Law Enforcement I

Unit 1: Professional Standards and Communication Skills

Unit 2: Use of Force

Unit 4: Ethics and the U.S. Legal System 

Unit 6: Custody and Interrogation

Unit 5: Procedural and Substantive Criminal Law

Unit 7: Victims, Witnesses, and Juveniles

Unit 8: Family Violence

Unit 12: Vehicle Stops

Unit 9: Drugs and Alcohol

Unit 3: Accident Investigations

Unit 11: Reports and Crime Scenes

Unit 10: Community-Oriented  Police Programs

Unit 13: Tactical Entries

Unit 1: Professional Standards and Communication Skills (1 Weeks)

-technical concepts, phonetic alphabet and vocabulary associated with law enforcement

-Nonverbal communication: facial expressions, voice quality and delivery, gestures, and body positioning

-Verbal communication: interpret voice quality and delivery such as combination of pitch, tone, and wording

Unit 2: Use of Force (2 weeks)

-identify key terminology relating to the use of force and explain the legal authorities and the justification for use of force;

-analyze the deciding factors for use of force when effecting an arrest;

-analyze circumstances that are high risks for officers;

-analyze various force options or alternatives to increase the student's awareness of various force options or alternatives available to peace officers;

-discuss force options available to peace officers; and

-examine elements that an officer must recognize and control in every encounter

Unit 4: Ethics and the U.S. Legal System (3 Weeks)

-explain how citizens are protected by constitutional laws of local, state, and federal courts;

-analyze the impact of Supreme Court decisions such as Mapp v. Ohio, Terry v. Ohio, and Tennessee v. Garner;

-analyze the similarities, differences, and interactions between local, state, and federal court systems;

-illustrate the progression of a case as it moves through local, state, and federal jurisdictions; and

-compare the characteristics of civil and criminal court systems.

Unit 6: Custody and Interrogation (3 Weeks)

-demonstrate the application of the constitutional rights, using the Miranda warning requirements for both adult and juvenile suspects;

-explain the additional requirements above the Miranda warnings for juvenile suspects, offenders, and witnesses; and

-demonstrate a non-custodial and custodial interview and interrogation

Unit 5: Procedural and Substantive Criminal Law (3 Weeks) 

-define crime categories and respective punishments according to the Texas Penal Code;

-analyze the elements of criminal acts according to Texas laws, including Alcoholic Beverage Code, Family Code, Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, and Criminal Code of Procedure;

-differentiate mala prohibita and mala in se; and

-analyze types of criminal defenses.

Unit 7: Victims, Witnesses, and Juveniles (3 weeks) 

-analyze the rights of victims of crimes and witnesses to crime laws such as the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982, the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, the Victim's Rights and Restitution Act, the Child Victims' Bill of Rights of 1990, and the Victim Rights Clarification Act of 1997;

-analyze the psychological, social, and economic impact of crime on the victim as well as victim rights

-identifying the elements of a crisis reaction, the phases of a victim's reaction to a crime, the ripple effect of crime victimization, and crisis intervention; and

-identifying and discussing the potential for secondary victimization by the criminal justice system and how to avoid it; and

Unit 8: Family Violence (3 weeks)

-explaining common characteristics of family violence offenders and describing the cycle of abuse phases;

-discussing the types of abuse often occurring in family violence incidences, explaining some barriers victims face when attempting to leave an abusive relationship; and

-defining terminology associated with family violence related to Texas Family Code, Title 4, for Protective Orders and Family Violence; and

-evaluate the recommended steps in handling family violence calls involving Temporary Ex Parte Protective Orders, protective orders, and Magistrate's Order for Emergency Protection such as:

-identifying the legal requirements for investigation of domestic abuse and child abuse or neglect and medical treatment and examinations for both;

-designing a plan on how to handle family violence situations and procedures for conducting preliminary investigations

Fall CCA

Unit 12: Vehicle Stops (3 Weeks)

-apply techniques used to assess risk in vehicle stops;

-understand and analyze traffic laws contained in the Texas Transportation Code and their applications;

-execute a simulated misdemeanor traffic stop using the seven-step violator contact method;

-execute a simulated felony traffic stop with one and two patrol units;

-identify if a traffic law has been violated according to the Texas Transportation Code regarding a driving situation; and

-identify the regulations relating to arrest, charging procedures, notices, and promises to appear

Unit 9: Drugs and Alcohol (3 weeks)

-research the effects of substances as it applies to the Texas Health and Safety Code; and

-summarize the procedures for handling drugs, dangerous drugs, and controlled substances

-The student demonstrates and applies a working knowledge of the detection, apprehension, and arrest of an intoxicated driver. The student is expected to

-explain the laws related to driving while intoxicated and related offenses; and

"reasonable suspicion" for the intoxicated driver stop and temporary detention

Unit 3: Accident Investigations (3 weeks) 

-produce a crash report involving two or more vehicles in an accident;

-apply laws associated with accident investigation;

-research procedures for responding to an accident scene and how to maintain control of an accident scene; and

-demonstrate how to maintain traffic control at an accident scene

Unit 11: Reports and Crime Scenes (4 Weeks)

-explain why a police call sheet, an incident report, and a supplemental report are legal documents;

-demonstrate obtaining the appropriate information for a police call sheet, an incident report, and a supplemental report; and

-write a police call sheet, an incident report, and a supplemental report using clear, concise, and legible entries.

-The student employs procedures to protect, document, and process a crime scene. The student is expected to:

-demonstrate how to lift and preserve developed latent prints from a simulated crime scene; and

- demonstrate how to photograph, sketch, search, collect, document, and protect the crime scene area for further investigation.

Unit 10: Community-Oriented  Police Programs (2 Weeks)

-The student summarizes the philosophy and concepts that influence the development and implementation of a community-oriented police program

-define community-oriented policing; and

-evaluate the skills needed to be a successful community-oriented police officer.

Unit 13: Tactical Entries (3 weeks)

-explain techniques to safely enter and search a residence or building;

-demonstrate the correct techniques for entering a doorway and searching a room(s); and

-demonstrate methods for clearing buildings or residences and techniques used when suspects are found inside a building or residence.

Spring CCA

Required Project: 

Public Trust:

Students will select an event where an unethical choice was made by a professional in law, public safety, corrections or private security. The event should have occurred within the last year. Write a report that summarizes the event.

Required Project: 

Laws & Codes Comparisons

Students in groups will conduct research on laws in (California, New York, Colorado, Florida) your assigned state and compare them with Texas Penal Code laws.

Required Project: 

Police Report

Students will create a complete police report based on the instructor chosen video.

Required Project: 

Basic Traffic Stop:

Students and their partner will demonstrate a basic traffic stop, while other classmates evaluate. You will demonstrate the 7 step violator method.

Cycle 1:

-Professionalism

-Teamwork

-Problem Solving

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Cycle 2:

- Job Seeking Skills

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Cycle 3:

-Communication Skills

-Self Management Skill

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Cycle 4:

-Civic and Social Responsibility

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