Curriculum | Course Outline |
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Foundations of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Enrollment requires submission of a Request for Registration form. Description: All students wishing to pursue a career in public safety should begin with the Foundations of Public Safety and Criminal Justice course. This survey course is designed to introduce students to a variety of agencies and professions in law enforcement, private security, corrections, fire, and emergency management services. The course begins with an examination of the role and structure of the government and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic society. Students will then examine the components of the criminal justice system, including the roles and responsibilities of the police, courts, and corrections. Students will also explore the differences between the adult and juvenile justice systems and between the civil and criminal law. The course will also survey the roles and responsibilities of personnel in the private security and protective services, the fire service, and the emergency management service and discuss their contributions to public safety. Throughout the course the student will be exposed to key terms associated with public safety and criminal law. Introduction to Law Enforcement and Patrol Operations Prerequisites: 43.430000 Foundations of Public Safety and Criminal Justice Description: Students wishing to pursue a career in law enforcement will start with the Introduction to Law Enforcement Course, which examines basic concepts of law related to citizens’ rights and officers’ responsibilities to maintain a safe society and patrol methods and functions. This course begins with an overview of the history and evolution of law enforcement in America and covers law enforcement terminology, types and responsibilities of different law enforcement agencies, and various criminal justice systems issues. The classification and elements of crimes, the major criminal and traffic laws of Georgia, and crime prevention and detection strategies are also discussed. 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. Students will discuss various crime prevention and control strategies and techniques and critique each one. Career planning and employability skills are also emphasized. Critical thinking and problem solving skills and personal and professional ethics should be incorporated throughout the instructional strategies developed for the course. Constitutional and Criminal Law Prerequisites: 43.4300000 Foundations of Public Safety and Criminal Justice 43.43100000 Introduction to Law Enforcement and Patrol Operations Description: This course emphasizes the structure of the government and the court system and introduces students to the American legal system and basic legal concepts. Students will be taught the difference between civil law and criminal law and will examine the structure and processes of the criminal justice system. The course will explore the rights of citizens guaranteed by the United States and Georgia constitutions as well as the powers granted to the police and the restrictions placed upon them by the respective constitutions and their amendments. Throughout the course students will explore a range of constitutional and non-constitutional issues facing today’s law enforcement officers. Specific topics of discussion will include search and seizure, arrests, interviews and interrogations, confessions, and police misconduct. Major emphasis will be placed on the role and decisions of the United States Supreme Court. Students will be expected to think critically and logically and to discuss a variety of complex legal issues.
Criminal Investigations and Forensics Prerequisites: 43.430000 Foundations of Public Safety and Criminal Justice 43.431000 Introduction to Law Enforcement and Patrol Operations 43.432000 Constitutional and Criminal Law Description: This course will provide students wishing to pursue a career in law enforcement with a basic understanding of investigative theory, criminological theory, crime scene preservation, and methods of identifying, collecting, preserving, and processing evidence. Students will gain hands on experience in critical areas of crime scene investigation to include the collection and processing of evidence and the fundamentals of forensics science. Students will discuss various theories of the origins of criminal behavior, learn about organized crimes, and study serial offenders. |