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Criminal Justice

Curriculum
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The Criminal Justice (CRJ) program is designed to provide a solid foundational understanding of the American justice system.  Students are required to complete a range of major courses that blend academic learning with a highly emphasized experiential focus. Under the instruction of a diverse faculty of practicing professionals, hands-on learning exercises are utilized to translate conceptual awareness into real world application of knowledge. Individual and team-based class-room learning is also augmented by internship opportunities in area agencies and offices.  The program is designed to meet the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students who seek to gain the education necessary to penetrate or advance within any number of justice professions. Students will need to earn a C or better in each course in order for it to count towards graduation.

Graduates of the Criminal Justice program will be well-positioned to:

  • Complete a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at a four year college or university
  • Apply to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) Law Enforcement Pre-Service Training Program OR Basic Law Enforcement Training Program
  • Seek entry-level employment in private security, law enforcement, corrections, and the courts

Professional career opportunities include but are not limited to:

  • Municipal Police Officer
  • County Sheriff’s Deputy
  • State Trooper
  • Game Warden
  • Marine Patrol Officer
  • Fire Marshal
  • Corrections Officer Probation Officer
  • Dispatcher
  • Victim-Witness Advocate
  • Loss Prevention Worker
  • Fraud Investigator

Key Learning Objectives

  • Explain the core responsibilities of the police, courts, and corrections as each relates to the administration of justice within the American criminal justice system.
  • Describe the sequential movement of an individual accused of a crime through the various stages of the investigation, adjudication, sentencing, and corrections.
  • Compare and contrast the adult and juvenile justice systems in modern American corrections.
  • Apply conceptual knowledge to the application of laws of evidence, search and seizure, and arrest.
  • Utilize current information and management tools to gather and evaluate data used by justice practitioners.
  • Analyze and employ ethically driven critical analysis skills in decision-making.

Prerequisites

  • AAS Degree – High school level Algebra I required.

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