Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the law enforcement component of criminal justice.  Information will be provided on the role of police in society, and an analysis of the structure and organization of various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Students will be provided with an insight into police work not normally provided to the general public.  Examples include hiring processes, testing, background investigations and occupational opportunities.  This course is designed primarily for those interested in criminal justice as a career and/or desire to learn more about the law enforcement profession.
The course is a prerequisite to all 200 level classes in the Criminal Justice Program at Portland Community College.  Course work may relate to, but is not limited to, texts and journals, lectures, group discussion, videos, student projects, field trips, community volunteer work and guest speakers.
 

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Articulate major theories of crime causation and implications for policy and practice.
2. Compare and contrast organizational structures, policies, strategies and tactics employed to ensure police effectiveness, efficiency and equity.
3. Use official data to locate and evaluate crime trends.

Objective and/or subjective examinations, student projects or activities
and/or written assignments.
 

This course will address topics including, but not limited to:
History, organization and process of the CJ System
Nature of crime victimization
History and sources of criminal law
Perspectives of crime and violence
Law enforcement; past, present and future
Private sector enforcement and security
Crime prevention and community policing
Police: the roles, functions and responsibilities
Discretion, ethics, culture and problems in law enforcement
Searches, seizures, exclusions, detentions and arrests