CJS 218 - Criminal Justice Communications

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
RESTRICTED. Open only to Police Academy Option students. Covers topics mandated by the Maryland Police Training Commission for pre-employment certification as a sworn law enforcement officer. Topics include note taking and police reports and how these reports are used within the criminal justice system and communication with the public and the court system.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of director.

Location(s) Typically Offered: Arnold Main Campus (MC)

Term(s) Typically Offered: Spring

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Compose oral and written law enforcement communications such as police reports, interoffice correspondence, and numerous preprinted police report forms.
Take field notes under all conditions in written reports and as evidence for court testimony.
Demonstrate the fundamentals of interviewing victims and witnesses to enable appropriate written reporting and investigation.
Analyze and demonstrate multicultural verbal and nonverbal communications and other communication operations of the police radio communication system and conduct proper police operations with mobile communication equipment.
Combine all radio communications, interviewing, and note-taking factors in preparing relevant police reports, case studies, and court preparation correspondence.
Develop a better understanding of DEIA through criminal justice communication efforts, to analyze and build competency in diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and LGBTQ+ communities, and provide current (and relevant) academic readings, videos, and cultural assignments to eliminate biases, prejudices, and other stereotypes using a multicultural lens.