Girl Scouts Learn about CSI at Joliet Junior College Kids College
“Are the computers really that fast in real life?” “Can you really lift a fingerprint from the inside of a rubber glove?” These questions were posed to the instructor of a special Crime Scene Investigation class for a local Girl Scout group working to earn their law and order badge at Joliet Junior College, Saturday, April 18, 2009.
The Girl Scouts participated in a special CSI class led by instructor Ben Koepke, a Law Enforcement and Justice Administration student at Western Illinois University, who is currently completing his internship at the Joliet Police Department. Students participated in hands-on demonstrations with shoe print patterns and spatter evidence in the four hour class. They also each drew a crime scene and discussed evidence patterns.
Additionally the group learned about the court systems and processes that occur after the initial crime scene investigation. When Girl Scout Leader, Janet Adcox, saw the CSI class listed as a Kids College class for ages 10-14, she contacted Personal Enrichment Coordinator, Brenda Large, and asked if a special class could be arranged to help the Girl Scouts in her group complete requirements for the Law and Order Badge.
“Ben did a great job taking the class and revising it to meet the additional needs of this group,” said Large. “He has taught the class for Kids College in the past and the students really enjoy getting to work with someone who is in the field. I also believe having such a motivated instructor who is currently a college student and completing an internship is a good role model for students.”
Crime Scene Investigation will be one of the many classes through Joliet Junior College’s Kids College this summer. Kids College offers enrichment learning opportunities for children ages three and up. For more information, contact Brenda Large at 815-280-1504 or e-mail blarge@jjc.edu.