In the Criminal Justice program, students learn about various job opportunities within the three areas of criminal justice: law enforcement, legal services (courts), and corrections. Students are also exposed to a variety of equipment used in the field of criminal justice, including fingerprinting kits to demonstrate proper CSI fingerprint and evidence collection; police tactical gear, including various types of restraints; and hostage negotiation equipment to learn about the methods of operation of a critical incident negotiations team. Students also learn about the real-world experiences, such as how cold cases are worked and solved, dissection of crime scenes and proper evidence collection, and how to conduct proper traffic stops. Each of these opportunities are taught to the students by current and former professionals within the criminal justice system. Course content places an emphasis on laws governing the application of justice in the U.S., from constitutional rights to crisis scenario management and the elements of criminal investigations.

• Bristol Virginia Police Department

• Bristol Tennessee Police Department

• Bristol City Courthouse

• Highlands Juvenile Detention Center

• Sullivan House

• Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority

• Ralph P. Harr Justice Center Courthouse

• Virginia Department of Corrections

• Tennessee Department of Corrections

• Tennessee Highway Patrol

• Bristol Virginia Sheriff’s Office

• Washington County Sheriff’s Office

Career opportunities are endless in the criminal justice field. There is a shortage of jail/correctional workers in our area, and many are employing students right out of high school with significant sign-on bonuses. High school graduates also have opportunities as dispatchers, private security, loss prevention, legal secretaries, probation surveillance officers, and courtroom assistances. Beyond graduation, degree opportunities are plentiful, such as: social services (program development, casework); judiciary and law (legal assistance, legal representation); or business (surveillance, global intelligence). Salary ranges vary.

Upon completion of Criminal Justice I and II, students will be eligible to complete CRMJ 1010 and 1020 courses from Northeast State, which are offered at Tennessee High School. These courses are two separate nine-week courses during a single semester and provide the student six college credit hours.

• OSHA10 Public Safety

Also offered as part of the criminal justice classes are work-based learning opportunities. These opportunities involve job shadowing with the School Resource Officer, Bristol Tennessee Police Department Dispatch, local attorney offices, the DA Office in Bristol, TN., and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Bristol, VA.