Most television viewers have seen at least part of a CSI or Law and Order episode. These shows seemed to have spurred a new interest in law enforcement and forensics.

Now the Indiana State Police is giving young people an up close look at law enforcement through its youth camps program.

Respect for Law Camp is a three day camp which provides an exciting look at law enforcement for students entering 5th and 6th grades. Police officers staff the co-ed camps and programs include spectacular demonstrations by Emergency Response Teams, Bomb Squads, Underwater Search and Rescue Teams and police dogs.

Campers participate in recreational activities, make new friends and go home with a new respect for themselves and others. Respect for Law Camp costs $125 and will be held at the University of Notre Dame (June 26-28), the University of Southern Indiana, Hanover College, and Anderson University.

Law Camp is a four day co-ed camp which gives students entering the 7th and 8th grades a behind the scenes look at the criminal justice system and offers a more advanced look at law enforcement through field trips, exciting demonstrations and motivating programs. Campers meet peers from around the state, participate in recreational activities and leave with a greater understanding of the police field. Law Camp costs $140 and will be held at Vincennes University and Anderson University.

Career Camp gives high school students an in-depth look at law enforcement from a perspective similar to the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy. Campers conduct their own crime scene investigations, hear from defense attorneys, judges, and other experts in the criminal justice field, and watch exciting police demonstrations during the weeklong camps.

Career Camp, one for boys and another for girls, allow students to make friends from around the state, participate in recreational activities and experience what the police academy is like. Career Camp costs $225 and will be held at Vincennes University (July 13-18) and Trine University in Angola (July 13-18).

Scholarships are available to all camps. The camps are made possible through the support of the Indiana Troopers Youth Services with additional support of:

• Indiana District Optimists – 5th & 6th Grade Respect for Law Camps
• Lions Clubs of Indiana – 7th & 8th Grade Lions Law Camps
• Indiana Kiwanis – 9th thru 12th Grade Career Camps
• Indiana Jaycees – Junior Pioneer Campouts
• ISP Pioneers
• Indiana State Police Alliance
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. (TMMI)
• Dekko Foundation

For more information about Indiana State Police Youth Services Camps, call 800-671-9851.