Embedded Files
This program is designed for students who aspire to enter the criminal justice industry—including law enforcement, forensics, corrections, and the courts—and develop the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic field. Throughout your four-year criminal justice experience, you will gain a solid academic foundation in law and the justice system while also practicing hands-on skills directly connected to real-world careers. The combination of classroom learning and practical application prepares you to confidently pursue future opportunities in the criminal justice profession.
This program is designed for students who aspire to enter the criminal justice industry—including law enforcement, forensics, corrections, and the courts—and develop the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic field. Throughout your four-year criminal justice experience, you will gain a solid academic foundation in law and the justice system while also practicing hands-on skills directly connected to real-world careers. The combination of classroom learning and practical application prepares you to confidently pursue future opportunities in the criminal justice profession.
Freshman Year: Principles of Law Enforcement
Freshman Year: Principles of Law Enforcement
Sophomore Year: Court Systems
Sophomore Year: Court Systems
Junior Year: Law Enforcement & Crime Scene Investigation
Junior Year: Law Enforcement & Crime Scene Investigation
Senior Year: Practicum in Law Enforcement & Certifications
Senior Year: Practicum in Law Enforcement & Certifications
Criminal Justice Career Opportunities
Criminal Justice Career Opportunities
Is this pathway only for those that want to be police officers? No---there is MUCH MORE!
Is this pathway only for those that want to be police officers? No---there is MUCH MORE!
Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement
Municipal/County: Police Department or Sheriff's Office, Constable, Medical Examiner’s Investigator, District Attorney’s Investigator, Bailiff (court officer), SWAT, Specialized divisions like K9, arson, auto crimes, detectives, bomb squad
Federal: FBI, CIA, ATF, Air Marshall, DEA, TSA, IRS, Secret Service
State: State Trooper, Texas Ranger, Game Warden, Border Patrol, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC)
Special: School District Police, Railroad Police, Port Police, Tribal Police
Forensics: Crime scene investigation/forensic analyst, forensics labs
Law/ Court System
Law/ Court System
Prosecutor
Defense Attorney
Judge
Advocate
County Clerk
Stenographer/Court Reporter (type all proceedings)
Paralegal
Court Interpreter
Pretrial Services
Corrections
Corrections
Jailer
Prison Guard
Support Staff
Parole/Probation Officer
Juvenile Probation/Detention
Pretrial Services Officer
Technical Controls
Inmate Support
Warden
Intake and Release
Presentations & Speakers
Presentations & Speakers
We regularly welcome industry professionals to campus to present to our students, giving them an inside look at their careers and the wide range of opportunities available in the criminal justice field. These sessions allow students to engage directly with experts, ask questions, and build connections that support their future pathways.
Presenters: FBI, DEA, US Marshalls, Attorneys, IBM, HPD Mounted Police, GCSO Forensic Services Unit, League City Fire Marshall's Office K9 Scent Unit, Harris County Corrections K9, Pasadena Police Department SWAT, K9, and communications.
Field Trips
Field Trips
Field trips are essential for helping students gain a true, firsthand understanding of what criminal justice professionals do each day. These experiences allow them to observe real workplaces, interact with experts, and connect classroom learning to authentic environments. Field-based learning deepens engagement, builds confidence, and gives students a clearer sense of the career paths they may want to pursue.
Field trips: Galveston County jail and courts, Pasadena and Texas City Fire Stations, Galveston Coast Guard Station, Senior Cruise, Houston Emergency Center, TransStar, CERT Rodeo, Thurgood Marshall Law School, Harris County jail and courts, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville Prison, Pasadena Police Department and Academy, League City Police Department, and University of Houston Law Center.
What Do We Do In Class???
What Do We Do In Class???
- Group Projects and Presentations
- Crime Scene Investigations
- Latent Prints
- Traffic Stops
- Stop the Bleed and CPR Training
- 911 Call Taking
- Fingerprint Comparison
- Court Proceedings
- Presumptive Blood Tests
- Evidence Collection
- Hair & Fiber Analysis
- Building Search
- Shooting Range
- Defense Tactics
- DNA Collection
- Handcuffing
- Evidence Collection
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
CTHS Criminal Justice Club
CTHS Criminal Justice Club
All of our criminal justice students are encouraged to join our Criminal Justice Club. The club supports our pathway and TPSA competitors, raises funds for competition expenses, and provides students with meaningful opportunities to participate in and lead a student organization. Through club activities, members build leadership skills, strengthen their connection to the criminal justice community, and engage in experiences that enrich their learning beyond the classroom.
All of our criminal justice students are encouraged to join our Criminal Justice Club. The club supports our pathway and TPSA competitors, raises funds for competition expenses, and provides students with meaningful opportunities to participate in and lead a student organization. Through club activities, members build leadership skills, strengthen their connection to the criminal justice community, and engage in experiences that enrich their learning beyond the classroom.
Activities include: movie nights, field trips (paint ball, Sam Houston State University, go-kart racing, paintball), fundraising, TPSA competitions, Fall Festival, End Of Year Banquet, and more!
