CRIM 136 - Communication in Criminal Justice

3 Credit: (3 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 3 Contact Hours:

This course addresses the communication needs of persons working in the field of criminal justice. It approaches communication as a continuing process of receiving and transmitting information between individuals, groups, and agencies. The course focuses on the unique responsibilities to perceive, evaluate, document, and disseminate information. Students examine the relationship between oral, written, and multimedia communication and their appropriate use in criminal justice environments. It is applicable for all criminal justice students.
Semesters Offered: fall semesters

Course Goals/ Objectives/ Competencies:
Goal 1: Understand personal communication needs for criminal justice careers.

Build professional portfolio.
Explain how human senses correlate to gathering information in the criminal justice field.
Explain Maslow’s Hierarchy and how it effects employees in the criminal justice field.

Goal 2: Describe law enforcement communication requirements.

Demonstrate the field note taking process.
Demonstrate differences between an interview and interrogation.
Prepare various communication reports.

Goal 3: Understand correctional communication requirements.

Demonstrate basic booking/intake procedures and documentation.
Examine how to verify the ID of representatives from other agencies.
Inventory an inmate’s personal property.

Goal 4: Demonstrate legal testimony techniques.

Explain the process of preparing for testimony.
Demonstrate answering questions in a formalized setting.
Examine differences between testifying, submitting a matter of record, or participating in a deposition.