Criminal Justice
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 classroom 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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