Criminal Justice

Course Description

This course is designed for students who are interested in working in the criminal justice field. The goal is to teach skills that students can use in every aspect of life while focusing on the functions and duties of the criminal justice field. The course combines academic instruction with hands-on labs that compliment classroom instruction. Classroom instruction includes the history of policing, constitutional law, patrol procedures, criminal law, judicial process, corrections, ethical issues, current trends, report writing, and more. Hands on labs include training in communications and using radio equipment, arrest and handcuffing procedure, microscope examination of trace evidence, photography, crime scene investigation, evidence collection, patrol procedures, collecting impression evidence, use of alternative light sources, superglue techniques, and
fingerprint collection. Students will have opportunities to participate in job shadowing and community service at several local private and government agencies. Students will be expected to participate in SkillsUSA.

Course Objectives

• Demonstrate an understanding of the current state of law enforcement along with the need, variety, and extent of police services. 
• Identify ten police functions.
•  Apply the total crime index to compare and contrast the cost and effects of crime on society.
•  Demonstrate an understanding of the causes of crime.
•  Demonstrate the ability to evaluate current events and criminal proceedings to identify the roles of key players and the stages of the criminal justice system including: trial/adjudication, sentencing, punishment and or rehabilitation.
•  Simulate traffic stops, searches, and arrest procedures.\
•  Conduct a mock crime scene investigation. Follow the steps for securing the scene, photographing, sketching, and preserving chain of custody.
• Identify potential job opportunities in the field of criminal justice and the steps and training required.
• Understand issues of racial profiling, use of force and crisis intervention.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of Missouri criminal statutes.
• Identify issues in correction, probation and parole, and juvenile.
• Demonstrate an understanding of constitutional law.
•  Identify differences between civil and criminal courts and cases.
• Discuss current police issues including Use of Force, Racial Profiling and Community Oriented Policing.

Dual Credit

MSU

CRM 210  Intro Amer Criminal Justice System

CRM 215  Criminology Field Exploration

Industry Certifications

MOLESK

CPR

Related Occupations

Students completing the Criminal Justice program are currently working in emergency communications and as corrections officers in local jails. There are other opportunities to work in state level corrections. Students may pursue a college degree in Criminal Justice. Employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 7% from 2016 to 2026.

Related Occupations:

Police Officer
Corrections Officer
Probation and Parole
Conservation Agent
Police Dispatcher

Court Bailiff
Security Officer
Forensics
Court Personnel

Salary

Missouri: $47,080 per year
Nationally: $64,490 per year