Jul 01, 2025  
2021-2022 Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

CRIM 171 - Drugs and Justice


PREREQUISITES: Demonstrated competency through appropriate assessment or earning a grade of “C” or better in ENGL 083 - Reading Strategies for College  and ENGL 093 - Introduction to College Writing , or ENGL 095 - Integrated Reading and Writing , or ENGL 075 - Co-Requisite Integrated Reading & Writing 
PROGRAM: Criminal Justice
CREDIT HOURS: 3
LECTURE HOURS: 3
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Fall, 2014

The spectre of substance abuse has played a definitive role in the evolution of American justice for nearly a century. And the response of the criminal justice system is complex and controversial. This course introduces students to an examination of the subject title Drugs and Justice, with especial emphasis on policing’s investigative and enforcement response. The course surveys issues of drug use, abuse, and criminal justice policy in a society author Mike Gray characterizes as “Drug Crazy.”

MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be expected to:

  1. Understand the nature of the drug problem.
  2. Understand the history of drug abuse.
  3. Understand drugs of abuse.
  4. Comprehend the illicit drug trade.
  5. Examine the issue of domestic drug production.
  6. Explain the relationship of drugs and crime.
  7. Analyze organized crime and the drug trade, domestic drug-trafficking organizations, and foreign drug-trafficking organizations.
  8. Interpret drug control initiatives.
  9. Examine the issue of legalizing drugs.
  10. Understand drug control policy.
  11. Examine drug control through treatment and prevention.


COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include - Overview of Drug Crisis

Social Costs of Drug Abuse

Vice and “Victimless” Crime

Theories of Drug Abuse

History of Drug Abuse

Drug Categories

Economics of Drug Trafficking

International Perspectives

Domestic Marijuana Cultivation

Clandestine Laboratories

Pharmaceutical Diversion Drug

Use and Predatory Crime

Drugs and Violent Crime

Police Corruption

Money Laundering

Domestic Drug-Trafficking Organizations

Drugs and Organized Crime

Foreign Drug-Trafficking Organizations

Narcoterrorism

Federal Drug Enforcement

Drug Interdiction

Street-Level Enforcement Strategies

Drug Legalization

Critical/Special Issues in Drug Control

Drug Control Policy

Drug Treatment and Prevention
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)