Corrections

The Certificate of Achievement in Corrections provides students with a high quality education that prepares them for professional career in the Corrections field under the direct supervision of a seasoned Corrections Officer. It provides the student with the basic knowledge, skills, and a strong foundation needed to function at a competent level. It would also satisfy the minimum requirements for applicants applying for employment at the entry level in any juvenile or adult correctional facility in the State of California.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

1. Understand how the corrections subsystem fits into the whole system of criminal justice.

2. Identify the primary differences between jails, prisons, juvenile halls, and probation camps.

3. Understand the concept of incapacitation.

4. Have a clear understanding of the juvenile justice system as it relates to delinquent, dependent, and status offenders.

5. Explain the juvenile court concept of least restrictive alternative.

6. Distinguish the basic difference between an interview with an interrogation.

7. Understand the purposes and goals of different correctional system programs offered to inmates such as educational programs, health programs, life skills, religious programs, and vocational programs.

8. Describe the three components of the criminal justice system: Explain the relationship between the police, courts and corrections.

9. Understand the problems of parolees, and describe how they differ from those of probationers.

10. Describe the concept of prisonization.

11. Explain the problem involved in confining elderly criminals, female prisoners, and the mentally ill prisoners.

12. Compare and contrast the difference between how adults, juveniles, gays, homosexuals, lesbians, and cross-gender persons are handled by the criminal justice system: Explain why this is important.

13. Understand the basic rights each inmate is entitled to under the 1st, 4th, 8th, and 14th Amendments.

14. Understand the conflicting roles of being a cop and social worker as a Probation Officer and Parole agent.

To complete the Certificate of Achievement in Corrections, students must complete all of the program course requirements. It is recommended that students consult with the Counseling Office to develop a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan and also consult with an Administration of Justice/Corrections faculty.

Academic Year	Programs per year	Projected Cohort Enrollment	Completion Rate	Total Students Completing
2023-2024	1	20	75%	15
2024-2025	1	20	75%	15
2025-2026	1	20	75%	15

West Los Angeles College’s Certificate of Achievement in Corrections responds to the growing demand for highly skilled entry level corrections officers in both the adult and juvenile facilities in the state of California. There is a growing need for these positions due to the increase population in the prisons, jails, juvenile halls, and probation camps. This has created a wide range of employment opportunities and options for individuals who have the ability and desire to work with people that are incarcerated utilizing their counseling skills and building rapport in hopes of redirecting negative behavior and returning this population back into the community to be constructive citizens. West Los Angeles College will tap into this field and help students learn about the culture inside the walls of incarceration, prepare them for the application and exam process, so that they can succeed in their career and educational goals. Students who successfully complete the sequence of courses in the Certificate of Achievement in Corrections will demonstrate the following Program Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand how the corrections subsystem fits into the whole system of criminal justice.

2. Identify the primary differences between jails, prisons, juvenile halls, and probation camps.

3. Understand the concept of incapacitation.

4. Have a clear understanding of the juvenile justice system as it relates to delinquent, dependent, and status offenders.

5. Explain the juvenile court concept of least restrictive alternative.

6. Distinguish the basic difference between an interview with an interrogation.

7. Understand the purposes and goals of different correctional system programs offered to inmates such as educational programs, health programs, life skills, religious programs, and vocational programs.

8. Describe the three components of the criminal justice system: Explain the relationship between the police, courts and corrections.

9. Understand the problems of parolees, and describe how they differ from those of probationers.

10. Describe the concept of prisonization.

11. Explain the problem involved in confining elderly criminals, female prisoners, and the mentally ill prisoners.

12. Compare and contrast the difference between how adults, juveniles, gays, homosexuals, lesbians, and cross-gender persons are handled by the criminal justice system: Explain why this is important.

13. Understand the basic rights each inmate is entitled to under the 1st, 4th, 8th, and 14th Amendments.

14. Understand the conflicting roles of being a cop and social worker as a Probation Officer and Parole agent.

The Certificate of Achievement in Corrections is planned in sequence. Satisfactory completion of all courses with a grade of “C” or better in a given semester is required before the student may continue to the second semester.

These 5 courses that make up this Certificate of Achievement in Corrections could also be applied towards an AA Degree in Administration of Justice/Corrections.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ADM JUS 008	Juvenile Procedures	3	Y1
ADM JUS 039	Probation and Parole	3	Y1
ADM JUS 075	Introduction to Corrections	3	Y1
ADM JUS 309	Correctional Interviewing and Counseling	3	Y1
CORRECTIONS 002	Correctional Institutions	3	Y1

a) Do any active inventory records need to be made inactive or changed in connection with the approval of the proposed program? If yes, please specify. No records need to be made inactive or changed in connection with the Achievement Certificate in Corrections program. b) Does the program replace any existing program(s) on the college’s inventory? Provide relevant details if this program is related to the termination or scaling down of another program(s). This program does not replace any existing program on the college’s inventory. c) What related programs are offered by the college? Administration of Justice AA and AS-T Degrees This new certificate will create additional pathways and opportunities for students to enter the field of Administration of Justice, but not necessarily interested in becoming a law enforcement officer such as police, sheriff, or California Highway Patrol.

East Los Angeles College - Certificate of Achievement in Administration of Justice/Sociological Emphasis (15 Units) Los Angeles Harbor College - Certificate of Achievement in Administration of Justice (24 Units) Los Angeles Mission College - Certificate of Achievement in Probation/Corrections Officer Candidate (18 Units)

20 students per academic year between the years of 2023/24 and 2025/26

N/A