Law and Justice Program: Roswell, Georgia
The Law and Justice Program is part of Centennial High School, a comprehensive high school in Roswell, Georgia with about 150 students. The major concentrations are law enforcement, Corrections, Forensics and the Judiciary. The Program offers three years of courses and apprenticeship program. The curriculum structure is a combination of hands on training and academic studies. Extra emphasis is placed on reading, writing and technology proficiency. Field trips include visits to a state correctional facility, county and federal courts, the medical examiners office, local police departments, and the state crime lab. The program also offers the Explorers Program and Skills USA competition. Seniors are invited to travel to Washington, DC to view the Federal system in more depth. Student activities are directed at producing citizens that exemplify integrity, service and valor.

Primary contact: Dr. Thomas Washburn, NBCT Work: 770-650-4230 #180
E-Mail: washburnt@fultonschools.org
(770) 650-4250 Fax

www.justiceprogram.com

Criminal Justice and Public and Private Security Program: New York

The Criminal Justice and Public and Private Security Program operates within the Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Board of Cooperative Educational Services, which is responsible for numerous school districts across the entire county. As such, this program is available to students from each respective school district. This 2-year program begins with Public and Private Security issues, standards, and practices. Upon successful completion of this course, students may receive up to 3 credit hours of college credit. The second year is an in-depth study of the Criminal Justice system, both theory and practical application, culminating with an internship program with a local law enforcement agency. Upon successful completion of this course the student may be awarded up to 3 college credit hours. Throughout the 2-year program, each student learns to develop positive self-esteem, confidence in themselves and their peers, teamwork and critical thinking skills . This is accomplished through cooperative learning and interpersonal interaction. The curriculum emphasizes oral and written presentations, as well as research and study skills. Graduating students are prepared and encouraged to continue their education either in 2- or 4-year colleges with emphasis on a career in law enforcement, law, public/private security or corrections.

>>Slide Show of the Program<<

The Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Schools

"Periodically we highlight programs from around the country. Above are pictures from the Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet Program at Reseda High School. This is part of five academies that have a partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department. Our National Conference was held in Los Angeles and highlighted the career academies there plus the Junior Police Academy at Mulholland Middle School. Please send us action pictures of your students and we will highlight your program on our home page. Be sure to include a program description."

About the Program

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) operates over 150 magnet centers and schools. These magnet programs allow students to pursue a highly academic course of study directed to a students interest in a specialized career path. In Los Angeles, five of these programs operate within the magnet school system and one is a middle school academy.

More than 1200 Los Angeles students attend these public safety career academies at schools, strategically located throughout the city (Dorsey, Monroe, Reseda, San Pedro and Wilson High Schools, Mulholland Middle School ). The first middle school graduation was in 2002. Approximately 90 % of the students from that school joined a senior high academy.

The focus is on law enforcement careers, and over half of the graduating seniors indicate an intent to move on to a career in public safety. Many others look forward to community service careers, This appears to be a pattern nationwide for the more cohesive and cohort programs. These are the programs in which students attend many of their classes together, teachers work as a team and there is significant outside support especially in terms of interacting with students.

The magnet schools owe their existence to the drive and tenacity of one woman, Roberta Weintraub, a former president of the Los Angeles Board of Education and current executive director of the foundation established to support the academies. Besides the school system, there are three primary partners: the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department and the 21st Century Insurance Company.

The Juvenile Justice Division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) assigns police officers to work with individual academies and serve as role models, counselors, physical training teachers. 21st Century has helped fund many of the special programs including the graduation ceremonies. The company has been a constant supporter since the inception of the first academy in the 1996.

Each academy has a coordinator, team of teachers willing to work together and a full time police officer.. Together they receive special training to integrate the world of law enforcement with core subjects.

The Academy emphasizes, scholarship, education, discipline and leadership. Students are called cadets and wear blue uniforms patterned after the LAPD uniforms. Rigorous physical training is provided with an obstacle course (patterned after that used by LAPD recruits) on each campus and a bodybuilding program with special help for the females who, typically, have not developed the upper body strength needed to succeed at the LAPD Academy. Combined, these unique aspects of the academies help meld the students, teachers and officers into a family-like unit with mutual support and respect for all.

The Mulholland program officially opened in 2000/2001 school year with over a 100 applications. It combined the Gang Resistant Education and Training Program of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the high school academy concept and the involvement of the LAPD in both aspects.. High school cadets work with the middle school students to support and coach the students at that level -- a development opportunity for both levels of students. (This program will be highlighted in the next issue)
www.lapdonline.org/youth_programs/magnet_school/yp_magnet_school.htm

Some Highlights

LAPD Considers The Police Academy Magnet Schools As Part Of Its Community Policing Effort Because police officers work as part of the high school and middle school programs, serving as instructors, mentors and program coordinators, they mirror many of the best aspects of community policing.

Annual Graduation Ceremony
Each year LAPD provides its Police Training Academy facility for a special graduation ceremony for the students graduating from the academy high schools. Key city officials attend including the mayor each year. 21st Century Insurance Company, as a key partner, provides much of funding for the graduation.

LAPD Views The Academies As One Of The Long Term Solutions To Its Recruiting Challenges
More and more public safety agencies view the secondary school career programs as a key to developing future applicants who are local products, represent the diversity in the community and whom the agencies know as dedicated, ethical and qualified. And in most cases know what is expected of officers in terms of physical requirements and the nature of the work.

The Los Angeles Police Academy Magnet School "The Long Term Solution to the Recruiting Challenge"
This article describes police academy magnet schools as a consistent supply of qualified new recruits and citizens who understand the role of law enforcement in society.
www.lapdonline.org/general_information/dept_pub_program/magnet_school.htm