Post Assessment
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Week |
Learning Point |
Description |
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Week 1 |
Opening/Pre-assessment |
Teens and officers are independently pre-tested by the evaluator about their social distance feelings towards each other. Officer mentors and teens meet for the first time.
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Safe Driving |
Teens learn about driver safety and how death occurs when smart choices are not made. | |
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Week 2 |
Why Does Crime Occur? |
Teens learn about police and the important job they do everyday. They explore the rank structure, what it takes to be an officer and the rewarding career of law enforcement. They also discuss what causes crime. |
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Crime Prevention |
Teens learn who is involved in crime, where it occurs and how to be less involved in crime as an offender or victim. | |
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Week 3 |
Gang Membership |
Teens discuss gang membership and the horror of gang membership as it causes injury, prison and death. More importantly the teens learn there is a way out and support available throughout the city to make the choice to avoid or get out of gang life. |
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Forensic Artist |
Sadly homicides occur, youth learn how a forensic artists can bring victims back to life through skeletal remains in order to catch offenders and find missing people. | |
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Week 4 |
Conflict Management |
Conflict is at the root of most crimes. Whether it is someone “stepping to you”, looking at you in wrong manner or wanting to fight youth must be armed with an understanding as to why conflict occurs and how to respond. Teens discuss their neighborhoods, conflict situations and their reputations. In the end they learn to think about the future and where they want to be in 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. |
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Week 5 |
Texting and Driving |
Through film and discussion students are exposed to the dangers of driving and texting. Teens learn that these mistakes can kill themselves and innocent by-standers. The buckle up and adult supervision laws were discussed. Teens leave this week with a commitment to driving safely and following the law. |
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Week 6 |
Gangs |
Gang life is an everyday threat to teens. TAPS spends a week helping teens understand that gangs are simply not the answer for a successful future. Teens educated TAPS on the real and everyday reality of gang life for them. TAPS |
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Week 7 |
Narcotics/Ritalin |
Drugs take away the potential our teens can achieve. By discussing with them the dangers of specific drugs, and the law as related to possession and usage the teens become well aware of not just saying no but more importantly why they need to remain drug free for a successful future. |
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Search/Seizure |
Teens learn the law and proper procedure when approached by the police while driving, on the street and in their homes. They learn the definition of “probable cause” and what that allows police to do in order to keep public safety. | |
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Week 8 |
Bullying |
Why does bullying occur? Why are some students victims and others offenders? These are topics TAPS teens discuss in week eight. Teens learn that bullying hurts and how it can lead to serious violence on the part of the victim and the offender. Students learn outlets beyond their peers and discuss how bullies are made and how it feels to be a victim. Most importantly they learn not to respond to the threat of violence with violence. |
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Cognitive Decision Making |
Teens learn the importance of making proper decisions when coming in contact with police. Students interact with their police mentors to learn best practices for communicating with law enforcement and authority figures. | |
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Week 9 |
Active shooter |
Although many of these teens were very young when 9/11 occurred they are aware of the threat of terrorism, and school shootings. Our teens become aware of why these horrific events occur and what to do if they find themselves in this situation. Teens learn it is about being quiet and using cover and concealment to increase their chances of a positive outcome.
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Robbery |
Teens and officers discuss robbery and the repercussions. The teens learn they will be caught and published for committing criminal acts. Teens learn how easily a shoplifting case can turn into a robbery, aggravated assault or even murder. | |
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Week 10 |
K-9 Unit |
Teens interact with the K-9 unit and learn the valuable role the unit plays in crime prevention. Students discuss with the officers of the K-9 unit training for the animals and how this specific type of policing is effective. |
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Week 11 |
Drugs/ Alcohol |
Teens and their police mentors discuss laws related to use and possession of drugs, the severe penalties associated with use and possession and the effective strategies to avoid involvement in this criminal behavior. |
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Team Building |
Teens and mentors worked on team building and understanding that working together is way to reduce conflict and avoid violence. The students work together to accomplish hands on challenges to actively learn the importance of team building. | |
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Week 12 |
Truancy |
Going to school is the job of our teens. They need school in order to reach their goals for the future. Our students learn truancy is an offense that has consequences. |
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Sexting and Dating Abuse |
Sex-ting and date abuse are realities of today. Teens learn what sex-ting and dating abuse is and most importantly what to do about it. | |
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Week 13 |
Juvenile Consequences |
Being a juvenile does not mean the system cannot be punitive and respond harshly when a crime occurs. Students learn about the criminal justice system and how they will be processed in juvenile justice and criminal justice system. |
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Shoot Don’t Shoot |
Sadly deadly force must be used by police. Our teens will learn to avoid these situations and if ever in such a predicament how to follow directions so that they can live to see another day. | |
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Week 14 |
Reflection Session |
As we conclude the class the teens interact with their mentors to think about the future and learn about the support systems that are available for them when they need someone to talk to or feel conflict, violence or other threats become overwhelming. |
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Beyond TAPS |
Teens learn how to apply TAPS strategies to their lives beyond TAPS Academy. Police mentors and teens discuss how to stay connected as a TAPS alumni to their mentors and their communities. | |
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Week 15 |
Post Assessment |
Final assessment and reflection on lessons learned as well as preparation for graduation. |
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Graduation |
Graduation with family, teachers, mentors. |