CRIM 214 - Contemporary Use of Force Issues in Criminal Justice
PREREQUISITES: CRIM 110
PROGRAM: Criminal Justice
CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 3
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Fall 2022
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: This course provides an overview of use of force in the criminal justice system, including the appropriate levels of force under certain circumstances. Students will evaluate officer perception and psychological issues related to the decision to use force. Research on police use of force, including frequency, cultural and racial issues, community perception, and an impact on police legitimacy will be explored. Students will also review use of force procedures in a correctional setting. Additionally, case law and the legal standards for the review of use of force incidents will be discussed. Students will also review prevention and training techniques designed to reduce use of force incidents. Lastly, students will evaluate a deadly force incident through the lens of contemporary legal theory, psychological factors, and public perception.
MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course the student will be expected to:
- Evaluate conditions and circumstances under which physical force should be used.
- Discuss the relevance of an individual officer’s perception of situational factors and the decision to use force.
- Review contemporary concerns about the frequency of use of force incidents.
- Discuss use of force policies in a correctional setting.
- Examine research and statistical evidence of police use of force in minority communities.
- Analyze how police use of force can impact community perception and police legitimacy.
- Critique prevention and training techniques designed to reduce use of force incidents.
- Review contemporary case law and legal theory as it relates to the evaluation of use of force.
- Evaluate a deadly force scenario by applying case law, officer perception and psychological factors, with an assessment of the impact on public perception and legitimacy of the criminal justice system.
COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include - COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include-
Use of force Continuum
Police perception and the use of force
Psychological factors and the use of force
Racial and cultural concerns
Use of force training
Prevention and intervention techniques
Use of force and protections in the Fourth and Eighth Amendments
De-escalation
Use of force case law
Less lethal use of force methods
Deadly force
Police legitimacy
Public perception of the police
GRADING POLICY
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CRIM
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Grading Scale
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Letter Grade
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Percentage
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A
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90%-100%
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B
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80%-89%
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C
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70%-79%
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D
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60%-69%
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F
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<60%
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