This course is an introduction to the characteristics of the criminal justice system in the United States. The content focuses on examining crime measurement, theoretical explanations of crime, response to crime, components of the system, and current challenges to the system. It also examines the evolution of the principles and approaches utilized by the justice system in crime control and the evolving forces that have shaped those principles and approaches. The justice component structures and processes are examined in a cross-cultural context, emphasizing the relationship and partnership between the police and the diverse community populations. Students are introduced to the origins and development of criminal law, the legal process, sentencing, and incarceration policies.