Our criminal justice students at the Rensselaer Educational Center have been busy. Take a look at what students have learned so far this school year.

Criminal Justice I

Junior Criminal Justice Class

Juniors recently completed the Law Enforcement Unit and have started the Forensics/Crime Scene Unit. During the Law Enforcement Unit, students learned the military alphabet, military time, military decorum and how to use radio communications properly. Military decorum included saluting, marching and standing at parade rest and at ease. Juniors learned how to write a New York State Uniform Traffic Ticket as well as a New York State Arrest and Incident Report. They learned how to perform an arrest on both a compliant and high-risk subject, how to perform pat-downs and searches, and how to administer field sobriety tests on a DWI subject. All students reached proficiency in all practicals, demonstrated in their portfolio.

Most recently, they have learned how to dust and lift fingerprints, roll fingerprint cards and how to identify and match fingerprint patterns. In weeks to come, students will learn about all other physical evidence including analyzing blood spatter, hair and fibers and utilizing an alternate light source to find miscellaneous trace evidence.

 

Criminal Justice II

Senior Criminal Justice Class

Seniors recently completed the Law Enforcement Unit and have started the Forensics/Crime Scene Unit. During the Law Enforcement Unit, they have prepared for the written portion and perfected the arrest practical portion of the national exam, which will be in the spring, that leads to a Technical Endorsement. Students have also learned how to write their own resumes, cover letters and reference lists. These items have been perfected, printed and put in their professional portfolios. They have completed and are certified in the Mandated Reporter training with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, and students now have a second FEMA certification in their portfolios. Seniors have begun the APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator I Training. This is a nationally recognized 14-week training that certifies students to be 9-1-1 dispatchers.

Seniors are working on a six-week homicide investigation for their senior project. Each week they are given a folder with numerous pieces of evidence, reports and paperwork. They started with nine suspects and each week they must eliminate one or more suspects. Students submit notes discussing their thoughts, impressions and findings of the week’s evidence. Once the project has come to an end, students must write a paper that analyzes their work and critical thinking during the six-week period in addition to a probable cause statement for the correct suspect to charge them with the homicide.

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