Law Faculty: Brad S. Miller, chair; Geoffrey Schwende, Milton Tharp. www.odessa.edu/dept/lawenforcement The field of law enforcement/criminal justice presents a challenging field of study for people interested in public service. The ever increasing problem of crime, as well as continued population growth, provides many opportunities to those who have prepared themselves through education and training. This program offers students the opportunity to attend an approved Texas peace officer academy and meet the requirements of licensure to be a Texas law enforcement officer. It also provides an avenue to obtain an associate in applied science degree in law enforcement. The associate degree program consists of both law enforcement and academic courses. It serves as the first two years of study for the baccalaureate degree in criminal justice or law enforcement in many senior colleges and universities. For further information, contact the department chair at 335-6500 or 335-6505. 166 Course of Study for Associate in Applied Science Degree Law Major Requirements... 46 CJCR 1304 LE Probation and Parole...3 CJCR 1400 LE Basic Jail Course... 4 CJLE 1303 Basic Telecommunication Certification...3 CJLE 1333 Traffic Law and Investigation...3 CJSA 1347 Police Organization and Administration...3 CRIJ 1301 Introduction to...3 CRIJ 1306 Court Systems and Practices...3 CRIJ 1307 Crime in America...3 CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law...3 CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System...3 CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation...3 CRIJ 2323 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement...3 CRIJ 2328 Police Systems and Practices...3 PLUS two courses from the following list... 6 CRIJ 2301 Community Resources in Corrections CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices CJSA 1325 Criminology or SOCI 2336 Criminology General Education Requirements... 21 COSC 1401 Microcomputer Applications... 4 ENGL 1301 Composition and Rhetoric...3 GOVT 2305 Federal Government or GOVT 2306 Texas Government...3 Mathematics: At least three hours from mathematics (MATH 1314, MATH 1316, MATH 1324, MATH 1325, MATH 1332, MATH 1333, MATH 1342, MATH 1348, MATH 1442 or MATH 2412)...3 PHED (any two one-hour activity course)... 2 SPCH 1315 Public Speaking or SPCH 1321 Business and Professional Speech...3 Humanities/Fine Arts: At least three hours from art, Bible, mass communication (COMM 1316, COMM 1318 or COMM 1319), English (except ENGL 1301 or ENGL 2311), history, any foreign language (except SPAN 1300, SPAN 1411, or SPAN 1412), music, philosophy or photography...3 Total Semester Hours... 67 Students must complete 67 hours as approved by the department chair to meet degree requirements. Any variance from prerequisites or any substitution of courses must have prior written approval. Texas accrediting agencies have designated 10 law enforcement courses as academic transfer courses creditable and transferable toward any law enforcement/criminal justice degree offered in Texas. Those courses are as follows: CRIJ 1301, CRIJ 1306, CRIJ 1307, CRIJ 1310, CRIJ 1313, CRIJ 2301, CRIJ 2313, CRIJ 2314, CRIJ 2323, and CRIJ 2328. Students should receive written confirmation from the college or university to which they intend to transfer regarding the scope and extent of acceptance of these courses.
Courses of Study for Certificates of Completion Level I certificates are Texas Success Initiative (TSI) waived. Level I Law Enforcement Major Requirements... 25 CJCR 1400 LE Basic Jail Course... 4 CJCR 1304 Probation and Parole...3 CJLE 1303 Basic Telecommunication Certification...3 CRIJ 1301 Introduction to...3 CRIJ 1306 Court Systems and Practices...3 CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law...3 CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices...3 CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation...3 Total Semester Hours... 25 Level I Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certificate The basic academy for peace officers is designed for persons interested in obtaining a peace officer s license and pursuing law enforcement as a career. The training curriculum segments mandated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) have been equated to four courses (20 semester hours) in the law enforcement curriculum. College credit for the six academic courses will be awarded for successful completion of the academy and will be recorded in the Registrar s Office at Odessa College. Prior to admission to the academy program, applicants must complete an application packet. All students MUST pass the reading and writing portion of the compass exam prior to being admitted to the academy as required by the advisory board. Students must posses a high school diploma. Students with a (GED) General Educational Diploma must complete 12 college credit hours to be eligible to enroll in the academy. Law Major Requirements... 20 CJLE 1506 Basic Peace Officer I... 5 CJLE 1512 Basic Peace Officer II... 5 CJLE 1518 Basic Peace Officer III... 5 CJLE 1524 Basic Peace Officer IV... 5 Related Requirements... 2 PHED 1106 Jogging and Walking... 1 PHED 1111 Weight Training... 1 Total Semester Hours... 22 167 more
168 Advance Technical Certificate Law Computer Forensics Students must have a minimum of an associate degree (or Junior/Senior standing), pass a criminal background check, and department chair approval prior to being accepted into ATC certificate program. Major Requirements... 28 ITNW 1454 Implementing and Supporting Servers... 