Voorheesville Junior Learns Crime-Solving Skills

Alexzina Merritt and Rayah McCallus practice dusting for fingerprints using a bottle.Juniors in the Criminal Justice program at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center recently dusted up on their criminal justice knowledge – literally.

Students in Darin Jones’ program on the Schoharie Campus recently practiced an integral part of crime solving – dusting for, and collecting, fingerprints. Among the students is Rayah M.

 “I chose the Criminal Justice program because I want to make a difference in the world. I am still deciding what I want to do in law enforcement, but I know it is for me,” she said.

Logan T. from Sharon Springs, is also in the class. He said he is interested in the problem-solving aspects of the industry.

 “I want to be a private investigator. I like the idea of solving mysteries and helping people,” Logan said.

Collecting fingerprints is one of dozens of skills taught during the two-year program that is offered through CTE. The approximately 100 students enrolled in it each year learn about the history, theory, practices and recent developments in the field of criminal justice, as well as hands-on skills such as fingerprint collection, radio use, arresting and handcuffing and dealing with safety hazards and emergency situations.