Administration of Justice
The Administration of Justice discipline examines the structure, functions, laws and procedures, and decision-making processes of agencies that deal with crime management, such as police, prosecutors, courts, and correctional facilities. Students take administration of justice courses to prepare for a criminal justice, criminology, or law enforcement major, to fulfill general education requirements, or for professional development. Career options include work in federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies and institutions, and private security agencies.
Contact Information
Department Chair: Patrick Connolly Dean: Al Taccone |
Department: Administration of Justice Office: Building OC3100, 760.795.6871 |
Full-Time Faculty
Patrick Connolly |
Associate Degree
Associate in Arts Degree
Law Enforcement
Students may earn the above-named associate degree by completing a certificate of achievement and the general education courses required for MiraCosta College's Associate in Arts degree (see Associate Degrees ). Students should meet with a MiraCosta counselor to identify required courses and to develop a written educational plan for the specific degree or certificate they wish to earn.
Certificate
Certificate of Achievement
Law Enforcement
As the criminal justice system responds to the increasing complexities of our society, education becomes even more essential for those seeking careers as peace officers as well as for law enforcement personnel seeking advancement within the field. The law enforcement certificate includes courses covering the most significant knowledge, skills, and abilities that better facilitate a student's success in acquiring and being successful in law-enforcement related jobs. In addition, successful completion of the certificate requirements provides an excellent foundation for transfer and the pursuit of higher degrees in law-enforcement related fields.
Required courses: | ||
ADM 100 | Introduction to the Administration of Justice | 3 |
or ADM 100H | Introduction to the Administration of Justice (Honors) | |
ADM 200 | Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
ADM 210 | Criminal Procedures | 3 |
ADM 220 | Criminal Evidence | 3 |
ADM 230 | Policing in a Diverse and Multicultural Society | 3 |
ADM 240 | Written and Oral Communication in the Administration of Justice | 3 |
Select at least 9 elective units from the following: | 9 | |
Introduction to Terrorism and Homeland Security | ||
Introduction to Computer/Digital Forensics | ||
Police Field Operations | ||
Organized Crime, Vice, and Narcotics | ||
Crime and Delinquency | ||
Criminal Investigation | ||
Total Units | 27 |
Courses
ADM 100: Introduction to the Administration of Justice
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in ADM 100H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course explores the roots of our current justice system and the interaction of its various subsystems (law enforcement/prosecution, judicial, and corrections). It emphasizes the organizational structure and legal consideration relevant to each subsystem. Topics include the origin of law, theories of crime causation, criminal procedure, and sentencing philosophies and alternatives. The course also introduces students to sources of criminal justice information and statistics. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for ADM 100 or ADM 105/SOC 105.
ADM 100H: Introduction to the Administration of Justice (Honors)
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in ADM 100.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course explores the roots of our current justice system and the interaction of its various subsystems (law enforcement/prosecution, judicial, and corrections) to each other and to the overall social system. It emphasizes the organizational structure and legal consideration relevant to each subsystem. Topics include the origin of law, theories of crime causation, criminal law, criminal procedure, and sentencing philosophies and alternatives. The course also introduces students to the research methodology and sources of information/statistics relevant to the discipline. As an honors course, it provides a rigorous and enriched opportunity for highly motivated students to lead seminar-like discussions and to conduct in-depth research and interviews about criminal-justice-related issues. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for ADM 100/ADM 100H, or ADM 105/SOC 105.
ADM 105: Introduction to Justice Studies
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in SOC 105.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of justice studies. Explores social, economic, and criminal justice issues by means of sociological, philosophical, and legal perspectives and methodologies. Students will critically assess the obstacles and opportunities central to the pursuit of justice in the United States and abroad. Topics of analysis may include formal legal systems, institutionalization of injustice, environmental justice, and genocide. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for ADM 100/ADM 100H, or ADM 105/SOC 105.
ADM 106: Introduction to Terrorism and Homeland Security
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
The course provides an introduction to terrorism around the world, to include its historical development from state sponsorship to a mode of conflict employed by subnational groups. Various theories of conflict and behavior will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on both international and domestic groups that impact the U.S., to include their histories, ideologies, motivation, funding, and operational methods. Current threats to the U.S. will be assessed especially as they relate to the use of weapons of mass destruction, suicide/homicide bombings, and cyber terrorism. The U.S. military, intelligence, and law enforcement responses to the current threat will be examined in terms of their effectiveness and the impact they have had on civil liberties, human rights issues, and homeland security.
