Police Foundations

Course Code: PFP 100

This course is designed to:
familiarize the student with the Constable Selection System
introduce the student to the Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP) test, the Physical Ability Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test, the physical requirements for the Peel Regional Police Service, and the Correctional Officer's Physical Abilities (COPAT) test
identify the components to fitness, active living, vitality, health, and wellness
stress the importance of health and wellness in policing
assist the student in achieving a higher level of physical fitness through theoretical and practical applications
- have each student set short- and long-term goals relating to wellness and physical fitness
- assist the student in reaching their goals by providing the necessary tools/information
- demonstrate safe and effective exercise technique for the major muscle groups
- provide each student with a fitness appraisal, identifying strengths and weaknesses
- allow the student to develop essential competencies by working in groups during the fitness class days
- inform the student of the physical standards in each semester of the program.

Course Code: PFP 101

This introductory course provides the student with an overview of the Canadian criminal justice system with a particular emphasis on the history, function, role and organization of Canadian law enforcement services. The operation of the criminal justice system will be examined and analyzed in light of contemporary issues affecting the system. Each of the major components from enforcement through the courts and correctional services will be explored.

Course Code: PFP 102

This course places the study of criminal justice ethics within the context of the larger field of ethics. The role of the criminal justice professional as a public servant is emphasized. Several key terms in the study of ethics will help students distinguish between ethics and morality and what are considered ethical issues and ethical dilemmas. Students study the primary sources that set out the major schools of ethical thought and moral reasoning. Various models are used to critically analyze Canadian criminal cases and social issues such as euthanasia, abortion, animal rights, capital punishment, racism/ethnocentrism, police misconduct and corruption. In addition, students will have the opportunity to reflect upon their own ethical reasoning and consider alternative approaches.

Course Code: PFP 103

In this course, the student will critically identify and discuss issues in diversity from various perspectives (citizens, police officers), which have hindered positive police-community relations. Strategies for strengthening positive police-community relations will also be examined. In addition, this course will increase the student's knowledge and awareness of issues in the aboriginal cultures of Canada. Justice and social services are significant areas that will be critically examined. The necessity for self-awareness and sensitivity when providing police service to diverse populations is critical to effective human service practice. By increasing understanding of diversity, professionals such as police officers can guard against unnecessary bias and stereotyping that emerges from lack of knowledge and understanding of these differences.

Course Code: PFP 104

This course provides the student with the opportunity to explore issues specifically related to youth in conflict with the law. There will be an emphasis on the formation of perceptions and concepts about youth in society in relation to the experience of conflict. Social attitude and societal response to youth conflict will be addressed from a historical, contemporary and social structural perspective. Approaches and interventions to youth crime and conflict will be discussed.

Course Code: PSYC 110

How many times in the course of a day do we wonder about human behaviour? We shake our heads and ask why the person in the car ahead of us cut us off. We ask why it is that the person sitting beside us has his/her nose pierced. We try to explain why our boss blew up at a co-worker over an insignificant issue. We question the motives for our own actions. In the course of day it seems that we are challenged over and over again to explain the behaviour of those around us and indeed ourselves. Most often we do so using common sense, based on our limited experience, our socialization and our own biases. Psychology is the field of study that examines human behaviour scientifically. This course will introduce the student to psychological theories and a variety of psychological research topics, including the biological bases of behaviour, learning and memory, psychopathology, social attitudes and behaviour. Students will be encouraged to be introspective and to apply what they learn to their personal behaviour in order to gain a better understanding of themselves and others.

Course Code: WRIT 100

College Writing Skills emphasizes elements of the writing process. Although subject matter and format may change from one program to another, the skills necessary for effective writing remain the same, as do the professional standards that all Humber students are expected to attain. Students will practice the reading and writing skills that will be valuable in their college programs and build a strong base for professional business writing. Those students who plan to further their studies will develop the fundamental skills for writing acceptable academic English. To help students reach these goals, the course covers the following: analytical reading and critical thinking; essay organization and development; and the elements of clear writing, including grammar and punctuation skills. To complete WRIT 100 successfully, students must produce writing that meets or surpasses the minimum departmental standards as set out in the attached criterion sheet.

Course Code: PFP 150

This course provides an examination of various theoretical explanations of criminal and deviant behaviour including the classical, sociological, biological and psychological perspectives. Criminological theory is related to various types of criminal activity and the reality of crime in Canada including victimology is examined through crime statistics and correlates of criminal behaviour. The impact of theory on the development and effectiveness of the criminal justice system is discussed with an emphasis on future trends within the system.

