• Severo Perez School of Criminal Justice

    Perez

    What is Criminal Justice?

    The criminal justice system consists of three main parts:

    (1) LAW ENFORCEMENT (police, sheriffs, marshals)

    (2) ADJUDICATION (Courts - Judges, Prosecutors, and Defense lawyers)

    (3) CORRECTIONS (Prison officials, Probation officers, and Parole officers).

    In a criminal justice system, these distinct agencies operate together under the rule of law and are the principal means of maintaining the rule of law within society. The Law Magnet exposes students to the components of this system through our curriculum, real world exposure and hands on learning.

    First Year students will be exposed to the criminal justice system as a whole as they become the eyes and ears of George Allen civil courts and Frank Crowley criminal courts. Identifying court personnel, jury selection and interrogation tactics, our students partake in a unique opportunity as they complete official court reports during their weekly visits as they listen to real life property, family and legal disputes that are happening in our community.

    Second Year students highlight their year at the Law Magnet by building, promoting and executing their own Criminal Justice Conference. Within this process, students develop professionalism, conflict resolution, planning and organization as they invite law professionals from all walks of the system to present first-hand accounts of their professions. Open to all Townview students and neighboring middle and high schools, we strive to present the many avenues this system has to offer. Past guests include: Game Warden, FBI, Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT, Border Patrol, Bomb Squad, District Attorneys, Colleges, Special Forces and MANY MORE

    Junior/Senior years provide the students the opportunity to build on their relationships with said professionals and city officials that may offer internships in conjunction with their coursework. Students gain work experience in criminal justice atmospheres that prepare them for their future careers. Past Internships include: Dallas Police Department, County Clerk’s Office and Law Firms.

    At the Law Magnet, teachers encourage critical thinking and seek ethic development in each student. Extra-curricular activities such as SkillsUSA and Dallas Police Explorers allow for refining their hands on learning while maintaining the best in academics. As a result currently over 40 law enforcement departments across the country represented with Law Magnet graduates.