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 MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 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:

Understand the nature of the drug problem.
Understand the history of drug abuse.
Understand drugs of abuse.
Comprehend the illicit drug trade.
Examine the issue of domestic drug production.
Explain the relationship of drugs and crime.
Analyze organized crime and the drug trade, domestic drug-trafficking organizations, and foreign drug-trafficking organizations.
Interpret drug control initiatives.
Examine the issue of legalizing drugs.
Understand drug control policy.
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)