Course Code: PFP 151

Learning about social problems can be a highly rewarding experience for the students. Although we live in difficult and challenging times, this course provides a way to develop critical thinking and teach the student how to apply sociological concepts and perspectives to analyze specific social problems such as crime, violence, abuse, social stratification, ageism, sexual orientation, family, poverty, drug addictions and gender. To the students taking this course, welcome to an innovative examination of social problems - one of the most stimulating and interesting fields of study in sociology.

Course Code: PFP 152

This course will provide the opportunity for students to engage in project development, social innovation by enabling them to examine organizational philosophies, policies, and practices, which occur within their 40 hours of community engagement practicum. The course will provide the opportunity to critically examine an encompassing range of issues which include, but are not limited to: personal philosophies, community building processes, globalization, urbanization, unique attributes, skills of community builders, self-care within the community engagement process. The focus of the course will be for the student to integrate learning acquired from the academic course with their practical experiences within community engagement.

Course Code: PFP 153

This course is designed to:
familiarize the student with the Constable Selection System
introduce the student to the Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP) test, the Physical Ability Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test, the physical requirements for the Peel Regional Police Service, and the Correctional Officer's Physical Abilities (COPAT) test
identify the components to fitness, active living, vitality, health, and wellness
stress the importance of health and wellness in policing
assist the student in achieving a higher level of physical fitness through theoretical and practical applications
have each student set short- and long-term goals relating to wellness and physical fitness
assist the student in reaching their goals by providing the necessary tools/information
demonstrate safe and effective exercise technique for the major muscle groups
provide each student with a fitness appraisal, identifying strengths and weaknesses
allow the student to develop essential competencies by working in groups during the fitness class days
inform the student of the physical standards in each semester of the program.

Course Code: PFP 155

In this course students will analyze specific elements of selected Criminal Code offences. These include offences against the person, property and public order. Students will research case law and learn to apply it toward developing critical analysis capabilities and to assess the impact of court decisions on criminal offences, enforcement, and police behaviour and use case law to argue and defend decisions.

Course Code: SOCI 110

This course is designed to engage students in major sociological issues, debates, and theoretical perspectives, and to introduce key concepts and sociological research methods. Topics for analysis are wide in scope and are relevant to the everyday lived experiences of students. These include culture, class, race and ethnicity, sex and gender, ability and disability, deviance, education, aging, religion, and health.

An introduction to these basic concepts, theoretical frameworks and social issues will enable students to understand how social structures and cultures shape personal experience, and, how we as individuals may influence those social structures. As opposed to relying on belief, opinion, or ideology, sociology as a discipline attempts to provide reasoned, well-informed, socially scientific explanations for both our individual and collective human behaviours.

Course Code:

Course Code: PFP 200

This course will enable the student to analyze the elements of an offence, to classify offences and to identify possible defences in criminal cases. This course will also enable the student to analyze the rights and obligations of citizens involving areas of civil law. The student will recognize the responsibilities and limitations of citizens and police officers in light of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The student will develop legal research and analysis skills to locate, interpret and apply statute and case law.

Course Code: PFP 201

This course will examine pertinent sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and their impact on the Canadian criminal procedure focusing on citizen and police arrest and release authorities, police powers of search and seizure, with and without warrant, police discretion and its implication. This course will enable the student to become familiar with police terminology and apply procedure required to affect arrest and release.

Course Code: PFP 202

This course focuses on interviewing and investigation skills. Students develop the interviewing skills necessary to retrieve information from witnesses, victims and suspects. Students will also learn the basic steps of investigation including the practical development of note taking and observation skills.

Course Code: PFP 204

This course will introduce students to theory and models of community policing. Problem-solving models and alternative dispute resolution strategies will be examined. Community development and community involvement in dispute resolution will be discussed. Public relations will be explored.

Course Code: PFP 205

This course will introduce students to federal and provincial laws pertaining to vehicles and individuals (drivers, passengers, and pedestrians) who utilize the highways of Ontario. Students will specifically develop the knowledge, skills, and the ability to locate motor vehicle laws in both the Criminal Code and in the Highway Traffic Act. Students will practice finding traffic offences in the acts and regulations; will master the definitions required to interpret traffic laws; and will apply the laws concerning police authority, drivers licences, permits, and rules of the road to specific scenarios. In addition, hit-and-run laws, alcohol-related driving offences and accidents will be examined. Students will also be required to attend traffic court to observe traffic court proceedings.

