Outcomes
Analyze the foundations of the U.S. criminal justice system.
Evaluate civil liberty issues affecting all criminal justice stakeholders.
Evaluate ethical problems and solutions within the criminal justice system.
Apply the concept of procedural and substantive justice within the criminal justice system.
Examine the importance of mental and physical health of participants in the criminal justice system.
Program Overview
Graduates of the Criminal Justice (CRM) Program meet the minimum educational requirements necessary to compete for sworn positions at most local and state law enforcement agencies as well as, private security firms. With experience and additional training or education, there are opportunities for graduates to advance into areas of specialization and management.
Work and Employment
Opportunities include positions in law enforcement, crime prevention, probation, corrections, court records, communications/dispatch, and security/loss prevention.
More about the Program
It is important for students to consider their career goals when they begin course work in the Criminal Justice Program. Since the degree is also designed for limited transfer to select four-year schools, future educational plans should be considered when building course schedules. Some students have career and academic plans that are more directed towards transfer to a four-year school to earn a Bachelor’s degree in a Criminal Justice related field. For these students, completion of RVC’s Criminal Justice A.A.S. degree may not be the best choice. Instead, these students should consider completion of an Associate of Arts degree at Rock Valley College, using selected transferable courses from the CRM curriculum as electives toward the degree. Courses from the Criminal Justice A.A.S. curriculum that are transferable to a four-year degree are indicated with the symbol “+” in the program curriculum description that follows.
For more information about the Criminal Justice Program, contact an Academic Advisor or the Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice (815) 921-3317.
Requirements
Core Requirements
| CRM-101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM-105 | Police Report Writing | 3 |
| CRM-120 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| CRM-125 | Criminal Procedure and Civil Rights | 3 |
| CRM-127 | Ethics in Law Enforcement | 3 |
| CRM-130 | Diversity and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM-135 | Officer Wellness and Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| CRM-201 | 21st Century Policing | 3 |
| CRM-225 | Juvenile Procedures | 3 |
| CRM-281 | Rules of Evidence | 3 |
| CRM-282 | Interviews and Interrogations | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 33 |
Electives - Select 3 credits from the following:
| CRM-102 | Introduction to Probation and Parole | 3 |
| CRM-103 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CRM-210 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRM-260 | Police Organization and Administration | 3 |
| CRM-271 | Patrol Procedures | 3 |
| CRM-291 | Internship | 1-6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
General Education
Program Sequencing - Full Time
Term I
| CRM-101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM-105 | Police Report Writing | 3 |
| ENG-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| PSC-160 | American National Government | 3 |
| SOC-190 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Term II
| CRM-120 | Criminal Investigation | 3 |
| CRM-127 | Ethics in Law Enforcement | 3 |
| PSC-161 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| PSY-170 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SPH-202 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Term III
| CRM-125 | Criminal Procedure and Civil Rights | 3 |
| CRM-130 | Diversity and Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRM-201 | 21st Century Policing | 3 |
| SOC-291 | Criminology | 3 |
| SOC-295 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Term IV
| CRM-135 | Officer Wellness and Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| CRM-225 | Juvenile Procedures | 3 |
| CRM-281 | Rules of Evidence | 3 |
| CRM-282 | Interviews and Interrogations | 3 |
CRM-
| Elective | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |