Criminal Justice

Students enrolling in TVCC’s Criminal Justice program who are current Texas Peace Officers MAY qualify for tuition and certain fees exemption. See the financial aid office for details of the exemption.

Field Of Study Transfer Information

Students who complete CRIJ-1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice, CRIJ-1306 Court Systems and Practices, CRIJ-1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law, CRIJ-2313 Correctional Systems and Practices, and CRIJ-2328 Police Systems and Practices with TVCC may transfer the entire block of courses for full academic credit to a Texas public college or university. The block of courses will be substituted for the receiving institution’s lower division criminal justice requirements.

CJCR-1000. Basic Jail Course (TDC INSVC). (4 Credits)

Human relations; observation; evaluation of prisoners; booking procedures; classification; mug shots; fingerprinting; strip searches; meals; medical services; visitation; inmates rights and privileges; detention areas; disturbances; riots; fire procedures; release procedures; and key, knife and tool control. Includes the required Texas Commission on Law Enforcement objectives for course #1007. This course was designed to be repeated multiple times to improve student proficiency.

CJCR-1007. Correctional Systems & Practice. (4 Credits)

NULL.

CJCR-1011. Basic Certification Correctional Officer. (0 Credits)

Preparation for certification required forýemployment with the Texas Department of CriminalýJustice-Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID). Mustýinclude the objectives developed by the TDCJ-ID.

CJCR-1012. Basic Certification Correction. (4 Credits)

Preparation for certification required for employment with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Institutional Division (TDCJ-ID). Must include the objectives developed by the TDCJ-ID.

CJCR-1300. Basic Jail Course. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Human relations; observation; evaluation of prisoners; booking procedures; classifications; mug shots; fingerprinting; strip searches; meals; medical services; visitation; inmates rights and privileges; detention areas; disturbances; riots; fire procedures; release procedures; and key, knife and tool control. Includes the required Texas Commission on Law Enforcement objectives for course #1007.

CJCR-1307. Correctional Systems and Practices. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Corrections in the criminal justice system; organization of correctional systems; correctional role; institutional operations; alternatives to institutionalization; treatment and rehabilitation; current and future issues.

CJCR-2004. Inmate Rights and Privileges. (0 Credits)

Provides the county correctional officer with an overview of inmate rights and responsibilities from a case law perspective. One of the intermediate core courses required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Course #3502 for jailer proficiency. This course was designed to be repeated multiple times if content varies.

CJCR-2324. Community Resources in Corrections. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An introductory study of the role of the community in corrections; community programs for adults and juveniles; administration of community programs; legal issues; future trends in community treatment.

CJLE-1027. Interview & Report Writing for CJ Professionals. (8 Credits)

Instruction and skill development in interviewing, note-taking, and report writing in the criminal justice context. Development of skills to conduct investigations by interviewing witnesses, victims, and suspects properly. Organization of information regarding incidents into effective written reports.

CJLE-1056. Intermediate Use of Force. (0 Credits)

Psychological and emotional factors, "use of force" factors, force options, and deadly force. Emphasizes legal issues such as civil rights complaints, governmental liability, court decisions, and vicarious liability. Includes review of Chapter 9 of the Penal Code. Meets the requirements of Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Course #2107.

CJLE-1094. SpecTop: Law Enf/Police Sci:Basic Instr. (0 Credits)

The adult learning process and the differences between adult and child learning. Includes the role of the instructor, the three domains of learning, and their impact on the learning process. Meets the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Course #1014 requirements.

CJLE-1327. Interviewing & Report Writing for CJ Professions. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Instruction and skill development in interviewing, note-taking, and report writing in the criminal justice context. Development of skills to conduct investigations by interviewing witnesses, victims, and suspects properly. Organization of information regarding incidents into effective written reports.

CJLE-2037. Advanced Firearms. (1 Credit)

(0-0-19) Instruction in special situations and tactics. Stressful situations will challenge the student to perform under simulated field conditions. A specified firearms course will be included.

CJLE-2047. Tactical Skills for Police. (4 Credits)

(0-0-48) Development of proficiency with a range of impact weapons and/or chemical agents and defensive techniques necessary to control a violent person. This course was designed to be repeated multiple times if content varies.

