Every year, Mr. Deo takes his Forensics class on an educational trip to the Bergen County Jail and the Crime Lab, both in Hackensack, NJ, for a hands-on learning experience. On April 21st, I joined the trip and got to see firsthand what life is like inside a jail and how real forensics investigations are handled.
Our first stop was the Bergen County Jail, where a guard led us through the facility and explained what daily life is like for inmates. We saw actual inmates in their cells and walking around, which made the experience feel very real and eye-opening. The guard also shared information about different inmates, including the crimes they committed and how long some of their sentences are. One thing we learned
was this jail is mostly male-involved, where they wear orange jumpsuits, and there’s five upstairs cells for women, where they wear green. When you see inmates wearing orange and white striped suits, they are the least dangerous with a minimum sentence.
After the jail, we drove to the Bergen County Crime Lab, where we got to explore the world of forensic science. We learned about the different fingerprints, which connected directly to what we have been studying in class. We saw different weapons and the types of equipment officers bring to crime scenes to collect evidence, and also had a chance to go inside the officers’ mobile vehicle truck where sometimes they would sit outside a scene for hours and watch the area with all the equipment in the truck.
“I thought the trip was really interesting because we got to experience things we usually only talk about in class,” said Adrielle Adams, a student in Mr. Deo’s class who went on the class trip.
I thought the trip was very interesting and I actually liked it a lot. Seeing real-life examples of what we learn in class helped me understand how important forensic science and law enforcement are in solving crimes and keeping people safe.
“I was surprised by how much detail goes into collecting evidence and how many tools officers need to investigate a crime scene,” said Adams.
This trip gave students a chance to step outside the classroom, and experience what a future career in criminal justice or forensics could look like. It was both educational and memorable for everyone who went.
Trips like this are what make Mr. Deo’s Forensics class so unique, giving students, like me, the chance to turn classroom lessons into real-world experiences.
