Regional Occupational Program
(ROP)
Contact Info
Mark Hodges
Senior Director,
Regional Occupational Program
Jim Howes
Assistant Director,
Regional Occupational Program
Michelle Cuartilon
Department Coordinator,
Regional Occupational Program
Laurie
Stewart-Rider
Administrative Secretary
Main phone #: (831) 466-5760
Fax: (831) 466-5769
Visit the Regional Occupational Programs web site:
http://www.rop.santacruz.k12.ca.us
Student & Personnel Services: Regional Occupational Program (ROP)
2010 Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program’s (ROP) Summer Criminal Evidence Class —Held at Cabrillo College
ROP offered the Criminal Evidence Class for the first time this summer. While attending the class, students explored various careers in the criminal justice system while applying the rules of evidence to a murder case involving a well known celebrity.
Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Deputy, Nick Baldrige and his K-9 Tomi, demonstrated the K-9’s ability to locate articles of evidence using his ability to detect scent. Deputy Baldrige shared court case law, which authorizes the use of a K-9 to locate evidence.
California State Parole Agent James Russell discussed the use of court case law in his role as a parole agent. Agent Russell brings a large amount of experience to the discussion, having worked as a Santa Cruz County Detention Officer and a Santa Cruz County Probation Officer prior to becoming a California State Parole Agent.
Dennis Kidd, Support Services Division Manager for the Santa Cruz Regional 911 Center, shared the many careers available through the 911 Dispatch Center. His career spans many years as a dispatcher and now as an administrator. Five students attended a tour of the dispatch facility after his presentation due to the interest generated from his presentation.
Students were provided with the rules of evidence and how they apply to the crime scene, gathering, and presentation of evidence in court. Students identified the important pieces to the puzzle and the many people involved in the case. They examined the response by officers, the history of those involved, the murder itself, and the investigation and court process. The court process can be confusing to those who are not familiar with it, yet the class demystified and simplified the process.
The case involved a marriage steeped in domestic violence, a controlling personality, culminating in the murder of the victim and her friend. Often, cases of this type overshadow the victims and family members and they are forgotten. Class participants tried to distance themselves from the celebrity and focus on the victims, families, and all of those caught up in the high profile case.
Students charted the history, the violence, and the evidence, and as a culminating exercise, presented their case.
The ROP program offers an Administration of Justice Class in most of the counties high schools. The class offers students an overview of the criminal justice system and students earn high school credits and community college units. Interested students should contact their high school ROP counselor.
Learn more about the ROP program and the six pathways here.
