Law Enforcement
Patrol, investigation, and community policing. The first point of contact in the justice system, responsible for preventing crime and responding to calls for service.
Grace Hopper Center · Arlington Public Schools
Criminal Justice I & II
A career and technical education program in Arlington, Virginia where students study the justice system, earn state competencies, compete in SkillsUSA, and serve the community.
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What is criminal justice?
Criminal justice is the system a society uses to prevent crime, respond to it, decide what happened, and hold people accountable while protecting the rights of everyone involved. It is made up of three connected parts: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.
It is also a field of study. Students look at why crime happens, how laws are written and applied, how evidence is collected and tested, and how fairness, ethics, and the Constitution shape every decision an officer, attorney, or judge makes.
In this program, students do not just read about the system, they practice it. They process mock crime scenes, lift and roll fingerprints, write incident reports, run mock trials, and learn the professional standards employers expect on day one.
Courts
Judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and juries decide guilt and sentence. This is where due process, evidence rules, and constitutional rights are applied.
Corrections
Jails, prisons, probation, and parole carry out sentences and work toward rehabilitation and safe reentry into the community.
Careers this program opens
Police officer / deputy sheriff
Crime scene technician
Forensic science technician
Corrections officer
Probation & parole officer
Paralegal / court clerk
Emergency dispatcher (911)
Federal agent (FBI, ATF, USSS)
Private & corporate security
Explore the program
VDOE Competencies
State competencies for Criminal Justice I & II.
SkillsUSA
Compete, lead, and sign up for competitions.
Partnerships
Agencies and businesses working with our students.
Sponsorship
Fund gear, travel, and certifications.
Class Pictures
See our students in action.
Events & Trips
What's coming up this semester.