​Criminal Justice is a field that will enable students to develop an understanding of the techniques and principles that help improve safety and security of lives and communities.  Throughout this course, students can earn certifications that will prepare them for a number of jobs in the trade. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to obtain an entry-level positions in such fields as (but not limited to) police, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections, and the armed forces. Many of these certifications are required for promotional opportunities within the trade and many are eligible for college credit should the students pursue further education. In their junior year, students will be eligible to test for State emergency medicine licensure. Students will also learn leadership skills as they operate an emergency operation center and provide support to federal resources deployed around the Country in times of disaster. According to recent data, this is the fourth fastest growing trade and these students will be at the forefront. Individuals involved in the Criminal Justice and Protective Services Fields aid in enhancing the lives of everyone by solving problems and ensuring the safety of the community.  The demand for individuals trained in the career pathways within the Criminal Justice and Protective Services will continue to be strong. 

​This newly added trade builds on the existing science curriculum and establishes a program articulated with community colleges and state universities. Numerous police, fire, and EMS adjunct faculty are involved in the program allowing students to meet professionals and receive the most up to date training and procedures. Students are provided with a broad base of foundational knowledge to understand the Criminal Justice and Protective Services career pathways and be equipped to directly enter the industry or enter into an advanced program on the post-secondary level. 
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Students successfully completing this program can pursue entry level positions within the trade with a resume of certifications and experience similar to those in the trade for several years. Those students who wish to continue their education will have valuable skills, experience, and even college credits. Students deciding to join the military will be eligible to enter at a higher level and have skills necessary to their advancement. CJPS students will spend their four years learning how to be the future of the trade and when they graduate, they will be.

Exploratory and Introduction to the Trade
(CJ110)

Disaster Response, Fire Science, and Scene Safety
(CJ210)

​After the exploratory rotation, CJPS students are immediately started on their life-safety certifications such as CPR and Stop the Bleed. The first year is then dedicated to the foundations of criminal justice and safety. Students will learn about blood-borne pathogens, the basics of scene safety, and special considerations when working with people in crisis. Students learn the foundations of the legal ladder from Constitutional law to local State law and develop an understanding of court cases that have shaped our current system and elements that must be met in order for a crime to be charged. The students present mock cases in real courtrooms around the state as well as learn proper documentation and communication skills.

In Grade 10, students learn how disaster response training affects every level of the trade. The students earn numerous federal certifications in incident command and incident management. They will begin an exploratory period in the CJPS’s emergency operations center applying their new knowledge in leadership positions. Students will learn about fire science and become experts in scene safety and scene operations, even earning certification in hazardous materials response. The students will have numerous opportunities to learn directly from the local fire departments about equipment, operations, and scene management. Throughout the year, students are exposed to basic crime scene investigation and documentation in preparation for criminal investigations in Grade 11.

Emergency Medicine and Criminal Investigations
(CJ310)

​In Grade 11, students take their emergency operations center knowledge and apply it to real-world disasters. In this role, students will interact with federal responders deployed around the country and provide real-time assistance. The main focus for Grade 11 students will be to learn criminal investigative techniques and apply these to intermediate crime scene investigation skills learned in hands-on mock crime scenarios. Students will continue with documentation and communication skills development leading up to the major lesson of CJ310; emergency response medicine. Students will receive extensive training in emergency medicine and learn how to treat a variety of injuries and medical emergencies from a broken leg to a stroke. Students will have the opportunity to test for State licensure at the end of the school year.

Specialized Operations and Senior Capstone
(CJ410)

​In Grade 12, students will learn about terrorism and how it affects the trade. Students will earn certification related to this and meet several specialized units within the trade that focus on this aspect. Students will learn about other trade-specific specialized operations that are possible career opportunities such as dignitary protection, crisis intervention, and narcotics. They will learn advanced forensic techniques and apply them to their capstone project; a full emergency response to an incident which they will run from the initial response, through the crime investigation, and even present an arrest warrant for approval by a real judge in the Connecticut Judicial System. They will continue with their emergency operations center leadership experience guiding the lower classmen on fundamentals and best practices.

We are always refining the curriculum and evaluating/adding new experiences and outside instructors.