Dusting up on his Criminal Justice Skills at BOCES

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 11/21/25 | 11/21/25

Matthew Cater

SCHOHARIE – High School junior Matthew Cater dusts for fingerprints during a recent lesson at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus.

Cater, an aspiring forensic analyst, is enrolled in the Criminal Justice program taught by retired New York State Trooper Darin Jones.

“I like the program because it’s fun and it’s something that will help me in the future,” he said.

Cater is among approximately 100 students who enrolled last year in the two-year criminal justice program offered by Capital Region BOCES on the Albany and Schoharie campuses. Students in the program learn about the history, theory, practices and recent developments in the field of criminal justice, as well as practice the skills necessary to work as police officers, work in the prison systems or work in a security detail.