Plan of Study – MS Criminal Justice Leadership and Intelligence

This course will explore the different policy options for the criminal justice system, with particular attention paid to the connection between law and justice. The course examines historically significant and recent crime and criminal justice policies in terms of antecedent factors, their impact on measureable outcomes, and their unintended consequences.

This course helps law enforcement officers—police, corrections, and probation—understand the neuroscience behind implicit (hidden) bias, and how unconscious brain processing is the dominant force that drives all human behavior. Learners understand brain development, as a means of helping officers identify obstacles that might be getting in the way of connecting with others. Learning these neuro-psychosocial concepts provides officers with additional tools to better resolve conflict, build public trust with the constituents in their community, and improve personal relationships.

Examination of the nature of the legal environment and the ethical issues that confront managers and administrators in a criminal justice agency: the underlying legal process and contemporary issues related to the decision-making functions of managers and administrators; the adjudicatory process (civil, administrative, and criminal); contract law. Analysis of current issues and controversies of our legal system including an examination of employment issues, such as discrimination, administrative agencies, civil liability, and vicarious liability. Emphasis placed on the ethical administration and application of authority to both internal and external entities.

Examination of various labor law issues as they relate to law enforcement/criminal justice management. Focus on public sector labor relations, specifically the Public Employment Relations Act (PERA), with some historical references to general labor laws on a national level, i.e., National Labor Relations Act. The course also includes applicable arbitration decisions.

This course examines the nature and scope of financial crimes and many of the tools used by law enforcement in the preparation of a financial case. Includes a detailed treatment of the following: laws which serve to aid in the detection and prosecution of these crimes, types of business records available, types of bank records available, an examination of offshore business and banking operations, and the collection and analysis of this information. An examination of the issue of detection and prosecution of terrorism financing and money laundering.

This course provides a broad understanding of the intelligence and analysis discipline relevant to the criminal justice system. Students will be exposed to the various aspects of crime analysis in law enforcement organizations. Learners will gain a deep understanding of how analysis is integral to policing through increased knowledge of crime theory and models of policing. Tactical and strategic applications of crime and intelligence analysis will be utilized to identify and address serious and organized crime. Problem based learning models will focus on crime control and recommended reduction strategies.

Today’s criminal justice professional must be prepared to address and respond to incidents of terrorism locally, nationally, and internationally. This course will provide an in-depth analysis of the various organizations of Homeland Security. Emphasis on technology, cyber-crime, transportation, border security, and risk management.

This course focuses on management of information security within organizations. Analyzes frameworks to define functions required of the IT network and ensures secure systems are used. Cryptographic tools such as symmetric, private-key encryption, and tools used to protect against port scanning will be applied to examine security risks. Evaluation of disaster recovery plans for compliance with internal and external rules and regulations will be explored.

An examination of various research methods in criminal justice in light of course work and professional experience. Students design professional agency-based action research relevant to the field.

Capstone course for the Criminal Justice Leadership and Intelligence, Master of Science degree. Students research an approved topic demonstrating their knowledge and critical analysis of criminological and/or criminal theory related to leadership, ethics, policy or intelligence, using approved research methods. Prerequisites: CJ 5050 and CJ 5530.