5/9/2025 8:59:51 AM	AJ 368 Course Outline as of Fall 2023	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  AJ 368	Title:  BASIC HUMANE ACADEMY
Full Title:  Basic Humane Academy
Last Reviewed:9/12/2022

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	2.00	Lecture Scheduled	6.50		2 max.	Lecture Scheduled	13.00
Minimum	2.00	Lab Scheduled	33.50		2 min.	Lab Scheduled	67.00
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	40.00			Contact Total	80.00
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  26.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 106.00

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Non-Applicable
Grading:  P/NP Only
Repeatability:  21 - Legally Mandated Repetition
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course will assist students in the development of basic investigative techniques as they relate to the enforcement of California and federal animal-related law. Students will be introduced to recognizing basic care, neglect, and abuse of animals, collecting evidence, developing basic report writing skills, discussing courtroom testimony and demeanor, and working collaboratively with a team.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course will assist students in the development of basic investigative techniques as they relate to the enforcement of California and federal animal-related law. Students will be introduced to recognizing basic care, neglect, and abuse of animals, collecting evidence, developing basic report writing skills, discussing courtroom testimony and demeanor, and working collaboratively with a team.

(P/NP Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:21 - Legally Mandated Repetition

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify, define, and demonstrate basic tasks of California Humane Officers.

2. Identify, classify, and apply appropriate provisions of federal and state law related to humane officers.

3. Perform and document basic investigations assigned to humane officers.

4. Demonstrate the physical skills needed to perform the tasks of a humane officer.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and interpret laws of evidence, arrest, and search and seizure.

2. Recognize basic care, neglect, and abuse of animals.

3. Describe and demonstrate evidence collection techniques.

4. Develop and demonstrate report writing skills and techniques.

5. Discuss and identify basic investigative techniques.

6. Recognize and discuss the importance of courtroom testimony.

Topics and Scope

I. Federal and State Law

    A. Laws of evidence

    B. Laws of arrest

    C. Search and seizure

II. Basic Care of Animals

    A. Neglect

    B. Abuse

    C. Cruelty

         1. Reporting procedures

         2. Working with service agencies

         3. Hoarding

         4. Domestic violence

         5. Violence prevention

III. Evidence Collection

    A. Definition

    B. Documentation

    C. Evidence management

    D. Control standards

    E. Linking evidence with scene

    F.  Chain of custody

IV. Report Writing

    A. Styles

    B. Elements

    C. Structure

    D. Industry terminology

    E. Importance and relevance to case

    F. Official court documents

V. Investigations

    A. Types

    B. Procedures

    C. Authority and probable cause

    D. Custody issues

     E. Applicable laws and legal update

    F. CA Penal Code (PC) section 597.1 Hearings

VI. Courtroom Testimony

    A. Preparation

     B. Testifying

    C. Rules of evidence

    D. Judicial system

    E. Federal law

    F. State law

 

All areas of the Topics and Scope are covered in both the lecture and lab portions of the course

Assignments:

1. Reading (20-40 pages)

2. Small group report writing exercise(s) (1-2)

3. Small group exercises (2-3) including evidence collection

4. Quiz(zes) (1-3)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 40%
Small group exercises, report writing exercise(s)
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 10 - 20%
Quiz(zes)
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 40 - 50%
Attendance and participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

California Animal Laws Handbook. CalAnimals. 2021

Instructor prepared materials

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