Criminal Justice Program
West Covina Campus

This course explores private security through an in-depth examination of the various operations conducted by private security professionals. Students explore the origin and history of private security and evaluate the business and ethical concepts involved in security. Potential civil and criminal liability issues as well as the legal powers of private security officers are covered. The fields of Private Security are compared and contrasted. In addition, students are trained on legal aspects, Patrol techniques, Report Writing, liability, and company requirements relating to the arrest of an individual utilizing the Department of Consumer Affairs' Powers of Arrest Training Manual. There are no prerequisites.

This course explores the programs, services, facilities, and organizations responsible for managing people accused, or convicted, of committing crimes. Students will compare and contrast theories of corrections as well as develop practical skills in prisoner management. The difference between detention facilities, Jail facilities, and correctional facilities will be identified. Ethical and legal implications faced in corrections and detention systems will also be assessed. In addition, students are trained in the use of Handcuffs, ankle cuffs, Chemical Agents and how to apply, decontaminate, document, and report them. There are no prerequisites.

In this course students will practice and develop skills in basic forensic and crime scene processing activities that may be used to investigate crimes and accidents, or for other risk management related investigations on scene. Students will learn the fundamentals of recovering fingerprints, blood spatter, ballistics, crime scene sketching and incident scene protection and security. Also, collection, and preservation of evidence, as well as entomology and trace evidence and the importance of both. How to interview witnesses, search for suspects, make arrests, interrogate suspects, identify leads, and maintain a chain of custody. Emphasis is placed on communication skills, professional conduct and problem-solving skills that play a vital role when working at a crime scene. There are no prerequisites.

This course teaches the fundamental details of how criminal investigations are conducted and what role, evidence, information, surveillance, and undercover operations play in them. Students will be introduced to commonly used tools, techniques, and methods of investigation, such as crime scene evidence, reports, and interrogations. Students will also learn to distinguish between different types of investigations depending on the kind of incident or crime. Students will progress from a simple trespass incident to an advanced robbery/ shooting investigation. Emphasis will be placed on workplace soft skills which are of particular importance in an investigation including effective communication with others, conflict resolution, problem solving, and overall professionalism. There are no prerequisites.

This course will introduce the student to the Criminal Law system. The student will gain an appreciation for the manner in which the criminal law is applied to uncover justice in our society. Students learn the classification of law, Part 1 crimes and the elements that define those laws and their statute of limitations. The student will learn Constitutional law including amendments, warrants, and their exceptions, as well as exigent circumstances. The student will explore case law and develop an understanding for 'letter of the law' and 'spirit of the law'. The aspects of Liability and criminal liability will be discussed along with the defenses used against liability. The state of American Law, the court system, and the corrections system are covered, as are methods of measuring crime and victimization. Students will also consider new and emerging challenges for the criminal justice system. There are no prerequisites.

This course is a study of the nature of terrorism, its past and present, and the measures being taken to fight and prevent it. Students learn the underlying reasons for terrorist activities, the methods used by terrorists, the sources of financing for terrorists, as well as the role of the media in terrorism. The terrorist activities of the past and the most current terrorist issues of today are examined. A detailed overview of the methods used to counter terrorism is also provided, with particular emphasis on Homeland Security. Students will learn the importance of Threat Assessment and how they are conducted. Throughout the course emphasis is placed on interpersonal skills such as communication with co-workers, superiors, and others, problem solving, and conflict resolution are typical within the workplace setting. In addition, students are trained on the observation skills required to identify and report precursor activities to a terrorist event, react appropriately, report the occurrence of a terrorist event, and remain safe while helping control the scene after a terrorist event. There are no prerequisites.

This course focuses on the concepts and theories relating to the nature and extent of crime. This topic is examined in the context of the legal system as well as from the perspective of the victim. Students explore the psychology studies as well as the profiling of these defiant behaviors and lifestyles associated with crime. Students will understand the advantages and disadvantages of profiling human behavior and the causes of crime. Students will explore some of the dark sides to defiant crime behavior to distinguish between different types of defiant exotic crime. The role and function of the criminal justice system is also presented as it pertains to success to rehabilitation of these people and the eventual warehousing of many. There are no prerequisites.

This course focuses on gangs and their criminal activity in American society. The underlying reasons for the existence of gangs in society are explored as well as the strategies for preventing and eliminating them. Students also learn to distinguish between different types of street drugs associated with the gang subculture, explain the threats and dangers they pose, as well as identifying the connection with prison gangs and the law enforcement measures used to prevent their proliferation. An analysis of drugs in the workplace, their policy, and an explanation of the sociology and psychological effects of drug abuse. The enforcement options are also included along with ethical and legal implications faced in controlling gangs and their drug trade in corrections and the detention system. There are no prerequisites.

In this course students learn the most important skills required in justice and security and that is communications. The various methods and means of communication are studied and practiced, including verbal and non-verbal. Students learn the communication techniques used in interviewing and interrogating criminals, suspects, and witnesses. The use of modern technology in communications is discussed, as well as the issue of communicating with special groups in terms of age and cultural diversity. Students will also learn the art of security emergency dispatching. Students will learn radio codes and how to operate a portable radio. Students will be exposed to handling domestic violence situations, missing persons, as well as Critical Incident situations. The use of modern technology in communication is discussed and practiced in lab, as well as special groups, age specific challengers and cultural diversity. There are no prerequisites.