In an effort to incorporate more applied learning into our academic programs, the Department has developed several lab components that we are planning to implement into some of our course offerings. Crime Zone/Crash Zone which involves the sketching of crime scene and accident scene reconstruction, Use of Force Simulator labs where student will actually participate in and critique use of force scenarios and our successful Mock Criminal Court. We have already incorporated the Mock Criminal Court lab into our Criminal Law Course (CRJ 211). In this lab, students are required to apply learned court room procedures that have been cultivated through several in class lectures and readings. These sessions have been filmed and a link can be accessed to view the performance of our students. (http://streaming.sunyorange.edu/watch/q6GJr32X)

These innovations are consistent with the College’s strategic plan for 2015-20, specifically awareness and access, student support, collaboration and communication. The Strategic Plan will be achieved through the introduction and advertising of the Department’s assortment of practical experiential learning labs that will be introduced over the next 5 years to coincide with the Strategic Plan.

In order to enhance the marketability of these program enhancements (moot court, use of force, crime zone/crash zone) and to create a more realistic classroom environment for these labs, we would need the following:

• Full Access to Biotech Room 353 - we will utilize this room for all CJ Department Labs (Mock Criminal Court Lab, Use of Force Simulation lab and Crime Zone/ Crash Zone diagram recreations). Bio tech room 353 is large enough to store expensive equipment (Court Room Furniture, Use of Force Simulator and lap top computers for accident and crime scene reconstruction) and it also contains break out space for one to one viewing and debriefing.

• To enhance the realistic environment of an actual court room we will need to purchase court room furniture. John Jay college has a state of the art mock criminal court as do other criminal justice programs.

       

• The cost to furnish a classroom with court room furniture would be in the vicinity of $15,000.00. - $20,000.00. (This is based on rudimentary internet research and does not include vendor competition or the availability of used furniture that we may be able to locate at our local court facilities.) It does not take into consideration the gradual build up of the program over a period of years nor does it take into account the possibility to build this in-house which should significantly mitigate the costs.

 

• Bio tech Room 353 will also house our Use of Force Simulator. The room could also be utilized by our local law enforcement partners who collaborated on this purchase to utilize the room for their training and to conduct some joint training with our security and CJ staff. (e.g. active shooter scenarios)

 

• We need 10 lap top computers (to be utilized on both Newburgh and Middletown campuses) that will maximize our student’s access to the Crime Zone and Crime Scene software that was purchased last year with a CTEA Grant. In order to optimize the utilization of this software we will also need additional licenses as well as training.

 

• We will keep all 10 laptops in room 353 for utilization at the Middletown Campus and we will transport them to the Newburgh campus when those labs are scheduled for our Newburgh Students.

 

• The benefits of these programs are many and worth the investment. Two priorities and objectives of the SUNY Orange Strategic Plan 2015-20 will be met by these initiatives. By creating these labs we will increase the applied learning opportunities for our students and by conducting them in state of the art facilities we will create a marketing avenue that will be visually pleasing to our potential patrons. When viewing our students participating in the moot court scenarios (the link of which I included for your information) try to visualize this video in an actual moot court with a judge’s bench etc. When I presented this video to the parents and students during one of our open houses I could see that they were impressed with the performance of our students however, the drab environment of the classroom took away from the marketability of the presentation.

 

• I believe that the dedication of Biotech 353 and enhancements to our mock criminal court, the use of force simulator and expansion of the Crime Scene/Crash Zone software will greatly enhance the skill sets of our students and enhance the marketability of our program for new students. I have included the costs of these improvements in the 2016-17 Criminal Justice Budget and also will include them in my PBIE submissions.  It is conceivable that some of the costs could be funded through a CTEA Grant and/or a grant from the Orange County Foundation.