CRJU 635
Foundations of Law Enforcement
1. Catalog Entry
CRJU 635
Foundations of Law Enforcement
Three credit hours (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
This graduate course is designed to examine critical issues in policing. Topics for discussion will include (but are not limited to): the function of policing, historical perspectives, strategies and programs, the nature of policing, performing the job, ethics and deviance and contemporary issues.
2. Detailed Description of Course
I. The Function of Law Enforcement
1. Functions of police in modern society
2. Organization of American law enforcement
3. Privatization of policing services
II. Historical Development of Police
1. Emergence of modern police
2. Historical analysis of detectives
III. Law Enforcement Strategies and Programs
1. Elements of community policing
2. Problem-solving strategies
3. Kansas City preventive patrol experiment
4. Responding to domestic violence
IV. Law Enforcement Personnel Issues
1. The selection process
2. Police values and culture
V. Ethics and Deviance in Law Enforcement
1. Police discretion
2. Police misconduct
3. Learning police ethics
VI. Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement
1. Deadly force
2. Racial profiling
3. Legal issues in policing
4. Police stress
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Instructors of this course may choose among these methods of instruction and develop
others as they deem appropriate:
• Student presentations
• Group presentations
• Written activities
• Role playing
• Analysis of case studies
• Debates
• Class discussion
• Use of audio-visual resources and guest speakers
• Lecture
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role and function of policing in the United
States, including the organization of both public and private policing services.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the historical evolution of policing.
• Demonstrate an understanding of strategies and programs employed by police agencies.
• Demonstrate an understanding of historical and current issues concerning police
personnel management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of discretion in law enforcement and
the ethical dilemmas that can arise from its use and/or abuse.
• Critically examine a variety of contemporary issues related to law enforcement
in the United States.
• Critically evaluate a body of classic and contemporary literature in policing.
5. Other Course Information
None
6. Review and Approval
April 1, 2008