AUBURN – Three criminal justice courses will be offered this fall at Central Maine Community College. The courses fulfill requirements for the new associate degree program in criminal justice at the college.

“Introduction to Criminal Justice” (CRJ 101) will be held from 12:30 to 1:55 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or 6 to 8:55 p.m Wednesdays.

The course is designed to provide an overview of the legal system in America, including the history and evolution of law enforcement and criminal law, to the present status of the criminal justice system.

Topics will include the purposes and goals of the criminal justice system; the history and evolution of criminal law and the legal process; the role of law enforcement in a democratic society; the balancing of individual rights versus the protection of society; the manner in which the criminal justice system confronts terrorism; and the development and current status of justice policy.

“Introduction to Corrections” CRJ 110 will run from 2 to 3:25 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

The course is designed to provide an overview of the historical background of corrections. Topics will include the goal and purposes of corrections; the various past and current philosophies of corrections; the concepts and issues that determine the necessity for the development of the Maine Correctional Standards; the legal issues in corrections; the principles of constitutional law as it pertains to the 1st, 4th, 8th and 14th Amendments and the rights of inmates; the structure and functions of incarceration; probation and parole agencies; and management and treatment programs.

“Special Topics in Criminal Justice” CRJ 296-01 will take place from 2 to 4:55 p.m. Tuesdays.

The topic will be law enforcement ethics. The course will conduct an exploration of ethical issues and the justice system, including elements of moral and ethical behavior, principals of justice and theories of moral development. The course will also cover ethics of police, courts, corrections and modern issues in the administration of justice.

The fall semester will begin Tuesday, Sept. 2. Registration for these and other fall courses is now open to the public. Students may register online at www.cmcc.edu or at the registrar’s office (755-5292). The full CMCC fall course listing is available online.

The criminal justice program is designed with a three-fold purpose: to prepare graduates for entry level positions relevant to law enforcement, to prepare students for upper division coursework at universities and colleges where a bachelor’s degree is desired, and to respond to the growing demand of law enforcement employees seeking to upgrade their skills and knowledge base for career advancement with a college degree.

A distinctive feature of the program is the computer forensics option, which will prepare graduates for the growing field of investigating crime on computers. Students who pursue this option will also learn how to identify computer network vulnerabilities and technical methods used to improve computer security.

Applications to the criminal justice program are still being accepted for the fall semester. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and meet all standard admission requirements.

More information about the program, course offerings and admissions can be found online at www.cmcc.edu. Interested students are also invited to contact the admissions office at 1-800-891-2002, ext. 273, or [email protected].