Public Service & Safety

Have a passion for justice, protecting others, or making a difference in your community?

The Public Service & Safety Career Cluster is all about leadership, integrity, and service—helping keep our communities safe, fair, and strong. From law enforcement and criminal justice to government service and emergency response, this field is built on teamwork, critical thinking, and a commitment to doing what’s right.

Whether you see yourself wearing a badge, standing up in court, serving your country, or helping your community, the Public Service & Safety pathway gives you the knowledge, discipline, and purpose to lead and protect.

If you care about fairness, service, and creating a safer world, this could be the path where your courage and compassion shine.

Courses Offered to Asheville High and SILSA students through AB Technical Community College:

Intro to Criminal Justice

AB Tech Instructor: Kristie Gasperson

Quick Summary:

Explore the inner workings of the criminal justice system, from its historical roots to its modern-day structure and philosophy.
Examine the roles and functions of law enforcement, courts, and corrections, and how these components interact with society.
Gain a clear understanding of the system, its impact on communities, and potential career paths within criminal justice.
Approved for transfer under the CAA as a pre-major or elective course.

National Salary Range: $65,800 - $104,000

Career Opportunities: Criminal Justice Technology A.A.S. Degree, Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, Deputy Sheriff, Private Security, Magistrate, Correctional Officer, Surveillance Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Wildlife Enforcement

Relatable Careers around Asheville:

City of Asheville Police Department: Police Officer Trainee, Certified Police Officer: For those with NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission certification.
- Specialty Units: Opportunities in SWAT, K9, Traffic Enforcement, and Community Engagement.
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: Deputy Sheriff
Buncombe County Government Jobs: BLET Cadet Program, Detention Officer, Police 1 and Corrections 1
University of North Carolina at Asheville Police Department: Part-Time Police Officer, Criminal Justice Education & Support Roles
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech): Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice Technology, Criminal Justice Continuing Education Coordinator
Buncombe County Government: Pretrial Services Screener, Administrative Assistant, Law Enforcement Training
- Specialized & Supportive Roles: Criminal Research/Administrative Specialist, Security Professional, Crisis Responder

Juvenile Justice

AB Tech Instructor: Kristie Gasperson

Quick Summary:

Examine the juvenile justice system and the issues affecting youth in conflict with the law.
Explore juvenile courts, treatment and prevention programs, unique laws and procedures, and the roles of juvenile agencies.
Learn how juveniles are processed, detained, and how cases are resolved, while gaining insight into the system’s impact on young people and society.
Approved for transfer under the CAA as a pre-major or elective course.

National Salary Range: $65,800 - $104,000

Career Opportunities: Criminal Justice Technology A.A.S. Degree, Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, Deputy Sheriff, Private Security, Magistrate, Correctional Officer, Surveillance Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Wildlife Enforcement

Relatable Careers around Asheville:

City of Asheville Police Department: Police Officer Trainee, Certified Police Officer: For those with NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission certification.
- Specialty Units: Opportunities in SWAT, K9, Traffic Enforcement, and Community Engagement.
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: Deputy Sheriff
Buncombe County Government Jobs: BLET Cadet Program, Detention Officer, Police 1 and Corrections 1
University of North Carolina at Asheville Police Department: Part-Time Police Officer, Criminal Justice Education & Support Roles
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech): Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice Technology, Criminal Justice Continuing Education Coordinator
Buncombe County Government: Pretrial Services Screener, Administrative Assistant, Law Enforcement Training
- Specialized & Supportive Roles: Criminal Research/Administrative Specialist, Security Professional, Crisis Responder

Criminal Law

AB Tech Instructor: Kristie Gasperson

Quick Summary:

Explore the history, principles, and modern applications of criminal law, with a focus on North Carolina statutes.
Cover the sources of law, classification of crimes, parties to crimes, elements of offenses, and issues of criminal responsibility.
Learn to interpret and apply relevant laws, understand the evolution of legal principles, and analyze real-world cases within the criminal justice system.

