Administration of Justice Certificate of Achievement

Program Description

The Administration of Justice certificate is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in a wide range of law enforcement services, including the courts, corrections, law enforcement, and private security.

The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program.  Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway.  It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.

Division

Social Sciences, Human Development, Kinesiology & Health

Department

Administration of Justice

Career and Academic Pathway (CAP)

Public Service, Culture, Society

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply knowledge and skills required in securing and maintaining employment.

  2. Analyze the interrelations between the courts, law enforcement, and corrections.

  3. Demonstrate the sequence of events necessary in determining admissibility or suppression of evidence.

  4. Demonstrate analysis of basic legal definitions of criminal law.

  5. Develop a world view that values why law enforcement is necessary in diverse populations and societies.

Program Map

GE General Education
O Available Online
Program Requirement
P Program Prerequisites

1st Semester

12 units
ADJUS 101
Introduction to Administration of Justice
This course is an introduction to the philosophy and history of the criminal justice system including the roles and functions of the local, state, and federal jurisdictions. Additional discussion topics will include the roles, functions and interrelationships among law enforcement agencies, courts and corrections as well as crime causation, correctional theory, analysis, and the social impact of crime.

Course Details:

  1. Departmental Advisory: READ 015
  • Transfers to CSU
    • ADJUS 102
    Principles and Procedures of the Justice System
    This course provides an examination and analysis of due process in criminal proceedings, from pre-arrest through trial and appeal, utilizing statutory, state and constitutional precedents.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: READ 015
  • Transfers to CSU
    • ADJUS 105
    Community Relations
    This course examines the complex and dynamic relationship between communities and the justice system in addressing crime and conflict with an emphasis on the challenges of administering justice within a diverse multicultural population. Topics include the consensus and conflicting values in culture, religion, and the law.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: READ 015 or eligibility for READ 100 as determined by the SBVC assessment process.
  • Transfers to CSU
    • One course from the following:
    This course covers the principles of various types of investigations utilized in the criminal justice system, including concepts of investigation, and the analysis, evaluation, preservation and documentation of evidence.   The course will also include dealing with the public, techniques for handling crime scenes, interviews, evidence, surveillance, follow-up, technical resources, and case preparation.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: READ 015 or eligibility for READ 100 as determined by the SBVC assessment process.
  • Transfers to CSU
    • This course examines the theories, philosophies, and concepts related to the role expectations of line enforcement officers. The emphasis is focused on patrol, traffic and public service responsibilities and their relationships to the administration of justice.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: READ 015 or eligibility for READ 100 as determined by the SBVC assessment process.
  • Transfers to CSU
    • This course is an examination of the origin, development, and organization of the Juvenile Justice System as it evolved in the American Justice System. The course explores the theories that focuses on juvenile law, courts and processes, and the constitutional protections extended to juveniles administered by the American Justice System.

    Course Details:

    1. Departmental Advisory: READ 015 or eligibility for READ 100 as determined by the SBVC assessment process.
  • Transfers to CSU

    • 2nd Semester

    9 units
    ADJUS 103
    Concepts of Criminal Law
    History, philosophy and the development of U.S. criminal law. Introduction to common law, legal concepts and codes.

    Course Details:

    ADJUS 104
    Legal Aspects of Evidence
    Origin, development, philosophy, and constitutional basis of the use of evidence; constitutional and procedural considerations affecting arrest, search and seizure; types of evidence, and rules governing admissibility; judicial decisions, interpretation of individual rights; and case studies.

    Course Details:

    One course from the following:

    This course provides a history and critical analysis of punishment, the various types of punishment, alternatives to punishment, and the impact of punishment on the criminal justice system and corrections. A critical examination of the types of correctional institutions and the clients housed in each institution as well as contemporary correctional issues are evaluated with consideration for diversity factors. (Formerly CORREC 101)

    Course Details:

    1. Transfers to CSU

      2. This course examines appropriate interviewing and counseling techniques in the correctional setting, including application with inmates, perpetrators, victims, family members, and witnesses.  Varying strategies are evaluated for use with client sidetracking, aversion, hostility, defensiveness, and crisis intervention with a lens for diverse client identities and needs. (Formerly CORREC 102) 

      Course Details:

        This course explores the history and development of some of the earliest and most well-known gangs in the prison setting and in the community.  The types of gangs, history, criminal activities, and motivational theories for joining prison gangs are evaluated.   Diversity characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and socioeconomic class will be examined as they relate to gang membership (Formerly CORREC 103) 

        Course Details:

          This course provides an overview of the operational procedure and policies for inmate and client custody and supervision within local, state, and federal correctional and detention facilities. Discussion and analysis of the relationships between and among correctional officers and staff, administration, inmates, clients, victims, and communities are investigated with special emphasis on impact of diversity issues. (Formerly CORREC 104) 

          Course Details:

          1. Transfers to CSU

            2. This course is the study of the historical framework, concepts, and precedents that guide correctional practice. Course material will present a broader perspective of the correctional environment such as the civil rights of prisoners, responsibilities and liabilities of correctional officials, the courts, and police.  Modern considerations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are applied to current practices.  (Formerly CORREC 105) 

            Course Details:

              This course is a study of the historical and contemporary view of the application of probation and parole procedures in the criminal justice system.  The impact of SB 823,  abolishing the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and in SB 92 which institutes county realignment for previous DJJ youth is examined.  This course material will broaden the student concept of community corrections and the rights and liabilities of a person on probation or parole. (Formerly CORREC 106) 

              Course Details: