;
- Criticize risk assessment instruments and their use in preventive detention schemes;
- Discuss the pros and cons of the death penalty, the exclusionary rule, and the insanity defense;
- Analyze the relevance of neurological evidence in a criminal case;
- Identify some of the reasons innocent people are wrongly convicted;
- Elaborate on the role race plays at sentencing and in police use of force, stop and frisk and consent searches and
- List the types of surveillance technology available to police and the constitutional principles that govern their use.
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Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Mass Incarceration
Week 2
Punishment & Prevention
Week 3
Insanity & Neuroscience
Week 4
The Death Penalty
Week 5
Police Use of Force
Week 6
Police Surveillance
Week 7
End of Course Final Quiz
FAQ
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Reviews
This course gave me a good, foundational understanding of criminal justice in the US that can be used to determine areas of interest for further pursuit. Well done!
This was super educational and very comprehensive. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the class!
This course was very informative and thoughtfully outlined in the various hot topics in Criminal Justice
Fantastic course! I have a degree in CJ and this was a nice refresher and I learned a lot, too. Very well-organized. I highly recommend!
