Maricopa Community Colleges  LET110   20042-20082 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 11/25/03
LET110 20042-20082 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Fundamentals of Law Enforcement
Overview of law enforcement fundamentals and components of the criminal justice system. Covers various aspects of law enforcement including the history, management and supervision, ethics and professionalism, stress management as well as victimology, interpersonal communication, crime prevention and community policing issues.
Prerequisites: Permission of Department or Division.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LET110   20042-20082 Fundamentals of Law Enforcement
1. Outline the evolution of law enforcement from ancient history to the present community law enforcement era. (I)
2. Identify the functions and responsibilities of the components of the criminal justice system. (II)
3. Explain how the three components interact with each other. (II)
4. Identify and explain "chain of command" and "span of control". (III)
5. Define gratuities and bribes and give examples of each. (IV)
6. List the stages of stress. (V)
7. Explain management techniques for dealing with stress. (V)
8. Identify and define the basic responses to victimization. (VI)
9. Identify and describe the elements of effective interpersonal communication. (VII)
10. Explain crime prevention functions. (VIII)
11. Explain the core components of community policing. (IX)
12. Identify and describe the S.A.R.A. Model of problem solving. (IX)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LET110   20042-20082 Fundamentals of Law Enforcement
    I. History of Law Enforcement
        A. Laws of Hammurabi
        B. Mutal Pledge System
        C. The Magna Carta
        D. Pellian Reform
        E. Police Agency Development
      II. Criminal Justice System
          A. Overview
          B. Branches of Government
            1. Function
            2. Responsibilities
          C. Parole and Probation
          D. Components
            1. Law Enforcement
            2. Judicial
            3. Corrections
          E. Players
            1. Judges
            2. Prosecuting Attorneys
            3. Defense Attorneys
            4. Parole Officers
            5. Probation Officers
            6. Correctional Officers
            7. Police/Sheriff
            8. Victim/Witness Services
          F. Federal Agencies
            1. Functions
            2. Jurisdictions
            3. Responsibilities
          G. State Agencies
            1. Functions
            2. Jurisdictions
            3. Responsibilities
          H. Tribal Agencies
            1. Functions
            2. Jurisdictions
            3. Responsibilities
          I. County Agencies
            1. Functions
            2. Jurisdictions
            3. Responsibilities
          J. Local Agencies
            1. Functions
            2. Jurisdictions
            3. Responsibilities
          K. Authority State Statute
          A. Peace Officers' Authority
          B. Tribal Police
          C. Federal Peace Officers Cross-Certification
        III. Police Management and Supervision
            A. Overview
            B. "Chain of Command"
            C. "Span of Control"
            D. Problem Solving Steps
              1. Identify
              2. Analyze
              3. Develop
              4. Select a Solution
              5. Evaluate Effectiveness
            E. Officer and Supervisor Relationship
              1. Responsibilities
              2. Authority
              3. Delegation
              4. Motivation
          IV. Ethics and Professionalism
              A. Overview
              B. "Law Enforcement Code of Ethics"
              C. "Canons of Police Ethics"
              D. Gratuities
              E. Bribes
              F. Ethical Standards
              G. Handling Unethical Situations
              H. State Governing Board
              I. Peace Officer's Certification
                1. Revocation
                2. Suspension
                3. Denial
              J. Use of Discretion
                1. Statutory Requirements
                2. Departmental Policies and Procedures
                3. Best Interest of the Community
                4. Best Interest of the Victim
                5. Best Interest of the Department
            V. Stress Management
                A. Overview
                B. Stages
                C. Sources
                D. Types
                E. Warning Signs
                F. Management Techniques
                G. Emotional Survival
              VI. Victimology
                  A. Overview
                  B. Persons in Crisis
                    1. Emotional Indicators
                    2. Psychological Indicators
                  C. Officer's Responsibilities
                    1. Psychological Responses
                    2. Verbal and Non-Verbal Techniques
                  D. Victim's Rights Bill
                VII. Interpersonal Communication
                    A. Elements
                    B. Factors Affecting Perception
                    C. Body Language
                    D. Language/Non-language Factors
                    E. Dealing With the Elderly
                    F. Non-English Speaking Individuals
                    G. Hearing Impaired
                    H. Visually Impaired
                    I. Next-of-Kin/Death Notification
                    J. Difficult Citizen Contacts
                  VIII. Crime Prevention
                      A. Overview
                      B. Law Enforcement Functions
                      C. Crime Victims
                      D. Programs
                        1. Stranger Danger
                        2. McGruff the Crime Dog
                        3. Neighborhood Watch/Block Watch
                        4. Operation Identification
                        5. Security Surveys
                        6. School Resource Officers
                        7. Sexual Assault Prevention
                        8. Silent Witness
                        9. D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
                        10. C.P.T.E.D. (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)
                      E. Security Considerations
                        1. Area Lighting
                        2. Exterior Hinges
                        3. Hollow Core Doors
                        4. Landscaping
                        5. Roll-out Windows
                        6. Sliding Glass Doors
                        7. Sliding Windows
                      F. Locking Devices
                    IX. Police and the Community
                        A. Overview
                        B. Components
                          1. Crime Prevention
                          2. Community Partnership
                          3. Problem Solving
                        C. Traditional Policing
                          1. Arrest is Primary Tool
                          2. Numbers and Incident Driven
                          3. "Us vs. Them" Mentality
                          4. Do it FOR the Community
                        D. Community Policing
                          1. Results Oriented
                          2. Pro-Active Problem Solving
                          3. Community Partnerships
                          4. Do it WITH the Community
                        E. Community Partnership Development
                        F. "Trigger Points" That Can Cause Community Crisis
                          1. Death
                          2. Natural Disaster
                          3. Community Victimization
                          4. Distrust
                        G. S.A.R.A. Model of Problem Solving
                          1. Overview
                          2. Scanning
                          3. Analysis
                          4. Responding
                          5. Assessment
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