LE1 Pic

Law Enforcement 1

Instructor: Contessa Ratcliff, M.A

Email: cratcliff@mckinneyisd.net

Phone: 469-302-4300 ext 4541

Conference Period: 8:25 - 9:15 A.M.

My Schedule: Schedule-1.png North Bell Schedule: Link

Course Description

Law Enforcement (LE) I is an overview of the history, organization and functions of local, state, and federal LE. The course includes the role of constitutional law, the United States legal system, criminal law, LE terminology and the classification and elements of crime and arrest. Student will be introduced to victim’s rights, interview and interrogation techniques, juvenile law, substance abuse, traffic stops, building search and crime scene search procedures and introductory forensic science techniques.

General Requirements

This course is recommended for students in Grades 10 ‑ 12.

Recommended prerequisite: Principles of Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security (LPSCS).

Course Length

1 credit

Course Requirements

Students will be required bring their school-issued devices (MacBook) to class each day as most work be completed and submitted in Canvas LMS.

Assignments – The student will be required to complete assignments as assigned by the instructor. Assignments will include, but are not limited to, completion of study guides, quizzes and other work as determined by the instructor. Group activities may also be assigned during class.

Class Participation – In order for all students to enjoy and learn from this course, student participation in classroom discussions, special projects, and group work, in addition to the individual assignments, is a necessity. Regular and punctual class attendance is mandatory. You cannot participate if you are not in class. You are expected to attend for the full class period. The instructor has the right and responsibility to document excessive tardiness and absences in fairness to the students who are in class and on time to class each day.

Grading Policy

A student’s course grade will be based on the total possible points for assignments/exercises given and on class progression. Grades will be posted within five school days after the assignment, test or quiz is completed.

Course grades will be assigned as follows:

A: 90%-100% B: 80%-89.99% C: 70%-79.99% F: Below 70%

Grade Percentage Breakdown:

70% Major Grades (tests, major projects, lengthy assignments)
30% Daily Work (in-class activities, minor projects, quizzes)

Make-Up Work

For any class missed, the teacher may assign the student makeup work based on the instructional objectives for the subject, or course, and the needs of the individual student in mastering the essential knowledge and skills, or in meeting subject or course requirements. A student will be responsible for obtaining and completing the makeup work in a satisfactory manner and within 5 days (the time specified by the teacher). A student who does not make up assigned work within the time allotted by the teacher will receive a grade of zero for the assignment. A student is encouraged to speak with his or her teacher if the student knows of an absence ahead of time, including absences for extracurricular activities, so that the teacher and student may plan any work that can be completed before or shortly after the absence. Please remember the importance of student attendance at school and that, even though absences may be excused or unexcused, all absences account for the 90 percent threshold in regards to the state laws surrounding “attendance for credit or final grade.”

Late Work

Students will be expected to complete all assignments on time and in their entirety. If a student does not turn in an assignment, a MSG (missing) will be entered in the gradebook. This will temporarily calculate as a ZERO until replaced with a grade. If the student has failed to turn in the missing work the MSG will be replaced with a ZERO. Additionally, students will be assessed a 10% per day penalty for work submitted after the due date.

Retesting Guidelines

Prior to retesting on a summative task, students must attend at least one tutorial with their teacher or an appropriate designee in the department.
Test corrections are not an adequate indicator of mastery learning. Instead, test corrections would be an expected component of tutorial preparation for the retesting opportunity. Test corrections will not be used to raise the student’s score on the assessment.
For any retakes, the grade will only be used if it is higher than the original grade earned on the assignment. The highest possible grade on any retaken assignment will be 70 in Level III courses, 75 in Level II courses and 80 in Level I courses.
Only ONE retake/redo is allowable per assignment. Although only one opportunity is offered for redoing a specific assignment, there will be multiple opportunities for students to learn the content and achieve mastery.
Students who are absent will follow the student absence guidelines for making up assignments. If the original assessment was given the last week of the grading period and a reasonable opportunity to redo is not available, the grade shall be taken for the next marking period.
A final exam will not be allowed to be retaken regardless of the grade received.

Classroom Expectations and Rules

CELL PHONES SHALL NOT BE USED DURING THE CLASS EXCEPT WITH PERMISSION FROM THE TEACHER. THESE SHALL BE PUT AWAY IN YOUR BACKPACK, POCKET OR PURSE!
Follow all campus/district-wide rules and regulations.
Come to class on time! No admittance without a tardy slip after the tardy bell rings.
Upon entering the classroom, begin daily bell-ringer activity in Canvas.
Bring required materials including your MacBook and earbuds every day!
Cheating will NOT be tolerated and the student/s caught will receive a zero for that assignment.
Use polite speech and body language. Profanity will NOT be tolerated.
Follow the instructor’s directions immediately.
Speak only when permitted. If a student continues to interrupt the class, a referral will be sent to that student’s AP.
Remain in your assigned seat unless you have permission to get up.
No food will be allowed in the classroom. Drinks are allowed.
All personal business will be conducted before or after class, NOT during class. This includes using the restrooms.
All work for excused absences will be made up within three days of the absence.
Class lasts until the bell rings. Do NOT gather by the door prior to the bell.

**The policies stated in this syllabus are subject to change by the instructor**

Consequences

First Offense: Warning - reprimand
Second Offense: Contact parent, and document disruptive behavior
Third Offense: Referral to AP for Detention

Once the student has received a detention for the same rule violation there will be no further warnings. It will be an automatic referral to the student’s assistance principal.