Course Code: PFP 206

Based on the skills and knowledge gained in PFP 100 and PFP 153 Fitness and Lifestyle Management 1 and 2, this course will centre on the theoretical and practical application of both physical and occupational requirements of a police officer. Students will be required to apply appropriate fitness skills in order to continue to increase and/or maintain an overall physical fitness level that will allow the student to work towards achieving the standards of the PREP and other fitness tests as required.
By semester's end, students will be required to achieve a minimum acceptable standard of fitness in order to pass the physical component of the course. This standard will be made available to all students.
In addition to regularly scheduled lectures and practical sessions, students will be required to attend outside school hours for fitness testing. Dates to be announced.

Course Code: POLS 110

Canadians are fortunate to live in a country where one may choose one’s degree of participation in government. Some become activists either in a political party or in support of causes; others seek elected office, work in campaigns or contribute money or time to parties or candidates. On the other end of the scale, people can choose to do little or nothing in politics and only suffer the mild consequence of being ignored by those in power. The choice is ours, but in either case a general understanding of political ideas, institutions, and issues is helpful, even essential.

An introduction to politics focuses on political theories about the best form of government, the limits placed on government, and the rights of the citizen and the state. Basic political institutions and how they function to resolve conflict in Canada and internationally are emphasized. Political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism and fascism underpin political systems identified as democratic, communist, and authoritarian. We shall examine both the ideologies and the governments they give rise to. In the twenty first century all the ideologies are changing under the force called globalization. Is democracy bound to emerge as economies change or is this thesis far too simplistic? International development, international relations, and the causes/prevention of wars, and/or terrorism will also be examined. Police Foundation Students who have taken POLS 107 The Political Game cannot take this course.

Course Code: PFP 250

In this course students will examine scenarios and determine the appropriate enforcement action for the most common provincial statutes. Topics studied will include arrest, search and seizure authorities, common offences, and the involvement of non-police agencies. Statutes examined will be: Provincial Offences Act, Mental Health Act, Tenant and Property Act, Trespass to Property Act, Liquor Licence Act, Child and Family Services Act, Coroner's Act, Family Law Act, Blind Person's Rights Act, Police Services Act, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Safe Streets Act.

Course Code: PFP 251

This capstone course is a continuation of PFP 155 Criminal Code and incorporates learning outcomes from various courses. Students will be challenged to develop realistic and creative fact scenarios and evidence that will support criminal prosecutions in moot court. Students will also adopt various trial roles in their prosecution and defence of those charges. While the focus of study relates to criminal weapon and drug offences, students will be exposed to the complexities and challenges of the trial process from a variety of perspectives within this applied learning model.

Course Code: PFP 252

This course is a continuance of PFP 201 Police Powers 1 and will focus on police governance and accountability issues related to the Police Services Act, police complaints, Special Investigations Unit, and management and labour issues. Use of force theory, law and other legal issues related to the use of force will be discussed. Theory related to officer safety will be examined.

Course Code: PFP 253

The Investigation and Evidence course will provide the student with a basic knowledge of forensic science and the role it plays in a criminal investigative. How forensic evidence contributes to the investigative process, such as interpreting crime scenes, injury and sudden death will be discussed. The role of trace evidence, fingerprint identification and fibre identification will be examined. The student will gain an understanding of recording, collecting, and preserving evidence from a crime scene and its presentation in court.

Course Code: PFP 254

This course focuses on the dynamics of conflict. The student will be introduced to concepts and practices of managing conflict within the criminal justice and societal context. Students will engage in the application of philosophy, and techniques of addressing conflict on a societal, institutional and individual level.

Course Code: PFP 256

Based on the skills and knowledge gained in Fitness and Lifestyle Management 1 and 2, and Lifestyle Management 1, this course will centre on the theoretical and practical application of bonafide physical and occupational requirements of a police officer. Students will be required to apply appropriate fitness skills to continue to increase and/or maintain an overall physical fitness level that will allow the student to work towards meeting or achieving the standards of PREP and PARE.

Course Code: PSYC 220

This course is designed to introduce students to social psychology, a discipline that examines how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. Students will critically evaluate a number of social psychological theories and findings as they seek to better understand the social world around them. Core topics to be discussed in this course include attitude formation and change, persuasion, conformity and obedience, aggression, prejudice and discrimination, group dynamics, gender, culture, altruism and interpersonal attraction. The course will also focus on specific areas of applied social psychology, such as media and social behaviour and psychology and the law.