• Government & Public Safety Pathways
     
    Note: The Law and Justice Pathway is designed to provide students with career focused educational opportunities in various public safety fields. Each course has elements which cover tactics, methods, and skills utilized by law enforcement and other public safety fields that should be taken into consideration when assessing implementation options. School boards should evaluate criteria, including discipline records, for student enrollment that account for successful completion of future background investigations required for entry into such careers.
     
    Introduction to Law and Justice
    43.4300091
    Students will examine the basic concepts of law related to citizens’ rights and officers’ responsibilities to maintain a safe society. This course begins with a study of various careers in public safety. The course will explore the history and development of law enforcement in the United States. Students will then examine the components of the criminal justice system, including the roles and responsibilities of the police, courts, and corrections. Additionally, students will learn the classification and elements of crimes. Students will receive instruction in critical skill areas including communicating with diverse groups, conflict resolution, the use of force continuum, report writing, operation of police and emergency equipment, and courtroom testimony. Career planning and employability skills will be emphasized.
     
    This is the required introductory course in this career pathway.

    This course articulates with Savannah Technical College’s Principles of Law Enforcement CRJ 104. Students receiving articulated credit must earn a grade of B or better in the high school aligned course and pass the exemption exam with an 80 or better. Students must enroll in the postsecondary institution within 24 months of high school graduation.
     
    Law, Community Response & Policing
    43.4350092
    This course emphasizes the structure of the American legal system while examining constitutional legal issues. Students will explore the difference between common and statutory law in the context of how legal precedent is established. The course will explore the rights of citizens guaranteed by the United States and Georgia constitutions. Students will also evaluate the powers granted to the police and the restrictions placed upon them by the respective constitutions and their amendments. Specific topics of discussion will include search and seizure, arrests, interviews, interrogations, and confessions in the context of criminal prosecution. Major emphasis will be placed on the role and decisions of the US Supreme Court. Students will utilize reading, writing, and critical thinking in the analysis of cases in a mock trial. In addition to legal issues, students will be exposed to advanced law and justice skills. Activities include tactics, methods, and skills utilized in the law enforcement field. Students will attain skills for dealing with disasters and emergency situations. The course culminates with students demonstrating their skills through participation in a simulated disaster scenario. The students are required to meet both national and intrastate professional guidelines as designated by applicable regulatory agencies such as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). Upon completion of the course requirements and the final disaster simulation, students may be eligible to obtain certifications in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support, and/or American Red Cross (ARC) First Aid and CPR.
     
    Prerequisite: Introduction to Law and Justice 43.4300091
     
    Criminal Investigation and Forensics
    43.4330093
    This course will provide students with an opportunity to explore the basic processes and principles of forensic science as it relates to criminal investigation. Students will learn the importance of the identification, collection, and processing of evidence and of its contribution to the criminal investigation. Students will learn of the legal responsibilities and challenges which the forensic investigator may encounter. Students will also learn of the role of the criminal investigator. Included in this course will be the importance of preserving and documenting the crime scene and enabling the investigator to analyze evidence and its relationship to the crime. The student will also study interviews and interrogations and how those statements are used as evidence in court. Students will express understanding of their knowledge by composing clear, concise, and thorough investigative reports, indicating a successful conclusion to an investigation.
     
    Prerequisites: Introduction to Law and Justice 43.4300091 and Law, Community Response and Policing 43.4350092
     
    Homeland Security
    43.4360099
    This course examines homeland security and terrorism – domestically and internationally. The development of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will be examined in the context of the global terrorist threat and the more general concept of homeland security. Emphasis is on the identification and understanding of appropriate definitions and concepts so that students may critically evaluate the threats present and the range of responses available in our democratic society. A basic overview of historical foundations will be examined. The relationship of homeland security to preparation and response and recovery mechanisms for terrorism, including goals, objectives, and strategies, will be explored. The importance of coordinating various plans and strategies among local, state, and federal government response organizations will be stressed. Great emphasis will be placed on contemporary case studies and interactive discussions. Students will review the roles and responsibilities of government agencies, non-government organizations, and individual citizens in homeland security.
     
    Prerequisites: Introduction to Law and Justice 43.4300091 and Law, Community Response and Policing 43.4350092 and Criminal Investigations, and Forensics 43.4330093
     
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Last Modified on March 30, 2010