Foundations of Crime and Justice

This unit introduces core concepts in criminology, including how crime is defined and measured, major categories of offenses, victimization, and foundational theories that explain criminal behavior. Students will also explore the structure and roles of local and federal justice actors, crime scene and prosecutorial functions, and the social and economic impacts of crime to prepare for more advanced investigative and courtroom procedures in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze definitions and measures of crime by comparing data sources (UCR, NCVS, self-report) and calculating basic crime rates to identify trends and prevalence.
• Classify major categories and types of criminal activity (violent crime, theft, white-collar, organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism) and distinguish common offender characteristics and victimization patterns.
• Interpret foundational criminological theories (classical, social disorganization, biological positivism, labeling) and apply these frameworks to real-world cases and historical juvenile treatment practices.
• Evaluate the roles and responses of criminal justice system actors — including local police, federal agencies, prosecutors, courts, and crime scene responders — and assess the costs and impacts of crime on victims and communities to inform future study of investigation and courtroom processes.