30-504-503Overview of Criminal Justice
Course Information
Description
Through classroom lecture and WI Department of Justice 720 Academy integration exercises, students will learn and apply skills addressed in the following WI Department of Justice 720 Academy Phase I curriculum framework topics:  Academy Orientation, Fundamentals of Criminal Justice, Ethics I, Cultural Competence, Agency Policy, and Professional Communication Skills I.
Total Credits
1

Course Competencies
  1. I.A.1. Demonstrate recognition of academy rules and regulations
    Assessment Strategies
    Students will write a letter to the Academy Director about their acceptance of the academy rules and regulations.
    Criteria
    letter contains the student’s signature
    letter has a signed copy of the Academy Rules and Regulations attached
    letter has a signed copy of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics attached
    letter summarizes the student’s understanding of the recruit academy testing policies
    letter indicates that the student has read and understands the attached documents
    letter includes correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling

  2. I.B.1. Distinguish between the roles and functions of courts with jurisdiction in Wisconsin
    Assessment Strategies
    group discussion on court functions
    Criteria
    determine which violations are appropriate for a municipal court versus a state court
    explain that municipal courts can act only on matters covered by municipal ordinances
    explain what an ordinance is
    explains what a forfeiture is
    explain that municipal courts generally are limited to imposing forfeitures for ordinance violations

  3. I.B.2. Determine modern law enforcement functions and policies from an historical perspective
    Assessment Strategies
    provide modern day examples of Robert Peel’s nine principles
    Criteria
    participate in a discussion comparing early law enforcement positions protecting walled cities with private security guards at today’s gated communities
    list at least nine modern day examples of Sir Robert Peel’s principles
    show through their examples that they understand Sir Robert Peel’s principles

  4. I.B.3. Identify the role of law enforcement officers in American society
    Assessment Strategies
    develop civilian expectations of law enforcement officers detailing which of these expectations they feel will be the most difficult to fulfill.
    Criteria
    participate in a discussion of the issues surrounding a law enforcement agency that is an extension of a political official
    review the Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution
    participate in a discussion on what political influences there are on today’s law enforcement officers
    discuss how the primary goals of law enforcement fit with community expectations

  5. I.B.4. Differentiate between the roles and functions of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies
    Assessment Strategies
    group discussion on the roles of state and federal law enforcement agencies
    Criteria
    determine which state and/or federal agencies they would contact for assistance during an investigation
    list the duties that are the responsibility of the county sheriff
    find a local ordinance creating a municipal police department and list the duties of the police chief
    provide a review of state and federal law enforcement agency websites

  6. I.B.5. Incorporate community policing strategies into your community
    Assessment Strategies
    examples of community-oriented policing programs
    examples of individual community members working with law enforcement to address crime (can either be a program at an agency in Wisconsin or an example students find on a agency website, etc.)
    Criteria
    review the US Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) website at www.cops.usdoj.gov
    identify benefits and challenges to community-oriented policing
    define community-oriented policing as a concept where law enforcement and citizens work together in creative ways to solve community problems related to crime, fear of crime, social and physical disorder and general neighborhood conditions
    research examples of community-oriented policing programs at a Wisconsin law enforcement agency and/or find examples of programs through an Internet search and explain why they are considered community policing and if they would work in their community

  7. I.B.6. Illustrate problem-oriented policing strategies
    Assessment Strategies
    provide examples of problem-oriented policing programs/activities (can either be a program at an agency in Wisconsin or another agency.
    Criteria
    define problem-oriented policing as a policing strategy that involves the identification and analysis of specific crime and disorder problems in order to develop effective response strategies in conjunction with ongoing assessment. This strategy places more emphasis on research and analysis as well as crime prevention and the engagement of public and private organizations in the reduction of community problems
    identify benefits and challenges to problem-oriented policing
    describe the SARA model and the problem-solving triangle
    provide a review of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing website at www.popcenter.org
    provide an example and explanation of a problem-oriented policing program at a Wisconsin law enforcement agency or find an example of a program through an Internet search

  8. I.B.7. Evaluate other policing strategies
    Assessment Strategies
    comparing strategies such as the "intelligence-led" strategy and Data-Driven and System Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety such as DDACTS
    Criteria
    describe the "intelligence-led" strategy which is a strategic, future-oriented and targeted approach to crime control, focusing upon the identification, analysis and 'management' of persisting and developing 'problems' or 'risks'
    explain Data-Driven and System Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety which integrates location-based traffic crash, crime, calls for service, contacts, and officer-initiated activity data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement resources and addressing crime and safety
    discuss other policing strategies that the class or instructor feels is relevant

