CJ 125 Public Safety Communications and Documentation

Lecture Hours: 3
Credits: 3

Provides students with specific reading and writing skills needed by Public Safety professionals. Emphasizes proper conventions, grammar, and the factual style used by Public Safety professionals, both computer-generated and handwritten reporting methods.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Objective report writing using multiple sources of information.
Complete complex forms correctly and accurately.
Proper handwriting skills for forms and note-taking.
Understand proper conventions associated with Public Safety.
Employ factual and informative writing correctly as an introduction to the Public Safety field.
Understand grammar usage and abbreviations used in Public Safety.
Employ digital literacy practices and techniques using various programs, systems and activities.

Content Outline

Grammar for Public Safety Writing
- Complete sentences and parts of a sentence
- Subject and verb agreement
- Word tenses
- Industry-specific vocabulary and abbreviations
- Sentence types; dependent clauses, adverbial phrases
Conventions for Public Safety Writing
- a. Capitals: proper nouns, beginning of sentences
- b. Punctuation: ending of sentences, colons, semi-colons, commas
- c. Paragraphs: how to organize, transition words and phrases
- d. Public Safety report specific conventions
Introduction to Public Safety Writing Style
- Factual writing
- Informative purpose
- Distinguish between passive and active voice
- Computer-generated reporting
- Summaries
Crime Scene Documentation
Proper Handwriting for Public Safety
- Legibility of handwritten work
- Accuracy and conventions
- Forms
- Note-taking
- Citations
Introduction to Digital Literacy
- Security Procedures
- Programs and Systems