Preparing New Hampshire’s Youth for Careers in the Law, Public Safety, and Security Services Industry

Frequently Asked Questions
Law, Public Safety and Security (LPSS)

  1. What is the Law, Public Safety, and Security Career Cluster?
  2. What types of careers are available in this Career Cluster?
  3. Why choose the Law, Public Safety, and Security Career Cluster?
  4. How will the student be prepared?
  5. Which schools are involved?
  6. What are the connections to the business community?
  7. Who can I contact for additional information?

1. What is the Law, Public Safety, and Security Career Cluster?

The (LPSS) Law, Public Safety, and Security Career Cluster focuses on preparing students for careers in the LPSS industry. It includes coursework in such areas as criminology, legal studies, forensics, and psychology: work-based learning opportunities; and articulation agreements.

2. What types of careers are available in this Career Cluster?

This Career Cluster covers a myriad of occupations. The occupations fall into five different categories: Correction Services, Emergency and Fire Management Services, Security and Protective Services, Law Enforcement Services, and Legal Services. Some occupations are: Corrections Officer, Youth Services Worker, Probation/Parole Officer, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Fighter, Dispatcher, Security Officer, Loss Prevention Specialist, Private/Corporate Investigator, Police Officer, Police Detective and Investigator, Park Ranger, Judge, Paralegal, and Attorney.

3. Why choose the Law, Public Safety, and Security Career Cluster?

Renewed public interest in public safety and security should help expand opportunities for employment in the LPSS field; therefore, job opportunities should be favorable through the year 2010. Numerous job openings will stem from employment growth attributable to the desire for increased corporate, industrial and homeland security. Also, a more security-conscious society contributes to the increasing demand. Employment of workers in the corrections services field is projected to grow by 36 percent or more through the year 2010. Nationally, employment of police and detectives are expected to increase faster than all occupations through 2010.

4. How will the student be prepared?

This Career Cluster helps to prepare learners by providing them with relevant contexts by linking school-based learning with the knowledge and skills required for continued success in the LPSS field. The skills that the students learn in the pathway courses will help to prepare them for careers in planning, managing,and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security,including professional and technical support services. Some of the work-based learning opportunities available for these students are field trips, job shadows, and internship opportunities in the LPSS field.

5. Which schools are involved?

Five schools - Concord High, Manchester School of Technology, Merrimack, Monadnock Regional High, and Pelham High. Concord, Merrimack, Manchester School of Technology, and Pelham have articulation agreements with NHTI-Concord that include advanced standing or transfer credit.

This cluster is unique in that the curriculum varies from school to school. Schools have incorporated the curriculum into existing classes and/or have created new courses, such as forensics and public safety.

6. What are the connections to the business community?

The industry realizes that to meet its future employment needs, it must make connections with schools and their career-based programs. Many people in the industry have provided support by sharing information, providing internship opportunities, and serving on local advisory boards. In Spring 2005, a statewide LPSS Advisory Board was established to support all LPSS schools.

7. Who can I contact for additional information?