HIGH SCHOOL LAW & CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS – (Published in National Sheriff’s Assoc. Magazine “Sheriff & Deputy”)

High Schools – A New Venue For Training & Recruitment

Over the past few years, criminal justice issues have been diverse and complex, leaving law enforcement administrators with more challenges than ever before. The lack of applicants and the public outcry for a better-trained and qualified law enforcement officer are two facts that none can disagree with. New and ingenious tactics are being sought after, but where do we start? Maybe it’s time to take a look at our Law and Criminal Justice programs in some of our nation’s high schools.

Career and Technical Education programs are on the rise throughout America. Training that is directed towards a specific job field is in more demand than ever, allowing students to bypass unnecessary expenses and classes of traditional education systems. Having Career and Technical Education programs in high schools is a decades-old and proven method of preparing our youth for the working world, where upon graduation the student has obtained an industry based certification or license and is ready to enter the workforce. Now, criminal justice programs are being added to these curriculum’s.

Examining One High School Law and Criminal Justice Program

Regarding high school Law and Criminal Justice curriculum’s, Texas seems to be one of the more progressive states with programs in the cities of Arlington, Houston, and San Antonio, among others. This author had the opportunity to focus on one such program, which is the Marshall Law and Medical Services Magnet at the Northside Independent School District (NISD) in San Antonio, TX. NISD is a large school district with about 30,000 students in Career and Technical programs. CTE Director, Debbie Schaefer shared that the district is “strategically committed to providing programming and opportunities that will provide students real advantages for their future.” They offer programming in legal studies, criminal justice, emergency services and medical fields. Several days of meetings with administrators and instructors proved to be very informative and impressive, leaving this retired Sheriff with the urgency to inform law enforcement leaders of this valuable resource. 

The Marshall Magnet began in 2019. After years of meticulous planning, a bond initiative was passed by voters in 2018, giving funding for the project. Soon afterward,  the Marshall Law and Medical Services Magnet was born. The school district began experiencing success from the onset, with enrollment in the criminal justice program eclipsing the other programs offered. Now, 732 students are enrolled in the criminal justice program throughout the NISD school district.

As with law enforcement agencies hiring personnel, being selected to attend this four-year program is not an easy task. According to Magnet Principal, Margaret Bray, those interested must meet three different criteria to be considered: exceptional student behavior, outstanding attendance, along with a C-grade or above. Then, a  lottery system is used for the final selection of students who are qualified for the program, due to the high number of applicants.

Once selected, these students begin a four-year educational voyage that is led by instructors that have diverse backgrounds in law enforcement, ranging from city and county police officers to that of prior federal agents. A unique blend of academics and hands-on practical exercises is similar to that of a law enforcement academy. The main exception: these students are on a four-year mission that consists of nine academic months annually, which by far exceeds that of any traditional academy. In addition to academics and tactics, each student will leave with a higher degree of self-discipline, physical conditioning, and respect; similar to that of a ROTC program.

The NISD CTE program works with numerous law enforcement agencies to ensure that their students are introduced to the large array of opportunities that are available once they graduate. Due to being located in San Antonio, this Law and Criminal Justice program has a close working relationship with the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Both of these agencies are actively involved with these students, giving students hands-on training and information sessions that help to supplement the education they are receiving on campus. And with over 700 students currently enrolled in one district and hundreds more in surrounding ones, recruiting opportunities are abundant for these policing agencies.

Guest presenters from many other organizations are also known to interact with these students, which includes some federal law enforcement agencies who involve themselves in both educational and recruiting initiatives. Not all law enforcement entities can hire eighteen-year-olds who are recent grads of this program, but seeding a career for these students once they are close to twenty-one are goals for these visiting recruiters. According to the NISD staff, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are top recruiters for the program graduates. 

A Texas Sheriff Speaks Out

An interview with Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar reflected a high degree of interest in these high school programs, along with showing a strong desire to seek out these recruits for future careers with his agency. Positions such as dispatchers and jailers await the qualified applicants at eighteen years old, and the hiring process can begin before the student graduates from high school.   

Sheriff Salazar has a multitude of involvement with high school criminal justice programs. In addition to normal recruitment initiatives, his agency helps these schools to manage their Explorer programs. Bexar County Deputies assist Explorers to prepare for competitions by working on traffic stops, clearing buildings, and learning active shooter scenarios. The Sheriff also carries numerous high school CTE instructors as Reserve Deputies, which is conducive for both the school and his hiring efforts.

Another program that Sheriff Salazar has implemented that is directed toward these high school students is Career Camp, which is similar to a citizen’s police academy. Once a month, high school students meet at a location within the Sheriff’s walls where they are introduced to multiple enforcement units, such as their Drone and K-9 units, tactical teams, the bomb squad, and others. In Career Camp, these participants can also begin their application for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office where, once they graduate and turn eighteen, the cadet can begin the academy.     

Sheriff Salazar shares some similar thoughts with the Marshall High School Principal, Margaret Bray. These Law and Criminal Justices programs allow students to obtain leadership and life professional skills that they may not normally have been afforded. Principal Bray pointed out that some of their students have never been outside of their city limits, so this program can be a life-changing one for them. “Supplying these teenagers with a positive and caring learning environment can pave the path for a positive life once graduating from high school,” were theories emphasized by both of these professionals. 

Conclusion

Four-year high school criminal justice programs seem to contribute some very important attributes to the law enforcement profession. They give future law and policing individuals very extensive training that is completely affordable – FREE. This supplies some very well-trained candidates for the law enforcement profession, which is craved by both the public and policing agencies. To end, I must use some well-spoken words from Sheriff Salazar: ” It is the job of Sheriffs and other law enforcement leaders to ensure the survival of our profession, and programs such as these are perfect ways to help achieve this goal!”