Paradise Valley Community College’s Administration of Justice Studies (AJS) program was invited earlier this month to tour the Phoenix Municipal Courthouse. Led by Will Gonzalez, Court Executive Officer for the City of Phoenix Municipal Court, the visit included a talented group of PVCC criminal justice students, College President Dr. Jana Schwartz, and several faculty and staff.
The student team – Zoe Heinstein, Zoe Engel, Mac Haenel, and Ty Price – are no strangers to success. Earlier this year, they earned top honors at the 2025 SkillsUSA competitions, with the three-member Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) team bringing home gold at State and competing at Nationals, and Ty Price earning silver at State.
The visit highlighted the importance of specialty courts, particularly Homeless Court, which takes a rehabilitative approach rather than a punitive one. While visiting, the Puma group saw two court graduates who are now employed and living in stable housing.
“Specialty courts are the bomb!” explained AJS Faculty Director Bootsie Martinez. “They show what’s possible when the prosecution, defense, and judge work together to support the offender rather than punish them. In Homeless Court, each person is connected with a case worker who helps them find housing and employment. Punishment alone doesn’t bring people in off the streets but municipal court programs like this can. That’s the power of a specialty court for the individual and for the community.”
The courthouse tour gave students the unique opportunity to see the justice system in action. “I found it educational and was glad we got to sit in on some actual cases and learn about how the municipal court works,” Mac Haenel reflected.
Price agreed, saying, “I found the experience very interesting and the people who work within the community justice center to be well spoken and articulate, as well as goal- and strategy-oriented.”
“I appreciated seeing that higher-ups really do try to help the homeless in Arizona by the various communities and non-profits that help them get on their feet, as we saw in the courtroom,” Engel added.
PVCC’s AJS Program prepares students for careers in law enforcement, courts, corrections, forensic science, security, and investigations, while also offering opportunities for current practitioners to advance their skills. The program features two associate degrees—Justice Studies and Forensic Science, along with a variety of Certificates of Completion (CCLs) in areas such as Corrections, Law Enforcement, Legal Studies, Victimology, Crime Scene Investigation, and Fingerprint Identification and Photography. The Forensic Science degree provides specialized training in crime scene investigation, evidence collection, and forensic techniques, giving students a strong foundation for careers in investigative fields.