  9. I.B.8. Apply principles of crime prevention
    Assessment Strategies
    Provide examples of crime prevention programs (can either be a program in an agency in Wisconsin or an example students find on an agency website, etc.)
    Criteria
    explain the theory of crime prevention; that crime is a multidimensional problem that requires multiple responses from a variety of individuals and groups within the community
    discuss that crime prevention can be divided into three approaches; primary, secondary, and tertiary crime prevention.  Each type of crime prevention attacks criminality at a different stage of development
    describe components of the primary prevention approach: Environmental Design, Neighborhood Watch, General Deterrence, Public Education, Social Crime Prevention, and Private Security
    describe components of the secondary prevention approach; Identification and Prediction, Situational Crime Prevention, Community Policing, Crime Area Analysis, Substance Abuse, and Schools and Crime Prevention
    describe components of the tertiary crime prevention approach; Specific Deterrence, Incapacitation, and Rehabilitation and Treatment

  10. I.Z.1. Describe basic ethics terms and concepts
    Assessment Strategies
    write out a situation describing personal feelings in a particular area that could influence law enforcement decision
    Criteria
    describe a common law enforcement situation
    explain how personal feelings could influence decision
    explain how law enforcement officers would be expected to react to this situation under normal circumstances

  11. I.Z.2. Describe how professionalism, ethics, and moral standards relate to a law enforcement career
    Assessment Strategies
    defend decisions based on the Code of Ethics or Oath of Honor
    Criteria
    describe the decision they made based on the case study
    support decision by referring to specific portions of the Code of Ethics or Oath of Honor

  12. I.Z.3. Develop skills for making the best decisions and choices
    Assessment Strategies
    make a decision using an ethical decision-making model
    Criteria
    identify the conflict of interest in a case
    make a decision using an ethical decision-making model
    detail how steps of the model were used to reach a decision

  13. I.V.1. Demonstrate cultural self-awareness
    Assessment Strategies
    completing a diversity self-assessment
    analyzing personal biases and relationship to duties as a professional law enforcement officer
    Criteria
    discuss how everyone comes from different backgrounds and cultures and that each of us is influenced by that background or culture
    identify personal biases

  14. I.V.2. 2. Examine the concept of implicit bias and how it can impact the perception and behaviors of law enforcement officers
    Assessment Strategies
    complete the Harvard Implicit Bias Test.
    attend a meeting /event of a cultural group or research a cultural group they do not identify with and report back on that group during the Cultural Competence 2 course in Phase Three
    Criteria
    recognize their personal biases, even hidden ones, and discusses how those could affect them as they do their job as a law enforcement officer
    compare what biases they thought they had with the results of the implicit bias test
    research a culture they do not identify with to learn more about that culture

  15. I.D.1. Describe the role of policies in agency operations
    Assessment Strategies
    classifying policies into type categories
    explaining the reasoning behind your classification
    Criteria
    determine if the policy is mandatory, ministerial, discretionary, need to know or need to reference (or a combination of categories)
    articulate why a policy was placed in a particular category
    identify the terms or phrases found in the policy that determined the classification category

  16. I.D.2. Apply agency policies effectively in order to produce desired outcomes
    Assessment Strategies
    developing a system for learning agency policies
    Criteria
    plan includes consultation with an agency staff person
    plan includes a reference to identifying the mandatory polices

  17. I.S.1. Apply professional communication skills
    Assessment Strategies
    evaluating your communication skills to become more aware of your communication habits
    demonstrating "good listener" skills during a simulated conversation/contact with another person
    Criteria
    evaluate communication skills using the self-evaluation form in the student text
    explain the role for the sender in the basic communication model
    explain the importance of sending a clear and concise message
    explain the role of the receiver in the basic communication model
    apply active listening skills during contacts and interviews
    apply guidelines for asking and responding to questions
    apply guidelines for making requests and giving orders
    display a professional tone and demeanor during the contact or interview
    introduce self and explains the reason for your contact in a way that sets the tone for a positive interaction
    ask questions that will help you gather information that will allow you to resolve the call/contact
    decide what action to take and how you will end the interaction

  18. I.S.2. Incorporate communication skills in specific situations
    Assessment Strategies
    evaluating typical responses given by officers and re-writing the responses to be more helpful and professional
    Criteria
    identify the benefits and barriers to communication in the workplace
    indicate a better manner of responding to a question or statement from another individual
    identify positive ways to communicate with friends and family while off duty