National Salary Range: $65,800 - $104,000

Career Opportunities: Criminal Justice Technology A.A.S. Degree, Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, Deputy Sheriff, Private Security, Magistrate, Correctional Officer, Surveillance Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Wildlife Enforcement

Relatable Careers around Asheville:

City of Asheville Police Department: Police Officer Trainee, Certified Police Officer: For those with NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission certification.
- Specialty Units: Opportunities in SWAT, K9, Traffic Enforcement, and Community Engagement.
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: Deputy Sheriff
Buncombe County Government Jobs: BLET Cadet Program, Detention Officer, Police 1 and Corrections 1
University of North Carolina at Asheville Police Department: Part-Time Police Officer, Criminal Justice Education & Support Roles
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech): Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice Technology, Criminal Justice Continuing Education Coordinator
Buncombe County Government: Pretrial Services Screener, Administrative Assistant, Law Enforcement Training
- Specialized & Supportive Roles: Criminal Research/Administrative Specialist, Security Professional, Crisis Responder

Law Enforcement Operations

AB Tech Instructor: Kristie Gasperson

Quick Summary:

Examine the history, principles, and modern applications of criminal law, with an emphasis on North Carolina law.
Topics include sources of substantive law, crime classifications, parties to crimes, elements of offenses, and issues of criminal responsibility.
Gain the skills to interpret and apply relevant statutes, analyze legal scenarios, and understand the evolution and real-world impact of criminal law.

National Salary Range: $65,800 - $104,000

Career Opportunities: Criminal Justice Technology A.A.S. Degree, Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, Deputy Sheriff, Private Security, Magistrate, Correctional Officer, Surveillance Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Wildlife Enforcement

Relatable Careers around Asheville:

City of Asheville Police Department: Police Officer Trainee, Certified Police Officer: For those with NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission certification.
- Specialty Units: Opportunities in SWAT, K9, Traffic Enforcement, and Community Engagement.
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: Deputy Sheriff
Buncombe County Government Jobs: BLET Cadet Program, Detention Officer, Police 1 and Corrections 1
University of North Carolina at Asheville Police Department: Part-Time Police Officer, Criminal Justice Education & Support Roles
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech): Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice Technology, Criminal Justice Continuing Education Coordinator
Buncombe County Government: Pretrial Services Screener, Administrative Assistant, Law Enforcement Training
- Specialized & Supportive Roles: Criminal Research/Administrative Specialist, Security Professional, Crisis Responder

Corrections

AB Tech Instructor: Kristie Gasperson

Quick Summary:

Explore the world of corrections, including jails, prisons, and programs for people in the justice system.
Learn about the history of corrections, how different parts of the system work, and the ways society tries to help or manage offenders.
Topics include alternatives to jail, treatment programs, and how inmates are supervised.
By the end of the course, understand how the correctional system operates and the challenges it faces.

National Salary Range: $65,800 - $104,000

Career Opportunities: Criminal Justice Technology A.A.S. Degree, Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, Deputy Sheriff, Private Security, Magistrate, Correctional Officer, Surveillance Officer, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Wildlife Enforcement

Relatable Careers around Asheville:

City of Asheville Police Department: Police Officer Trainee, Certified Police Officer: For those with NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission certification.
- Specialty Units: Opportunities in SWAT, K9, Traffic Enforcement, and Community Engagement.
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: Deputy Sheriff
Buncombe County Government Jobs: BLET Cadet Program, Detention Officer, Police 1 and Corrections 1
University of North Carolina at Asheville Police Department: Part-Time Police Officer, Criminal Justice Education & Support Roles
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech): Adjunct Instructor in Criminal Justice Technology, Criminal Justice Continuing Education Coordinator
Buncombe County Government: Pretrial Services Screener, Administrative Assistant, Law Enforcement Training
- Specialized & Supportive Roles: Criminal Research/Administrative Specialist, Security Professional, Crisis Responder

Interdisciplinary Potential

Based on national labor market data, this Career Cluster is most closely connected to Education and Healthcare & Human Services. For more information about the interdisciplinary nature of the Career Clusters, view this resource.

Questions?

Cody Cheek
Curriculum and Instruction Management Coordinator
cody.cheek@acsgmail.net