Genesee Course Catalog

Official Course Information

Please select a Course Section from the List below or use the Search box on the right if you know the Title.

Criminal Justice Courses:

CRJ206 - Criminal Investigations: Law and Process
Credits: 3 Catalog Description: Studies criminal investigative principles and techniques based upon rules of evidence and related appellate court decisions. Presents investigative methods, skills and procedures used in conducting major crime scene investigations. Examines the identification, collection and preservation of evidence, and case preparation for prosecution. Prerequisites: CRJ101 and CRJ110. Lecture: 3 hrs. Student Performance Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, as documented through writing, objective testing, case studies, and classroom discussion, the student will be able to: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts involved in a criminal investigation by: a. Describing the core objectives of a criminal investigation. b. Describing basic responsibilities when conducting a preliminary investigation and solvability factors used in the criminal investigation process. c. Explaining the process of note taking and report preparation and listing six basic questions that an investigator's field notes should answer about a crime. d. Differentiating between preliminary investigation and follow-up investigations. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the criminal investigator in the criminal justice system by: a. Listing the characteristics of an effective investigator. b. Discussing the qualifications of a criminal investigator. c. Examining the interrelationships that the criminal investigator has with others in the system. 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the methods used by criminal investigators to obtain information by: a. Describing the types of information that are available to investigators. b. Explaining the methods used in interviewing and interrogation. c. Discussing the characteristics of a good interviewer. d. Discussing the scientific aids used to obtain and evaluate information. e. Describing four characteristics of a well-written police report. 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the procedures involved in processing a crime scene by: a. Identifying types of investigative equipment. b. Describing how a crime scene is handled, the importance of crime scene photography and knowledge of five search patterns used when conducting a crime scene search. c. Drawing a crime scene sketch. d. Describing eight steps of handling various types of physical evidence. e. Discussing the elements involved in the courtroom presentation of evidence. 5. Demonstrate knowledge of the investigative responses to specialized situations by: a. Describing the investigation of crimes against persons including robbery, assault, homicide, and sex offenses. b. Describing the investigation of crimes against property including burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson. c. Describing the investigation of computer crime, organized crime, gangs, drugs, hate crimes and terrorism crimes. 6. Demonstrate communication skills appropriate to the criminal investigation field by: a. Communicating information orally in an effective manner. b. Presenting written information employing proper grammar, spelling and structure c. Constructing a crime scene sketch.* * This course objective has been identified as a student-learning outcome that must be formally assessed as part of the College's Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching this course must collect the required data (see Assessing Student Learning Outcomes form) and submit the required analysis and documentation at the conclusion of the semester to the Office of Assessment and Special Projects Content Outline: I. The Investigative Process II. The Crime Scene & Physical Evidence III. Criminal Behavior IV. Interview and Interrogation V. Fingerprints and Suspect Identification VI. Records and Report Writing VII. Robbery and Assault Investigations VIII. Sex Crime Investigations IX. Homicide Investigations X. Burglary, Larceny and Theft Investigations XI. Arson Investigations XII. Organized Crime and White Collar Crime XIII. Drug Investigations XIV. Terrorism XV. The Future Grading: A = average of 90% or higher on all work B = average of 80% or higher on all work C = average of 70% or higher on all work D = average of 60% or higher on all work F = average of less than 60% on all work Effective Term: Fall 2009

CRJ206 - Criminal Investigations: Law and Process

Credits: 3

Catalog Description: Studies criminal investigative principles and techniques based upon rules of evidence and related appellate court decisions. Presents investigative methods, skills and procedures used in conducting major crime scene investigations. Examines the identification, collection and preservation of evidence, and case preparation for prosecution. Prerequisites: CRJ101 and CRJ110.

Lecture: 3 hrs.

Student Performance Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, as documented through writing, objective testing, case studies, and classroom discussion, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the basic concepts involved in a criminal investigation by:

a. Describing the core objectives of a criminal investigation.
b. Describing basic responsibilities when conducting a preliminary investigation and solvability factors used in the criminal investigation process.
c. Explaining the process of note taking and report preparation and listing six basic questions that an investigator's field notes should answer about a crime.
d. Differentiating between preliminary investigation and follow-up investigations.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the criminal investigator in the criminal justice system by:

a. Listing the characteristics of an effective investigator.
b. Discussing the qualifications of a criminal investigator.
c. Examining the interrelationships that the criminal investigator has with others in the system.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the methods used by criminal investigators to obtain information by:

a. Describing the types of information that are available to investigators.
b. Explaining the methods used in interviewing and interrogation.
c. Discussing the characteristics of a good interviewer.
d. Discussing the scientific aids used to obtain and evaluate information.
e. Describing four characteristics of a well-written police report.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the procedures involved in processing a crime scene by:

a. Identifying types of investigative equipment.
b. Describing how a crime scene is handled, the importance of crime scene photography and knowledge of five search patterns used when conducting a crime scene search.
c. Drawing a crime scene sketch.
d. Describing eight steps of handling various types of physical evidence.
e. Discussing the elements involved in the courtroom presentation of evidence.

5. Demonstrate knowledge of the investigative responses to specialized situations by:

a. Describing the investigation of crimes against persons including robbery, assault, homicide, and sex offenses.
b. Describing the investigation of crimes against property including burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.
c. Describing the investigation of computer crime, organized crime, gangs, drugs, hate crimes and terrorism crimes.

6. Demonstrate communication skills appropriate to the criminal investigation field by:

a. Communicating information orally in an effective manner.
b. Presenting written information employing proper grammar, spelling and structure
c. Constructing a crime scene sketch.*

* This course objective has been identified as a student-learning outcome that must be formally assessed as part of the College's Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching this course must collect the required data (see Assessing Student Learning Outcomes form) and submit the required analysis and documentation at the conclusion of the semester to the Office of Assessment and Special Projects

Content Outline:
I. The Investigative Process

II. The Crime Scene & Physical Evidence

III. Criminal Behavior

IV. Interview and Interrogation

V. Fingerprints and Suspect Identification

VI. Records and Report Writing

VII. Robbery and Assault Investigations

VIII. Sex Crime Investigations

IX. Homicide Investigations

X. Burglary, Larceny and Theft Investigations

XI. Arson Investigations

XII. Organized Crime and White Collar Crime

XIII. Drug Investigations

XIV. Terrorism

XV. The Future

Grading:
A = average of 90% or higher on all work
B = average of 80% or higher on all work
C = average of 70% or higher on all work
D = average of 60% or higher on all work
F = average of less than 60% on all work

Effective Term: Fall 2009