This pathway is designed for students who want to pursue careers such as correctional officers, court reporters and paralegals, detectives and criminal investigators, police officers, sheriffs and private security. Students explore their options through legal-focused classes, extracurriculars, and work-based learning experiences, including practicums with local police departments.

College Legal Research and Legal Concepts

College Legal Research and Legal Concepts is a class that exposes students to civil law, criminal law and the appeals process. This class is offered at the schools in the district that have a mock courtroom, which includes a jury area and was made to look like a real courtroom.

Students do legal research and prepare for criminal and civil cases. They also learn about the appeals process in this course. 

The course is taught by Rita Thompson, who is a lawyer and is able to offer an inside perspective. One semester of this full-year course is dual credit through Eastern Illinois University. Most of the students that take this course are seniors, but there are also juniors in the program. 

Providing a connection with the community, guest speakers such as attorneys and law enforcement professionals come into the classroom to talk with the students about their real-life experiences. The course also involves students being part of a Mock Trial team that participates in competitions.

Work Based Learning Experiences in Criminal Justice

Student interns have completed a variety of tasks in the Criminal Justice field, including, but not limited to:

• Participating in training demonstrations with local police officers
• Researching the role law enforcement plays in society and communities
• Assisting law enforcement with local ordinance enforcement

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