Homeschool: An Introduction to the North American Criminal Justice System

The Criminal Justice System in North America is complex; in this fifteen week course we will break down America's criminal justice system one week at a time. We will follow the following schedule to ensure that your student gains a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system, corrections, court processes, and even criminology will be discussed.

Week 1: Crime, Criminal Justice, and Criminology (what is it, differences, procedures, plus more). 
Week 2: Defining and Measuring Crime and Criminal Justice (statistics and studies)
Week 3: Criminal Law (civil, criminal, and moral wrongs, classifications of law, plus more)
Week 4: Criminal Justice Policy (the stages of policy development)
Week 5: Criminology Theory (a break down of theories)
Week 6: Policing (history, policing eras, accountability, plus more)
Week 7: Types of Crimes (Property vs. Public)
Week 8: Criminal Defenses (self defense, insanity defense, plus more)
Week 9: Criminal Defenses (inchoate offenses, criminal homicides, plus more)
Week 10: Courts (intro to the court system)
Week 11: Corrections (history of punishment and prisons and jails)
Week 12: Corrections (retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, plus more)
Week 13: Community Corrections (probation, boot camps, parole, plus more)
Week 14: Juvenile Justice (youth crimes, juvenile justice process, plus more)
Week 15: Completion of Class and Project Presentations (three to five minute presentation on a topic of interest)

This class is designed using a PowerPoint presentation and video/audio clips will be used when necessary to enhance the learning environment. This course is designed using a lecture based style, but open discussions per subject are encouraged. Students will need to have a working camera and microphone prior to class start; I would like students to be present in the classroom (if able). A class syllabus will be available to students prior to class start.