Criminal Justice Remains
a Popular Elective
One of the most popular elective courses at Huntington High School continues to be Criminal Justice, a half-year, half-credit class available to juniors and seniors who have successfully completed 10th grade social studies.
"The aim of the Criminal Justice course is to give students a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system as it operates on the local level," according to a description found in the high school course bulletin. Erik Bruckbauer is assigned to teach the course.
The course is entrenched at the school. "This is still a popular course with juniors and seniors," Mr. Bruckbauer said. "Enrollment ranges from about 30 to 60 students each year."
The course is running during the fall semester this year. "Some upcoming events include a visit from a corrections officer from the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead," Mr. Bruckbauer said. "We are also taking the students to see the jail during the first week of November. It supports student learning about the penal system in America. Students have an opportunity to interact with officers in the jail, witness the conditions of the cells and listen to inmates share their personal experiences with crime and life in jail."
The course curriculum includes a discussion of felonies and misdemeanors, the principles of criminal law and the roles of the police, district attorney, judge and defense attorney and "the nature of criminal court procedure," according to the course description.
The course keeps Mr. Bruckbauer invigorated. "I love to teach this class," he said. "I have always been interested in the various components of the criminal justice system, including the application of our laws, law enforcement, investigations, the practice of law and the corrections system. Juniors and seniors who have similar interests or who have career aspirations in these areas are free to take this course as an elective. We study the penal code, the role of police and law enforcement, the role and strategy of lawyers, and the prison system in America. Students are engaged in hands-on learning through the study of law, guest speakers, field trips, projects, mock trials and debates."
For more information about the course or any other Huntington social studies course contact Joseph Leavy, chairperson of humanities at 673-2079 or jleavy@hufsd.edu.