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Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice program is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of the key components of the criminal justice system (i.e., law/courts, law enforcement, and corrections/community supervision) and to prepare students for entry-level careers in these systems.

Students will complete coursework emphasizing the roots of the American justice system; the constitutional provisions of law; legal processes including pre-arrest, arrest through trial, sentencing, appeal and correctional procedures; the role of the community; the social-psychological bases of crime; professional ethics; and the implications of a diverse society on the administration of justice. The Criminal Justice program emphasizes critical thinking skills in the examination and analysis of criminal justice policy and the strengthening of effective written and oral communication skills.

Lake Tahoe Community College offers both an associate's degree and certificate in Criminal Justice.  

Three areas of concentration are offered: (1) Criminal Justice Foundations, (2) Law Enforcement, and (3) Corrections & Community Supervision.  

Students can expect to complete the Criminal Justice degree or certificate in two years.  

Check the LTCC schedule for further information.

Upon completion of the Criminal Justice A.A. degree or certificate, students will:

•  demonstrate a broad understanding of the historical perspective, cultural evolution and the origin of criminal law;

•  be able to describe the steps of the legal process, including pre-arrest, arrest through trial, sentencing, appeal and correctional procedures;

•  describe the influences and consequences of crime, including social and psychological factors;

•  appreciate multiculturalism as it relates to the criminal justice system;

•  describe the importance of professional ethics in the major areas of the criminal justice system (i.e., law/courts, law enforcement, and corrections/communitysupervision);

•  acquire the skills and knowledge to assist them in obtaining entry-level employment in a variety of areas, including the court system, law enforcement, and corrections/probation.

Program Philosophy and Mission

The mission of the Criminal Justice program at LTCC is to provide students with a superior education in Criminal Justice.  In addition to meeting the needs of our student population, and in the spirit and intent of a community college, our curriculum:

•  meets the highest academic standards,
•  prepares students to think critically about the problems
   of crime and justice as citizens, and
• enables students to perform effectively as employees
   in the Criminal Justice arena.

The mission of the Criminal Justice program may best be summarized by the following statement:

Experienced Criminal Justice instructors providing the highest quality and most contemporary education possible for future Criminal Justice professionals.

Juvenile Corrections Officer Training at LTCC

Lake Tahoe Community College has entered into a partnership with the El Dorado County Probation Department and is now certified by the State of California - Board of Corrections, and Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) to offer the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course.

The Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course (CRJ171; 12.25 units) is an intensive academy-model course that follows the STC mandated curriculum and is appropriate for newly hired juvenile correctional officers or motivated students who desire a career in this field.

The course offers 156 hours of training over a period of four weeks and includes training in:

• Roles and responsibilities of a juvenile correctional
   officer
• The juvenile criminal justice system
• Report writing
• Management of assaultive behavior
• Indicators of substance abuse, gang affiliation, medical
   issues
• Security and supervision
• Crisis intervention
• CPR/First Aid techniques
• Physical conditioning

LTCC also offers CRJ170: PC832, Powers of Arrest.  This 40-hour (2.75 quarter units) course covers information regarding powers of arrest, search and seizure for peace officers with limited police powers. The course is specifically tailored for corrections and private security settings and meets the curriculum requirements of the California State Standards and Training for Corrections (STC) and Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) as required by Penal Code Section 832. Firearms training is not provided in this course.

Certification Information

Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course -- STC Certification # 1230-024046
PC832, Powers of Arrest -- POST Certification #3850-80100
Certificates awarded upon course completions.

For further information on the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course, please email Olga Hopkins


Criminal Justice Department Contact Person:
Virginia Boyar, PhD
Lake Tahoe Community College (D106/107)
(530) 541-4660, ext 298
Email: boyar@ltcc.edu


Faculty:
• Mark Allen
• Leona Allen (CRJ Coordinator; POST Reserve Officer Training)
• Tim Breza
• Terry Daniels
• Greg Evans
• Steve Heggen
• Olga Hopkins (JCO Coordinator)
• Anne Landry
• Shannon Laney
• Lt. Les Lovell (Lead Instructor, POST Reserve Officer Training; Intro to Corrections)
• Larry Olsen
• Del Peuse
• Maury Reichelt
• Lisa Serafini
• Mark Tappen
• Brad Williams
• Brian Williams


Degrees/Certificates:
• Certificate of Achievement
• A.A. Degree

• Criminal Justice Courses Offered
• Required Courses for Criminal Justice A.A. Degree or Certificate