Overview
The relationship between police and society is fraught with challenges. On the one hand, police officers may be viewed as protecting and ensuring the safety of communities, but on the other, they may be viewed as untrustworthy and even dangerous. The purpose of this course is to establish foundational knowledge through the description and interrogation of empirical evidence and criminological theories shaping the relationships between police and the communities they serve. The course will include examination of the historical and current roles of police; police ethics, oversight, and accountability; current issues involving police patrol, use of force, crime prevention, and community (dis)engagement; and racial profiling. Whether you hold largely positive or negative views of police, this course should challenge your perspectives on the role and activities of police in society and provide you with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to assess what, if any, changes may be needed in policing.
Outline
The course is delivered over 12 modules:
- Module 1: The Social and Historical Context of Policing in Canada
- Module 2: Policing Structures in Canada
- Module 3: Becoming a Police Officer
- Module 4: Police Culture
- Module 5: Ethics in Policing
- Module 6: Theories of Policing I
- Module 7: Review
- Module 8: Theories of Policing II
- Module 9: Theories of Policing III
- Module 10: Private Policing
- Module 11: Contemporary Debates in Policing
- Module 12: Policing in the Future
Learning outcomes
Upon the completion of CRJS 385, you should be able to
- demonstrate understanding of the social and historical factors that shaped the development of policing in Canada;
- identify and describe police culture and ethical issues in policing and police work;
- identify, describe, and critically evaluate theories and models of policing;
- identify, critically evaluate, and respond to the current debates and challenges in policing and police work; and
- develop skills in reading, writing, and critically evaluating empirical research, with emphasis on the development of strong central arguments supported by evidence.
Evaluation
Your final grade in CRJS 385 will be based on the grades you achieve in the coursework/assessments. To pass the course, you must achieve a cumulative course grade of D (50 percent) or higher.
| Activity | Weight |
| Module Quizzes | 15% |
| Micro Position Paper 1 | 25% |
| Micro Position Paper 2 | 25% |
| Research Paper | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
All course materials are available online.