Protective Services – Criminal Justice
Program Description
The WRCC Criminal Justice program is designed for students considering a career pathway within the Criminal Justice system. These include law enforcement, corrections, criminal investigations, crime scene investigator, private security, and criminal court attorney. This program will give a sampling of a full criminal justice program allowing the student to decide which career path they may wish to pursue. The students have the opportunity to earn college credits through dual enrollment. Numerous guest speakers and off-site visits will provide an interesting introduction to unique subjects and expose students to real-life experiences. Students in the program will complete a sample job application and experience a practice job interview, they will also explore how to pursue placement at the police academy.
Level I
This program is designed for students considering a career pathway in the criminal justice (CJ) field. It offers a wide variety of experiences and exposure to many exciting professions. These include law enforcement, corrections, criminal investigations, forensic investigator, traffic accident investigator, and criminal court attorney. This course will give a sampling of a full criminal justice program allowing the student to decide which career paths they may wish to pursue and an opportunity for earning college credits through dual enrollment. Numerous guest speakers and off-site visits will provide an interesting introduction to unique subjects and exposure to real life experiences. Students wishing to enter the CJ field will learn how to develop an affordable career plan and how to best market themselves. Students will complete industry recognized credentials through FEMA and other accredited training.
The following soft skills will be highlighted in this program: Situational Awareness, Tactical Communication, Time Management, Active Listening & Learning, Critical Thinking and Decision Making, Planning & Organization.
Level II
This program is the second year of the Criminal Justice Program for students. It offers students a more focused and in-depth experience and exposure to many exciting fields of study. These include introduction to criminology, criminal & behavioral profiling, justice, crime, and ethics, forensics and crime scene investigations, and the juvenile justice system. This course will give a sampling of a full criminal justice program allowing the student to decide which career paths they may wish to pursue and an opportunity for earning college credits through dual enrollment. Students will complete industry recognized credentials through FEMA. Numerous guest speakers and off-site visits will provide an interesting introduction to unique subjects and exposure to real life experiences. Students will also explore how to pursue placement at the police academy.
The following soft skills will be highlighted in this program: Situational Awareness, Tactical Communication, Time Management, Active Listening & Learning, Critical Thinking and Decision Making, Planning & Organization.
For more detailed information go to our Program of Study.
Industry Recognized Credentials
Level 1
FEMA-Diversity Awareness
FEMA-Intro to Incident Command System
FEMA-Basic Incident Command for Initial Response
FEMA-Workplace Security Awareness
OSHA 10 hr On-line Training
Level 2
FEMA-Social Media in Emerg. Mngmt.
FEMA-Leadership & Influence
FEMA-Effective Communication
FEMA-Introduction to the Nat'l. Incident Mngmt. System
State of Vermont Mandated Reporter Training
Your Instructor
Orlando Alvarez
I was born in Santa Clara, Cuba, and immigrated to New York City with my mother and father. Shortly thereafter, we relocated to South Florida, and I was educated in South Florida at a home where the primary language was Spanish. I learned English by attending grade school and by associating with English-speaking friends. I decided to join law enforcement because I had a sense of wanting to "give back" and to serve and protect those who had the same similar challenges to mine. I was fortunate to work for the Broward County Sheriff's Office for five years where I was employed as a road patrol deputy and a Major Crimes detective, where I investigated violent felonies. I received various training in understanding the needs and complexities of working with diverse community members. I have participated in cultural diversity training, restorative justice practices training, and the disproportionate minority contact initiative. After five years at the Sheriff's office, I joined the Gainesville Police Department in Gainesville, Florida. There, I was a patrol officer, DUI investigator, traffic homicide investigator, school resource officer, school resource officer supervisor, and juvenile resource detective. I was promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to supervise our downtown unit and mounted unit. After several years in that position, I transferred to become the road patrol supervisor. I retired from my 25-year law enforcement career in @015. In 2015, I relocated to Brattleboro, Vermont, and became a child abuse investigator with DCF. After 3 years with DCF, I left DCF and became the Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management at Landmark College. In 2020, I discovered a rewarding career as an educator. A position that allows me to pass on my experiences, knowledge, and ability to recognize the complexities associated with criminal offenders. I've earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology and am a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Being a resident of Brattleboro and having an opportunity to teach in Brattleboro allows me to share my experiences with local students.
