CJS 255 - History of Gangs

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
Explore the historical formulation of gangs in the United States and those existing abroad. Students analyze the structure and organization of gang activity; the socio-psychological factors that influence people to join gangs; and various law enforcement practices to identify, prevent, and intervene in criminal activity through gang membership. Students study various law enforcement and correctional methods that effectively suppress gang activity and security threat groups, including witness protection, and therapeutic intervention for membership extraction.

Corequisite(s): CJS 111 or HLS 111 .

Note: Credit will not be given for CJS 255 and also HLS 255.

Course Outcomes:

Demonstrates the ability to properly interpret and apply essential information.
- Identify valuable information.
- Identify critical local, federal, and international laws governing gangs and security threat groups in jails and prisons.
- Correctly apply information to case scenarios, simulations and table-top exercises.
- Demonstrate basic intelligence strategies for identifying gangs and security threat groups in jails and prisons.
- Write valid and reliable reports, summaries and documents.
- Articulate ideas and opinions based on credible facts and information.
Examines, calculates and projects outcomes from various prevention and intervention strategies against criminal gang activity
- Learner applies proper decision making strategies to case studies.
- Learner articulates local and federal goals and strategic plans for preventing, intervening in, investigating, arresting, and prosecuting criminal gang activity
- Learner accurately applies information derived from essential sources of written and or electronic information to case studies, simulations and table-top exercises.
- Learner outlines the cultural and political climates throughout the world that influences the formulation of gang activities.
- Learner applies the scientific methods by organizing, analyzing, and interpreting information and data generated from local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies; intelligence agencies, and from the U.S. Military.