CJLE-2420. Texas Peace Officer Procedures. (4 Credits)

(4-4-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Study of the techniques and procedures used by police officers on patrol. Includes controlled substance identification, handling abnormal persons, traffic direction, crowd control, and jail operations.

CJLE-2421. Texas Peace Officer Law. (4 Credits)

(4-4-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Study of laws directly related to police field work. Topics include Texas Transportation Code, intoxicated driver, Texas Penal Code, elements of crime, Texas Family Code, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, and civil liability. Partially satisfies Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLE) Course #1011.

CJLE-2522. Texas Peace Officer Skills. (5 Credits)

(5-5-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Requires the demonstration and practice of the skills of a police officer including patrol, driving, traffic stop skills, use of force, mechanics of arrest, firearm safety, and emergency medical care. Partially satisfies Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Course #1011.

CJSA-1022. Intro to Criminal Justice. (4 Credits)

NULL.

CJSA-1048. Ethics in Criminal Justice. (4 Credits)

Ethical philosophies and issues pertaining to the various professions in the criminal justice system. Includes ethical issues emanating from constitutional conflict with public protection and individual rights, civil liberties, and correctional policies.

CJSA-1312. Crime in America. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. American crime problems in historical perspective; social and public policy factors affecting crime; impact and crime trends; social characteristics of specific crimes; prevention of crime.

CJSA-1313. Court Systems and Practices. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. The judiciary in the criminal justice system; structure of the American court system. prosecution; right to counsel; pre-trial release; grand juries; adjudication process; types and rules of evidence, sentencing.

CJSA-1317. Juvenile Justice System. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the juvenile justice process to include specialized juvenile law, role of the juvenile courts, role of police agencies, role of correctional agencies and theories concerning delinquency.

CJSA-1322. Introduction to Criminal Justice. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. History and philosophy of criminal justice and ethical considerations; crime defines; its nature and impact ; overview of criminal justice system; law enforcement; court system; prosecution and defense; trial process; corrections.

CJSA-1327. Fundamentals of Criminal Law. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. The study of the nature of criminal law; philosophical and historical development; major definitions and concepts; classification of crime; elements of crimes and penalties using Texas statutes as illustrations; criminal responsibility.

CJSA-1342. Criminal Investigation. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of investigative theory; collection and preservation of evidence; sources of information; interview and interrogation; uses of forensic sciences; case and trial preparation.

CJSA-1348. Ethics in Criminal Justice. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Ethical philosophies and issues pertaining to the various professions in the criminal justice system. Includes ethical issues emanating from constitutional conflict with public protection and individual rights, civil liberties, and correctional policies.

CJSA-1359. Police Systems and Practices. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. The police profession; organization of law enforcement systems; the police role; police discretion; ethics; police-community interaction; current and future issues.

CJSA-2300. Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement. (3 Credits)

This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Police authority; responsibilities; constitutional constraints; laws of arrest, search, and seizure; police liability.

CJSA-2382. Coop Education, Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. (3 Credits)

(3-1-20) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Career-related activities encountered in the student's area of specialization offered through an individualized agreement among the college, employer, and student. Under the supervision of the college and the employer, the student combines classroom learning with work experience. Includes a lecture component. Lab fee.

CRIJ-1301. Introduction to Criminal Justice. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Provides a historical and philosophical overview of the American criminal justice system, including the nature, extent, and impact of crime; criminal law; and justice agencies and processes.

CRIJ-1306. Court Systems and Practices. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the court system as it applies to the structures, procedures, practices and sources of law in American courts, using federal and Texas statutes and case law.

CRIJ-1307. Crime in America. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of American crime problems in historical perspective; social and public policy factors affecting crime; impact and crime trends; social characteristics of specific crimes; prevention of crime.

CRIJ-1310. Fundamentals of Criminal Law. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. The study of criminal law including application of definitions, statutory elements, defenses and penalties using Texas statutes, the Model Penal Code, and case law. The course also analyzes the philosophical and historical development of criminal law and criminal culpability.

CRIJ-1313. Juvenile Justice System. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of the juvenile justice process to include specialized juvenile law, role of the juvenile courts, role of police agencies, role of correctional agencies and theories concerning delinquency.

CRIJ-2301. Community Resources in Corrections. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. An introductory study of the role of the community in corrections; community programs for adjust and juveniles; administration of community programs; legal issues; future trends in community treatment.

