Jason Pourtaverdi

  • Legal Clerk of over fifteen-years; experience in state and federal level Criminal Defense
  • High-energy, dynamic, articulate, and passionate professor wanting to infuse my experiences and education into the classroom to empower students to achieve their highest potential in the classroom and in their future career paths
  • Proven written and oral community skills that engage and motivate students
  • Catalyst for creativity when developing and delivering lectures
  • Experience with diverse student body
  • Practical and positive approach with a commitment to professional development

Juris Doctor, University of Honolulu, School of Law, Modesto, CA, 2011-2013

  • Major: Law

Juris Doctor, Humphrey’s College, Laurence Drivon School of Law, Stockton, CA, 2007-2011

  • Major: Law (Transferred)

Bachelor of Arts, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA, 2002-2007

  • Major: Criminal Justice

 Currently pursuing avenues in obtaining a Ph.D. in research areas of interest.

 

Lecturer/Professor, California State University Stanislaus, Fall 2016- Present

College of Arts – Criminal Justice

  • CJ 2250, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Provides an overview of the criminal justice system. The focus is on the role of law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and their relationships. The definition, measurement, and causes of crime are also discussed.
  • CJ 2255, Methods of Criminal Justice Inquiry, Examines the methods criminal justice professionals use to collect and analyze information. Includes locating the literature on a topic, reading scholarly articles, writing a literature review, and documenting properly.
  • CJ 2280, Criminal Law, Using a case study approach, criminal law traces the historical development and current principles and rules which determine the substantive criminal law. Topics include the purpose of criminal law; principles of liability; defenses involving excuses or justifications; and crimes against persons, property, and public order.

  • CJ 2450, Criminal Judicial Process, a core course in criminal justice that details analysis of judicial processing, from booking to sentencing of individuals accused of crimes. Included lecture and case study approach of substantive and procedural issues concerning pretrial motions and hearings, arraignments, bail, plea-bargaining, trials, and sentencing.

  • CJ 3120, Causes of Crime, a core course in criminal justice that teaches the analysis of crime causation and provides students the opportunity to form critical thinking by presenting them with current theories and research and competing viewpoints in human criminality. Students are also exposed to information on diversity, use of technology, and policy in criminal justice.

  • CJ 3130, Administration of Corrections, Provides the historical development of community-based and institutional programs. Using competing philosophical goals - retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation - various current programs such as probation, parole, diversion, and institutional treatment are contrasted, and future trends are projected.

  • CJ 3350, Organized Crime, presents a study focused on the phenomenon of organized crime, commencing with an exploration of the definitions of organized crime and the characteristic crimes engaged in by these crime groups. Centers on the historical and contemporary problems faced by the criminal justice professional in combating these unique criminal enterprises.

  • CJ 4100, Law and Society, an upper division required criminal justice course that considers what law is, its sources, functions, and relationship to other social institutions, how it shapes behavior, sources of legal complexity, dispute processing, types of legal systems, and the legal profession.

  • CJ 4141, Criminal Procedure I, an upper division required criminal justice course taught through case study and analysis of the constitutional requirements and constraints in criminal justice proceedings.

  • CJ 4151, Criminal Procedure II, an upper division required criminal justice continuation course taught through case study and analysis of the constitutional requirements and constraints in criminal justice proceedings.

  • CJ 4175, Capital Crimes and Death Penalty, an elective in criminal justice that explores the analysis of the types of crimes for which the death penalty has been imposed and a study of the death penalty in America.

  • CJ 4230, Juvenile Justice, A case study and analysis of the American juvenile justice system from its historical beginnings through its current structure and operations and to an exploration of future trends. Discussion will include constitutional rights of juveniles, the judicial process, system structure and operation, juvenile crime, violence, and gangs. As an activity, students will be required to conduct an on-site field observation of the juvenile justice system and complete a case study research project on an actual juvenile case.

  • CJ 4440, Cyber Crime Forensic Investigation, Analysis, and Theory, In order to adapt to the domestic and foreign technological challenges of living in a globalized and technologically connected world, students will be taught to advance and critically question their understanding of how practice and policies are developed and implemented related to cyber security. Course will use social artifacts such as empirical research, news media, cyberspace, oral histories, and anecdotal evidence to explore the uncharted frontier of cybercrime and its connection to criminological and sociological thought.

  • CJ 4925, Historical and Contemporary Criminal Justice, Explores American Criminal Justice system from its historical roots through its current structure. Discusses critical and controversial current issues within our criminal justice system.

  • CJ 4960, Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System, an elective course in criminal justice in which using case law and research studies, exploration and analysis of the role and treatment of ethnic minorities in the American Criminal justice system from a historical, sociological, and legal perspective. The impact of race in the system, and ethnic minorities as criminal suspects, defendants, convicts, crime victims, and criminal justice professionals are discussed, including the system’s biases, disproportionate sentencing, and inappropriate police responses to minority victims.

Community Teaching

Lecturer/Professor, Modesto Junior College, Spring 2015

Community Education – California Accredited Paralegal Certification Program

  • Taught Criminal Law and Procedure, a required core course that provides an overview of the criminal justice system. The focus is on the role of law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and their relationships. The definition, measurement, and causes of crime are also discussed. Course also consists of a hands-on approach in which students were required to prepare motions in pleading format.
  • Enhanced curriculum to meet and exceed California Accreditation requirements in conjunction with the Community Education department mission.
  • Ensured that the quality of all courses and their assignments are of the highest standard and provide a progressive and enriching learning experience.
  • Employed a variety of learning assessment methods and provided students with teaching materials that are relevant, creative and stimulating.

 

Faculty Mentor Program FMP, CSU Stanislaus 2018 – Present

Director and Coordinator of Faculty Mentor Program

  • The mission of the Faculty Mentor Program is to encourage faculty-student interaction outside of the classroom through mentoring relationships, which improve academic achievement, increase student retention rates, and improve the graduation rates of educationally disadvantaged students.

Faculty Development Committee, CSU Stanislaus, 2019 – 2021

Committee Member

The Faculty Development Committee is a committee established by the Academic Senate. The duties of the FDC shall include the following:

  • To help integrate new faculty into the University community.
  • To help faculty improve their competence as teachers and scholars.
  • To promote the professional development of the faculty.
  • To encourage faculty research, scholarship, creativity, and artistic activity.
  • To promote an atmosphere of shared scholarly activity.
  • To advise the campus community, primarily through the Director of the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Human Resources on issues related to faculty development.

Various Committee Involvement, CSU Stanislaus, 2016 – Present

Various committee involvement over the years.

 

Licensed Legal Document Assistant, Stan Legal Docs, 2016 – Present

  • Managed and ran business operations.
  • Prepared criminal expungement documents.
  • Prepared family law forms for clients.
  • Prepared multitude of legal forms for diverse range of clientele.

Senior Legal Clerk, Law Offices of Mark W. Girdner, 2011 – 2016

  •  Conducted legal research on leading issues on cases.

  • Reviewed case discovery and prepared case investigations.

  • Prepared and filed law motions for State and Federal cases.

  • Extensive contact with a diverse clientele.

Legal Clerk, Law Offices of Scott Mitchell, 2007 – 2011

  •  Conducted case study for Senior Attorney in new Fields of Law.

  • Prepared legal documents to be filed in State and Federal Courts.

  • Managerial case management of multiple offices and multiple fields of law

  • Direct contact with diverse clientele in dealing with everyday case work.