Criminal Justice Classes

Purpose

• To prepare the student to enter the professions dealing with Criminal Justice.
• To equip the college-bound student with the knowledge to be successful in a college or university Criminal Justice or Law program.
• To challenge the student who is not planning to get a degree to be productive in a career in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Communications and other Criminal Justice type jobs.

Objectives

• Prepare a student to enter a Law Enforcement Academy well ahead of other students.
• Explore in-depth the system of criminal law from entry into the system to case to adjudication.
• To facilitate the needs of employment in one of the fastest growing areas of employment in the United States by:
  1. State recommended courses.
  2. Helping students obtain their high school diploma.
  3. Gearing class room instruction to the ideology of Criminal Justice in the United States today as well as historically.

Eligibility

The program is open to any junior or senior attending any of the Irving Independent School District high schools. Students are accepted to the program without regard to race, gender, religion, national heritage or disability.

Classes

Introduction to Criminal Justice

This course is a study of the basics and philosophy of the criminal justice system. Topics include:

• The definition of crime.
• The nature and impact of crime.
• An overview of the criminal justice system, law enforcement, court system, prosecution and defense, trial process and corrections.

Crime In America

American crime problems are studied in the historical perspective. Social and public policy factors affecting crime are discussed as well as the impact of crime and crime trends, along with the social characteristics of specific crimes.

Criminal Law

A study of the nature of criminal law is presented. The philosophical and historical development of criminal law is covered. Major definitions and concepts are studied. The classification of crime, the elements of crimes, and the penalties for the crimes, are discussed using Texas Penal Statutes.

Emergency Communications

This course includes information on the following topics:

• The history of public safety communications.
• Federal and state laws affecting public safety communications.
• Telephone and radio communications systems.
• 911 systems as well as media relations.
• Stress and crisis management.

Basic Jail Operations

Based on the T.C.L.E.O.S.E. County Corrections course, the student will learn identification and orientation of new inmates, inmate medical services, inmate visitation and processing procedures and the handling of uncooperative and violent inmates. Emergencies and fire procedures will be studied along with inmate release procedures, transporting of inmates and incident report writing.

Credit for Classes, Including College

The Criminal Justice program consists of a double blocked full-year alignment of classes. Introduction to Criminal Justice and Crime in America are for first-year students and the other three classes are for the second-year students. Emergency Communications and Basic Jail Operations are one-semester classes; Criminal Law is a two-semester class.

Upon successful completion of these classes, students may be eligible for college credit at a number of area junior and community colleges (up to nine hours). Students completing the Emergency Communications and Basic Jail Operations courses may receive a certificate of completion for these State of Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Officers Training Courses.