CRIJ-2313. Correctional Systems and Practices. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A survey of institutional and non-institutional corrections. Emphasis will be placed on the organization and operation of correctional systems; treatment and rehabilitation; populations served; Constitutional issues; and current and future issues.

CRIJ-2314. Criminal Investigation. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of investigative theory; collection and preservation of evidence; sources of information; interview and interrogation; uses of forensic sciences; case and trial preparation.

CRIJ-2323. Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. A study of police authority; responsibilities; constitutional constraints; laws of arrest, search, and seizure; police liability.

CRIJ-2328. Police Systems and Practices. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Examines the establishment, role and function of police in a democratic society. It will focus on types of police agencies and their organizational structure, police community interactions, policy ethics, and use of authority.

POFT-2312. Business Correspondence and Communication. (3 Credits)

(3-3-0) This course is taken for academic credit. Students will earn an A, B, C, D, F, or W. Development of writing and presentation skills to produce effective business communications.

What Police and Detectives Do

Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes.

Duties

Police officers, detectives, and criminal investigators typically do the following:

Respond to emergency and nonemergency calls
Patrol assigned areas
Conduct traffic stops and issue citations
Search for vehicle records and warrants using computers in the field
Obtain warrants and arrest suspects
Collect and secure evidence from crime scenes
Observe the activities of suspects
Write detailed reports and fill out forms
Prepare cases and testify in court

Job duties differ by employer and function, but all police and detectives write reports and keep detailed records that will be needed if they testify in court. Most carry law enforcement tools, such as radios, handcuffs, and guns.

The following are examples of types of police and detectives:

Detectives and criminal investigators are uniformed or plainclothes investigators who gather facts and collect evidence for criminal cases. They conduct interviews, examine records, observe the activities of suspects, and participate in raids and arrests. Detectives usually specialize in investigating one type of crime, such as homicide or fraud. Detectives are typically assigned cases on a rotating basis and work on them until an arrest and trial are completed or until the case is dropped.

Fish and game wardens enforce fishing, hunting, and boating laws. They patrol fishing and hunting areas, conduct search and rescue operations, investigate complaints and accidents, and educate the public about laws pertaining to the outdoors. Federal fish and game wardens are often referred to as Federal Wildlife Officers.

Police and sheriff’s patrol officers are the most common type of police and detectives and have general law enforcement duties. They wear uniforms that allow the public to easily recognize them as police officers. They have regular patrols and also respond to emergency and nonemergency calls. During patrols, officers look for signs of criminal activity and may conduct searches and arrest suspected criminals.

Some police officers work only on a specific type of crime, such as narcotics. Officers, especially those working in large departments, may work in special units, such as horseback, motorcycle, canine corps, and special weapons and tactics (SWAT). Typically, officers must work as patrol officers for a certain number of years before they may be appointed to a special unit.

Transit and railroad police patrol railroad yards and transit stations. They protect property, employees, and passengers from crimes such as thefts and robberies. They remove trespassers from railroad and transit properties and check IDs of people who try to enter secure areas.

SUMMARY

Police officers, detectives, and criminal investigators
2021 Median Pay: $69,160 per year, $33.25 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education: See How to Become One
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: See How to Become One
On-the-job Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2022: 808,700
Job Outlook, 2022-32: 3% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2022-2032: 23,800

Work Environment

Police and detective work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous. Police and sheriff's patrol officers and transit and railroad police have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Working around the clock in shifts is common.

How to Become a Police Officer or Detective

Education requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree. Most police and detectives must graduate from their agency’s training academy before completing a period of on-the-job training. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, usually at least 21 years old, and able to meet rigorous physical and personal qualifications.

Pay

The median annual wage for police and detectives was $69,160 in May 2022

Job Outlook

Overall employment of police and detectives is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. occupations.

About 64,500 openings for police and detectives are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Police and Detectives, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/police-and-detectives.htm (visited January 22, 2024).

Some careers in this field will require a bachelor's degree.

TVCC's AA degrees are fully transferable to public universities in Texas. See an academic advisor or TVCC's university transfer webpage for more information on this transfer opportunity.
Many of TVCC's AAS degrees lead to an online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) degree with participating universities. See an academic advisor or the BAAS transfer website for more information on this transfer opportunity.