Activities include: movie nights, field trips (paint ball, Sam Houston State University, go-kart racing, paintball), fundraising, TPSA competitions, Fall Festival, End Of Year Banquet, and more!
Texas Public Service Association (TPSA) Competitions
Texas Public Service Association (TPSA) Competitions
The Texas Public Safety Association (TPSA) offers a unique Career Development Program designed to ignite the potential of students interested in the field of public safety. Through a series of competitive events held at various conferences, students are given the opportunity to challenge themselves, learn, and grow. These events not only foster competition but also equip students with essential skills and knowledge tailored to succeed in their chosen career paths within public safety. Website: https://tpsa.org/
The Texas Public Safety Association (TPSA) offers a unique Career Development Program designed to ignite the potential of students interested in the field of public safety. Through a series of competitive events held at various conferences, students are given the opportunity to challenge themselves, learn, and grow. These events not only foster competition but also equip students with essential skills and knowledge tailored to succeed in their chosen career paths within public safety. Website: https://tpsa.org/
Job Shadow Opportunities
Job Shadow Opportunities
Seniors may choose to participate in our job shadow program, where they work alongside professionals in the career field of their choice. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
Seniors may choose to participate in our job shadow program, where they work alongside professionals in the career field of their choice. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Law Offices
- Forensic Services Unit (crime scene investigation)
- Municipal Courts
- Police Departments
- Animal Services
Teen Court
Teen Court
Working in partnership with the Pasadena Municipal Court, our program hosts Teen Court once a month. Students take on the roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, court bailiff, and members of the jury as they hear real juvenile cases from the Pasadena community. Each proceeding focuses on determining an appropriate sentence for the defendant, who has already pled guilty in Municipal Court and agreed to Teen Court sentencing. Municipal judges preside over the hearings, and local attorneys serve as mentors, guiding students through the trial process and strengthening their understanding of the justice system.
Working in partnership with the Pasadena Municipal Court, our program hosts Teen Court once a month. Students take on the roles of defense and prosecution attorneys, court bailiff, and members of the jury as they hear real juvenile cases from the Pasadena community. Each proceeding focuses on determining an appropriate sentence for the defendant, who has already pled guilty in Municipal Court and agreed to Teen Court sentencing. Municipal judges preside over the hearings, and local attorneys serve as mentors, guiding students through the trial process and strengthening their understanding of the justice system.
Criminal Justice Alumni
Criminal Justice Alumni
Our Criminal Justice alumni continue to shape the future of public safety—and they never forget where they started. Many now serve as police officers, dispatchers, corrections professionals, and community advocates, returning often to share real‑world experience with our students. Their mentorship, career guidance, and authentic stories inspire the next generation and strengthen the powerful connection between our program and the criminal justice community.
crim just.mp4Certifications
Certifications
Dispatch Certification
Dispatch Certification
The ETC (Emergency Telecommunications Certification) is a 40-hour program produced by the IAED and is designed to train new employees unfamiliar with emergency communication centers, emergency telecommunication technology, interpersonal communication, legal issues, and job stress factors. This course is essential to effective emergency dispatch. The course emphasizes sound training and proven protocols to guide the highest standards of care. During the course, participants learn through instructor-led lecture, discussion, video segments, audiotape review, hands-on practice and role-playing to increase their expertise and confidence in extreme situations.
Topics Include:
Topics Include:
Telecommunications Technologies
Call management
Classification of Police, Fire, and EMS calls for service
Disaster Readiness
Radios and Radio Broadcast Procedures
Legal Aspects
Quality Assurance
Stress Management
Municipal Jailer Certification
Municipal Jailer Certification
This course prepares participants to begin a new career with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a municipal jail or detention facility environment. This course was designed with the Texas Municipal Jail Association to meet the recommendations for municipal jailer training. (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requirements for Municipal Jailer course #3510).
Topics Include:
Topics Include:
Addressing injurious behavior
Courtroom testimony
Emergency situations
Human aspects
Inmate health care
Intake procedures
Introduction to detention facilities
Prisoner services
Report writing
Security protocols
Teen CERT
Teen CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program is a national program of volunteers trained in disaster preparedness and emergency response. Volunteers come from all ages and all walks of life, including teenagers like you! Through Teen CERT, you can serve your community and help take care of your school and home.
Topics Include:
Topics Include:
Put out small fires and conduct light search and rescue
Assist those who are injured and set up medical treatment areas
Assist emergency responders
Identify and anticipate hazards and reduce fire hazards in the home and workplace
Help reduce survivor stress
Basic Life Support (CPR)
Basic Life Support (CPR)
The AHA’s BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).
Topics Include:
Topics Include:
High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
The AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
Important early use of an AED
Effective ventilations using a barrier device
Importance of teams in multi-rescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multi-rescuer CPR
Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
Dr. Melissa Ryan
Dr. Melissa Ryan
MRyan@pasadenaisd.org
Mr. Mike Y'Barbo
Mr. Mike Y'Barbo
MYbarbo@pasadenaisd.org
Questions?
Questions?
Join the CTHS Criminal Justice Instagrams!
Join the CTHS Criminal Justice Instagrams!
@dr.melissa.ryan and @cjkidzclub
You can also email either of us any time to ask questions!
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