December 6, 2002

FCCLA REGIONAL CONVENTION HELD AT IOWA LAKES

 Around 100 high school students from area schools had an opportunity recently to learn from college students.

It was all part of a “Student Teaching Student” effort by the Criminal Justice Club of Iowa Lakes Community College.  High school students from Armstrong-Ringsted and Swea City traveled to the Estherville Campus of Iowa Lakes for the Family Career & Community Leaders of America Regional Convention.

During the convention, students learned how to investigate crimes by participating in re-creations of actual crimes.  Throughout the process, students were divided into detective teams assisted by a “lead detective” (a.k.a. an Iowa Lakes student).

“They would have to make decisions about how to proceed and their decisions were compared to the decisions that were actually made in the real case,” said Jerry Larson, Criminal Justice Professor. 

Throughout the presentation, Criminal Justice Assistant Professor Russ Slight would comment on actual cases in Iowa that had similar features to those being reviewed.

“The students had to take the case all the way from the beginning police investigation through the court and correction system.” Larson said. 

They went through two cases from ‘bottom to top.’  One was an adult case in the criminal justice system and the other was a case involving a juvenile.  By the end of the presentation, students had an understanding of the difficulties that face criminal justice professionals who have to make these human and legal decisions in the real world. 

“The high school students reached excellent conclusions and were very thoughtful, Larson said.  “From our point of view, they dug into this and did a wonderful job.”

The students also had the annual Iowa Lakes Thanksgiving meal and enjoyed an hour of recreation in the Christensen Activity Center before returning to their schools.