ADM 107: Introduction to Computer/Digital Forensics
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course introduces students to computer/digital crime and abuse and the methods used to properly conduct a computer/digital forensics investigation. Designed for law enforcement investigators, corporate security officials, and network and computer security administrators, the course includes an overview of computer/digital forensics as a profession; the computer investigation process and related legal issues; the type and frequency of computer/digital-related crime; a basic overview of the Internet, networks, and network infrastructure protection; operating systems, data and disk structures, data acquisition and analysis, and technical writing; and a survey of computer/digital forensics tools.
ADM 200: Concepts of Criminal Law
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
The course explores the basic concepts of criminal law, including its philosophy and development, relationship to the U.S. government's structure, elements of a crime, inchoate offenses, and capacities and defenses. The course covers specific violations and legal issues related to crimes against persons, property crimes, organized crime, white collar crime, environmental crime, public safety and terrorism offenses, alcohol and drug offenses, and offenses against justice and public administration.
ADM 210: Criminal Procedures
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
The course explores the basic concepts of criminal procedure with special emphasis on constitutional principles that apply to investigative techniques involving search and seizure, electronic surveillance, temporary detention, arrest, identification procedures, and interrogation. In addition, legal issues will be covered that relate to initial entry into the judicial system, pre-trial, sentencing, punishment, appeal, and post conviction relief.
ADM 220: Criminal Evidence
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course focuses on the various types of evidence and the rules governing admissibility in criminal proceedings, with emphasis on the Federal Rules of Evidence and the California Evidence Code. Topics include relevance, materiality, witness testimony, hearsay, impeachment, competence, chain of custody, and privileges. The admissibility of evidence related to confessions, searches, in/out of court identifications, and other investigative techniques are also discussed, to include the criminal processes where admissibility is determined.
ADM 230: Policing in a Diverse and Multicultural Society
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course examines how diverse populations and multicultural communities affect the organization of law enforcement agencies and the relationships between police and the communities they serve. It emphasizes the history, issues, and challenges associated with policing in communities of diverse and multicultural populations, considering such factors as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, social class, and culture. The course also explores strategies for improving communication skills and relationships between police and the community.
ADM 240: Written and Oral Communication in the Administration of Justice
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
The course focuses on the written and oral communication skills necessary for success in the criminal justice system. Incident report writing, interview/interrogation documentation, and note taking are all emphasized. Oral communication skills related to voluntary citizen contact, crisis intervention, custodial situations, and testimony are identified and developed.
ADM 250: Police Field Operations
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course focuses on the duties and responsibilities of patrol officers, emphasizing commonly encountered tactical situations, techniques employed to address those situations, and the legal authorities related to such actions. Communication skills and the officer's participation in the criminal justice system from investigation to trial are discussed.
ADM 260: Organized Crime, Vice, and Narcotics
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course traces the origins and evolution of domestic and transnational organized criminal enterprises including gang activity. Emphasis will be placed upon the illicit business of organized crime concentrating primarily on drug trafficking and other vice activities. The course will explore organized crime's influence on society, law enforcement, and world politics.
ADM 270: Crime and Delinquency
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course focuses on the most significant types of criminal and delinquent behavior of juvenile offenders and the major theories and factors that may explain such behavior. This course examines relevant crime control strategies, treatment and rehabilitation programs, and the criminal justice processes applicable to juvenile procedures.
ADM 280: Criminal Investigation
Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
The course focuses on the fundamentals of criminal investigations, to include investigative techniques relevant to particular types of crime, such as data base searches, fingerprint/DNA collection, other scientific evidence, surveillances, lineups/showups, photo spreads, interviews, interrogations, physical searches, and the relevant legal consideration related to such techniques. Crime scene management to include chain of custody issues and available scientific tests are reviewed, with emphasis on recording, collecting, and preserving physical evidence. The importance of documentation and preparation for testimony at various legal proceedings is emphasized.
ADM 292: Internship Studies
Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.
ADM 296: Topics in Administration of Justice
Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 1 hour.
Lecture 2 hours.
Lecture 3 hours. (2105.00)
This course gives students an opportunity to study topics in Administration of Justice that are not included in regular course offerings. Each Topics course is announced, described, and given its own title and 296 number designation in the class schedule.
ADM 298: Directed Study in Administration of Justice
Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor and department chair approval and successful completion of 12 units of college work with at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Repeatability Rule: May be taken for a total of 3 units.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Laboratory 3 hours
Laboratory 6 hours
Laboratory 9 hours. (2105.00)
This course provides an opportunity for students to pursue a special area of interest in order to achieve specific goals beyond the scope of existing courses within the discipline. Students work independently and interact directly with an instructor on an individual basis and as prescribed by the Directed Study Agreement.
ADM 299: Occupational Cooperative Work Experience
Units: 1-4
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Cooperative Work Experience is intended for students who are employed in a job directly related to their major. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.