Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement is a pre-professional program designed to prepare students for career success in Law Enforcement. The program is offered at Jasper High School and meets two periods every day. Enrollment is limited to seniors in good academic standing. The teacher, a former detective with over thirty years experience in law enforcement, brings critical experience to the classroom. Strong public safety resources are utilized to expose students to a broad range of career opportunities and experiences. Law Enforcement professionals come from many backgrounds, either straight into the workforce at age twenty-one, from a college program, or from the military. Students leave the class with a clear understanding of which route they plan to pursue.

The curriculum comes from a college-level Criminology textbook used by the Indiana Academy and a book of the Indiana State Code of Law. Emphasis is placed on understanding all aspects of the industry, a personal understanding of legal issues, our court systems, issues faced by professional law enforcement officers, and understanding entry level requirements of jobs from correctional officer or jailer to FBI and Homeland Security. A variety of special speakers are utilized. Students are given weekly spelling test to emphasis vocabulary and spelling. Students also use some modern technologies that include a state-of-the-art virtual firing range. Physical activity is required including a study of self-defense. Students have the opportunity to earn a CPR/AED certification.

Recent national events have highlighted the honor, importance, prestige, and personal satisfaction available in law enforcement and related careers.  Many areas of law enforcement are projected to suffer shortages over the next ten years.  This program directly addresses that need. Virtually every Indiana College has Law Enforcement and Criminology majors and often includes a student-campus police force. Students interested in college, military, or local and state law enforcement agencies would benefit from this program.