The Criminal Justice program offers a sequence of courses that provide coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills. Students are prepared for further education and careers in all five pathways within the Law, Public Safety and Security Career Cluster through project–based, hands–on learning activities. Practical skills and field exercises include: courtroom demeanor and testifying, report writing, identification, collection and preservation of evidence, interviewing techniques, radio communications, patrol techniques, traffic direction, traffic crash investigations, defensive tactics, CPR, First Aid, and fingerprinting. Students have the opportunity to earn industry certification as Public Service Aides (PSA), as well as Accredited Legal Secretaries (ALS). College credit opportunities are an available benefit for eligible Criminal Justice Academy students through articulation agreements with local colleges and universities. Students participating in the program at Jupiter High School will receive educational experience that includes an emphasis on the study of law. In addition to the Criminal Justice curriculum, students may take a sequence of courses to include Law Studies, Legal Systems & Concepts, International Law, Constitutional Law, and Comprehensive Law.

Why Criminal Justice?

The Criminal Justice Academy offers students interested in studying the law, law enforcement and the justice system a unique opportunity to learn first-hand from an experienced law enforcement officer. Through a curriculum that provides in-depth education of the law, students are prepared to pursue secondary education in any field of law. Students learn respect, organization, self-discipline and self-motivation. Students will learn about our law enforcement, court system, and correctional system. They will develop competencies in patrol, traffic control, defensive tactics and physical proficiency. In the third year, students are introduced to crime scene and accident investigation procedures and forensic science techniques. Field and laboratory activities include basic procedures in patrol, search and arrest, stop and frisk, mock trial, crime prevention, fingerprinting, forensic photography and crime lab examination procedures.

Required Courses

• 9th Grade: Criminal Justice OPS 1; Law Studies/Legal Systems and Concepts
• 10th Grade: Criminal Justice OPS 2; International Law
• 11th Grade: Criminal Justice OPS 3; Constitutional Law
• 12th Grade: Public Service Officer; Comprehensive Law