Law

Criminal Justice and Correction Services

This pathway prepares students for a range of careers in law enforcement, crime scene analysis, forensic science, public safety, and criminal justice. Upon completion of this program of study, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skill preparation for postsecondary or career opportunities in many law- and justice-related fields.

National Career Cluster Alignment

The Criminal Justice and Correction Services Pathway is a part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security career cluster. The Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Cluster includes legal, public safety, protective services, and security fields. This cluster also includes related professional and technical support services.

Pathway Courses

Level 1 Course: Criminal Justice I

• Criminal Justice I is the first course in Criminal Justice and Correction Services program of study. It serves as a comprehensive survey of how the law enforcement, legal, and correctional systems interact with each other in the United States. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will understand the context of local, state, and federal laws, the concepts of crime control and the judicial process, and the importance of communications and professionalism in law enforcement.

• Aligned Industry Credential: OSHA 10 General Industry. The OSHA 10-Hour General Industry certification allows students to increase their value as entry-level workers by demonstrating mastery of the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in the general industry workplace. The program also provides information regarding workers' rights and employer responsibilities. OSHA training and certification ensures that workers are more knowledgeable about workplace hazards and their rights.

Level 2 Course: Criminal Justice II

• Criminal Justice II is the second course in the Criminal Justice and Correction Services program of study. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will understand the impact of the constitution on law enforcement, law enforcement and police procedures, alcohol and beverage laws, sentencing, and the importance of communications and professionalism in law enforcement.

• Aligned Industry Credential: Adult, Infant, and Child CPR/AED/First Aid. Earning the Adult, Child and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED certification and training equips students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and babies.

Level 3 Course: Criminal Justice III: Forensic Criminal Investigations

• Forensic Criminal Investigations is the third course designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in the sciences of criminal investigations. Students will learn terminology and investigation skills related to the crime scene, aspects of criminal behavior, and applications of the scientific inquiry to solve crimes. By utilizing the scientific inquiry method, students will obtain and analyze evidence through simulated crime scenes and evaluation of case studies. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to identify careers forensic science and criminology, summarize the laws that govern the application of forensic science, and draw key connections between the history of the forensic science system and the modern legal system.

• Aligned Industry Credential: none.

Dual Credit and/or Dual Enrollment Opportunity in this Pathway

• Credit Type: Dual Credit

• Institution: NSCC - Nashville State Community College

• Dual Credit- Credit by assessment. Students are enrolled in a high school course that is identified as a match with a post-secondary course. Students complete a college assessment at the end of the course to prove mastery of content. If the student passes the test, the student can use the college credit at that institution or request a transcript to use at a different institution.

Affiliated Career and Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.

Pre-Law

In this pathway, students will gain skills in preparation for legal careers in law firms, courtrooms, government, and businesses. Instruction will cover legal vocabulary and ethics, the philosophy and history of criminal justice, effective and persuasive communications (oral and written), and the state and federal court systems.

National Career Cluster Alignment

The Pre-Law Pathway is a part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security career cluster. The Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Cluster includes legal, public safety, protective services, and security fields. This cluster also includes related professional and technical support services.

Pathway Courses

Level 1 Course: Pre-Law I

• Pre-Law I is the first course designed to prepare students to pursue careers in the field of law. Upon completion of this course, a proficient student will be able to describe career planning and compliance, foundations of the legal system, organization of the law and public safety system, basic constitutional protections, and types of law. In addition, students will model the professional, moral, and ethical standards required of professionals in the field of law.

• Aligned Industry Credential: -none-.

Level 2 Course: Pre-Law II

• Pre-Law II is the second course designed to prepare students to pursue careers in the field of law. Upon completion of this course, a proficient student will be able to describe the organization of local, national and state court systems and the legal process, explain the concepts of trials, and differentiate business, labor, and consumer law. In addition, students will model the professional, moral, and ethical standards required of professionals in the field of law.

• Aligned Industry Credential: -none-.

Level 3 Course: Pre-Law III

• Pre-Law III is the third course designed to prepare students to pursue careers in the field of law. Upon completion of this course, a proficient student will be able to describe sentencing and decisions, appeals, punishment, parole, probation, detention, and family and property law. In addition, students will model the professional, moral, and ethical standards required of professionals in the field of law

• Aligned Industry Credential: none.

Affiliated Career and Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.