4 ITSC 1325 Personal Computer Hardware...3 ITNW 1325 ITDF 1300 Fundamentals of Networking...3 Intro to Digital Forensics...3 ITDF 2320 Digital Forensics Collection...3 ITDF 2325 Digital Forensics Tools...3 ITDF 2335 Comprehensive Digital Forensics Project...3 ITDF 2330 Digital Forensics Analysis...3 SOCI 2336 Criminology...3 Law Courses CJCR 1304 LE Probation and Parole (43.0113) (3-0) A survey of the structure, organization, and operation of probation and parole services. Emphasis on applicable state statutes and administrative guidelines. The student will describe the professional qualifications for employment as a probation or parole practitioner; demonstrate skills in management and treatment practices; and create and develop community relations strategies. (SCANS 2, 3, 7, 9, 11) CJCR 1400 LE Basic Jail Course (43.0102) (4-1) 4 hours Provides instruction in human relations, observation, evaluation of prisoners, booking procedures, classification, mug shots, fingerprinting, strip searches, meals, medical services, visitation, inmates rights and privileges, detention areas, key, knife and tool control, disturbances, riots, fire procedures, and release procedures. Taught in accordance with the current TCLEOSE instructor guides provided by the Commission for course #1005. The student will comply with licensure requirements of the state of Texas; demonstrate skills in the care, custody and control of jail inmates; and demonstrate an understanding of legal issues, gender and cultural diversity, and stress management techniques in a local correctional environment. Completion of course qualifies student to sit for licensure examination. (SCANS 2, 7, 9, 11) CJLE 1303 Basic Telecommunication Certification (43.0107) 3-0) Topics include overview of law enforcement functions, history of public safety communications, federal laws regulating public safety communications, radio communication systems, radio operations, fire and EMS dispatch considerations, telephone operations, law enforcement information systems, communication records, logs and documentation, legal issues, emergency management, police emergency situations, 9-1-1/ computer aided dispatch, media relations, stress management, and crises intervention. Required course for law enforcement telecommunication personnel prior to completion of 12 months of service. The student will demonstrate radio operations, identify legal issues regarding telecommunications, process radio logs and documentation, prioritize emergency calls for management, and identify crisis intervention techniques. (SCANS 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) CJLE 1333 Traffic Law and Investigation (43.0107) (3-0) Instruction in the basic principles of traffic control, traffic law
enforcement, court procedures, and traffic law. Emphasis on the need for a professional approach in dealing with traffic law violators and the police role in accident investigation and traffic supervision. The student will identify background and underlying principles of the traffic law enforcement effort; describe the legal requirements which govern and control the making and enforcement of criminal laws and traffic laws in particular; explain the procedures to maximize the individual officer s personal safety during a stop, particularly in a criminal situation; explain the factors which influence the officer and violator during their face to face contact; explain the importance of meeting the objectives of a traffic program, i.e. reduction of traffic fatalities and prosecution of traffic offenses; and identify the various enforcement activities that lead to achieving an effective traffic program. (SCANS 1, 3, 6, 9, 11) Prerequisite: None. CJLE 1506 Basic Peace Officer I (43.0107) (3-6) 5 hours Introduction to fitness and wellness, history of policing, professionalism and ethics, United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, criminal justice system, Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, civil process, and stress management. This course taken in conjunction with Basic Peace Officer II, III and IV will satisfy the TCLEOSE-approved Basic Peace Officer Training Academy. (SCANS 6, 7, 9, 10, 11) CJLE 1512 Basic Peace Officer II (43.0107) (3-6) 5 hours Basic preparation for a new peace officer. Covers field note taking, report writing, use of force law and concepts, problem solving, multiculturalism, professional policing approaches, patrol procedures, victims of crime, family violence, MHMR, crowd management, HAZMAT, and criminal investigation. This course taken in conjunction with Basic Peace Officer I, III and IV will satisfy the TCLEOSE-approved Basic Peace Officer Academy. (SCANS 6, 7, 9, 10, 11) CJLE 1518 Basic Peace Officer III (43.0107) (3-6) 5 hours Basic preparation for a new peace officer. Covers laws pertaining to controlled substances, crowd management, personal property, and crime scene investigation. This course taken in conjunction with Basic Peace Officer I, II and IV will satisfy the TCLEOSE-approved Basic Peace Officer Academy. (SCANS 6, 7, 9, 10, 11) CJLE 1524 Basic Peace Officer IV (43.0107) (3-6) 5 hours Basic preparation for a new peace officer. Covers laws directly related to police field work. Topics include Texas Transportation Code, intoxicated driver, Texas Penal code, elements of crimes, Texas Family Code, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, and civil liability. Requires the demonstration and practice of the skills of a police officer including patrol, driving, traffic stop skills, use of force, mechanics of arrest, firearm safety, and emergency medical care. Also includes study of the techniques and procedures used by police officers on patrol. Includes controlled substance identification, handling abnormal persons, traffic collision investigation, note taking and report writing, vehicle operation, traffic direction, crowd control, and jail operations. This course taken in conjunction with Basic Peace Officer I, II and III will satisfy the TCLEOSE-approved Basic Peace Officer Training Academy. (SCANS 6, 7, 9, 10, 11) CJSA 1325 Criminology (43.0104) (3-0) Current theories and empirical research pertaining to crime and criminal behavior and its causes, methods of prevention, systems of punishment, and rehabilitation. The student will identify and explain the various theories of causation of criminal behavior; identify and appraise the avenue of prevention; outline the various research methods/methodology used in criminological research; and identify the categories and sources of criminological data utilized in interpreting crime trends. (SCANS 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11) CJSA 1347 Police Organization and Administration (43.0104) (3-0) Study of the principles of organizational structure and administration. Topics include theories of management, motivation, and leadership. Focus on a quality approach