CJ202 Policing in American Society

This course focuses on the role law enforcement plays in America. The emphasis is on general service police departments. Topics include the structure and history of police; selection and training of police officers; organization and management of police agencies; police operations and policies; officer discretion, use of force, and civil liability; ethics and police culture; community and problem-oriented policing; policing the drug problem, and homeland security. Students will gain an understanding of how changes and trends in society affect police operations. We will study the importance of formulating goals and objectives as they relate to police operations as well as how communications relate to police operations. Students will gain understanding of how the community effects policing strategies in their efforts to control crime.