CRJ-291: Criminal Justice Internship 1

School
Liberal Arts
Division
Social Sciences
Department
Criminal Justice
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Criminal Justice
Course Number
291
Course Title
Criminal Justice Internship 1
Credit Hours
3.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
3.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
140.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
GPA of 2.8, Completion of 12 hours of CRJ courses, and written consent of CRJ director before registration.
Catalog Course Description

This is an internship program that provides the student with field experience with municipal, county, state, and local criminal justice agencies and related agencies in the private sector. This includes but is not limited to: District, Circuit, and Juvenile Courts, halfway houses, detention centers, local, county and state police agencies, the FBI, U.S Marshall Service, Drug Enforcement Agency and Homeland Security. The internship is available to students in both the Probation/Corrections and Parole and the Criminal Justice programs. Students will perform all of the duties of professionals in the given area at the staff level. Students will not have arrest authority or be authorized to carry guns but may accompany a ride along, shadow criminal justice personnel, work in crime labs, interview probation clients, and perform other administrative work. Students will receive hands on experience in their chosen field working alongside with and performing the duties of criminal justice professionals.

The internship requires a minimum of 9 hours of work each week off campus at a criminal justice site. Students are also required to meet on campus with the HFC faculty member on a weekly basis by arrangement. This class can only be taken once.

Goals, Topics, and Objectives

Core Course Topics
  1. Professional and ethical behavior in a criminal justice environment.
  2. Interacting and relating to a variety of groups within the criminal justice sphere, including proper use of terminology.
  3. Correspondence and reports in a criminal justice environment.
  4. Common on the job issues in a criminal justice environment.
  5. Appropriate methods for logging activity and assignments in a criminal justice environment.
  6. Standards for professional behavior and performance in a criminal justice environment.
Core Course Learning Objectives (Separated)

Objectives will be specialized for the specific internship during an interview with the student and in consultation with the contact agency.

  1. Demonstrate professional behaviors, especially ethical behaviors using guidelines established by the host agency.
  2. Demonstrate how to interact with multiple groups, including government agencies, court house personnel, and related entities in the private sector.
  3. Create a variety of appropriate and accurate written notes and reports including, but not limited to, e-mail, agendas, and short reports (need specific examples of types).
  4. Identify issues related to the preservation of peace, the prevention of crime, and the protection of life and property.
  5. Create appropriate records and documentation logs of daily assignments and activities to host agency standards.
  6. Self assess on the job performance and professional behaviors.*

Assessment and Requirements

Assessment of Academic Achievement
  1. Students will meet with the HFC adviser for 30 minutes every two weeks to discuss progress and review documentation of the internship experience as well as any issues/concerns.
  2. Student may be asked to prepare a short report, or other activity, to bring to the meetings.
  3. Each student is required to write a portfolio quality terminal report describing what they learned during the internship. Report must also analyze strengths and weakness of the behavior demonstrated on the job; assess effectiveness of interactions with employees;
    The HFC adviser will contact the local law enforcement agency to determine student success based on the agreed upon learning outcomes.
General Course Requirements and Recommendations
Texts

For a list of required course materials contact the Criminal Justice lead instructor.

Outcomes

Institutional Outcomes
  • Civil Society and Culture - U.S. and Global
Satisfies Wellness Requirement
No

Approval Dates

Effective Term
Fall 2022
ILT Approval Date
AALC Approval Date
Curriculum Committee Approval Date
Review Semester
Fall 2022