toward police community interaction. The student will identify principles of organization, administration, management, motivation and leadership; and describe the quality approach to community relations. (SCANS 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 11) Prerequisite: None. CRIJ 1301 Introduction to (43.0104.5124) (3-0) History and philosophy of criminal justice and ethical considerations; crime defined; its nature and impact; overview of criminal justice system; law enforcement; court system; prosecution and defense; trial process; corrections. The student will describe and explain the history, philosophy and ethical considerations of criminal justice; define the nature and impact of crime on society and how it is integrated into the criminal justice system; distinguish between the civil and criminal court systems; and interpret the relationship between the components of the criminal justice system. (SCANS 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 11) Law 169 more
170 CRIJ 1306 Court Systems and Practices (22.0101.5424) (3-0) The judiciary in the criminal justice system; structure of the American Court system; prosecution; right to counsel; pre-trial release; grand juries; adjudication process; types and rules of evidence, sentencing. The student will describe the American judiciary system and its structure; identify the roles of judicial officers; identify the trial processes from pretrial to sentencing; and interpret the role of evidence. (SCANS 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11) CRIJ 1307 Crime in America (45.0401.5225) (3-0) American crime problems in historical perspective; social and public policy factors affecting crime; impact and crime trends; social characteristics of specific crimes; prevention of crime. The student will explain the psychological, social, and economic impact of crime in society and identify characteristics of major crimes, the impact on society and the prevention thereof. (SCANS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11) CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law (22.0101.5324) (3-0) A study of the nature of criminal law; philosophical and historical development; major definitions and concepts; classification of crime; elements of crimes and penalties using Texas statutes as illustrations; criminal responsibilities. The student will explain the historical and philosophical development of the nature of criminal law; describe definitions and concepts of criminal law and the classifications of crimes and penalties using Texas statutes as illustrations; list the elements of crimes using the Texas statutes as an illustration; and discuss criminal responsibilities as they apply to the criminal statutes. (SCANS 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11) Prerequisites: None. CRIJ 1313 Juvenile Justice System (45.0104.5224) (3-0) A study of the juvenile justice process to include specialized juvenile law, role of the juvenile law, role of the juvenile courts, role of police agencies, role of correctional agencies, and theories concerning delinquency. The student will describe the juvenile law and the role of juvenile courts; explain the roles of police and correctional agencies concerning delinquency; and review and contract the theories of delinquent conduct. (SCANS 1, 2, 6, 9) CRIJ 2301 Community Resources in Corrections (43.0104.5324) (3-0) An introductory study of the role of the community in corrections; community programs for adults and juveniles; administration of community programs; legal issues; future trends in community treatment. The student will identify alternatives to incarceration; compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses inherent in contemporary models of intermediate sanctions; and appraise future trends in community treatment options. (SCANS 1, 2, 9, 10, 11) CRIJ 2313 Correctional Systems and Practices (43.0104.5324) (3-0) Corrections in the criminal justice system; organization of correctional systems; correctional role; institutional operations; alternatives to institutionalization; treatment and rehabilitation; current and future issues. The student will identify the organization and role of corrections; distinguish operations and procedure within correctional programs; and appraise rehabilitation, alternatives to institutionalization, and future issues. (SCANS 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation (43.0104.5524) (3-0) Investigative theory; collection and preservation of evidence; sources of information; interview and interrogation; uses of forensic sciences; case and trial preparation. The student will define the goals and objectives of criminal investigation; demonstrate ability to conduct proper crime scene investigations; illustrate the use of forensic science for various statutory offenses; and organize the criminal case including field notes, reports, crime scene activities and mandatory documentation of statutory warning. (SCANS 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11) CRIJ 2323 Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement (43.0104.5624) (3-0) Police authority; responsibilities; constitutional constraints; laws of arrest, search, and seizure; police liability. The student will define police authority and explain the responsibilities and constitutional restraints as enumerated in the Texas Constitution, United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights. The student will outline the law of arrest and search and seizure developed through court decisions and describe the criminal and civil liability that result from improper acts and/or the failure to act. (SCANS 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10) CRIJ 2328 Police System and Practices (43.0104.5724) (3-0) The police profession; organization of law enforcement systems; the police role; police discretion; ethics; policecommunity interaction; current and future issues. The student will explain the application of ethics, discretion, and sensitivity to the police profession and describe the organization of law enforcement systems and its relationship to current and future issues. (SCANS 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) Prerequisites: None.