True Crime Class

What is Gateway’s True Crime class all about? That is the question.

Josalynn Green, a student in the class, has helped me understand Mrs. Reichman’s True Crime class and all of the exciting projects they have been working on thus far. If you take True Crime at Gateway, you will learn about the court system, criminal justice, the legal system as a whole, and so much more.

Josalynn decided to take the class because she, “really wanted to get a closer look at some of the biggest cases we see through the media.”

Even with it only being the second month of school, Ms. Reichman has already taught a pretty cool project in class. True Crime students got to build their own tiny crime scenes inside a box. That’s only one of the few projects they will do this year. Getting to build the scene can be an easy way to learn how crime scenes are laid out and to see how the evidence left behind after a crime matters in regards to investigation.

You have to be pretty open-minded to take this class. It can be “jarring at first,” as if you were to walk by a crime scene and accidentally see the aftermath. It can be unsettling to learn of all the horrible actions people are capable of, but learning about the subject is also incredibly informative and beneficial. Of course Mrs. Reichman doesn’t expose students to anything too overly upsetting.

As Josalynn says, “[Mrs. Reichman] is a spectacular and encouraging teacher. With all of the nice and eager kids in the class, every day is exciting. The lessons are extremely interactive as well.”

The class learns a lot about murder cases, mass incarcerations, unsolved cases, and the different aspects of a crime scene. It is a class unlike most other elective at Gateway.

Evelyn added, “We don’t focus just on murder, but reformation, types of crimes, and understanding why someone commits a crime. The topics are approached with a sensitive lens that gives the full story, everyone’s sides, and discusses unfair legal injustices in our society today.”

So what is the big deal about Mrs. Reichman’s True Crime class? True Crime is a way to learn about complex and interesting subjects that you wouldn’t normally be exposed to in high school. In my opinion, taking this class would be a great way to expand the journey of your interests, especially if you see yourself pursuing criminal justice or reform in your future.