Careers to Consider: Criminal Justice
This article is part of a series spotlighting HFC academic and workforce programs leading to great careers. To view all HFC programs, visit this link.
Careers in criminal justice are challenging, dynamic, and constantly changing. HFC is committed to meeting those changes and preparing you for the rigors and rewards associated with this service-oriented career area.
The HFC Criminal Justice program emphasizes the preservation of peace, the prevention of crime, and the protection of life and property. It prepares students for entry into the public service fields supporting law enforcement with a full understanding of the relationships between public and private concerns.
The interconnections of public safety and freedom in our democratic society largely depend on the quality and professionalism of our criminal justice professionals. Our increasingly diverse communities call for highly trained individuals who are committed to community service. We need criminal justice professionals who see themselves as a part of the larger community they serve.
If you enroll in our program, you will be challenged by a curriculum centered on the history and philosophy of the criminal justice system. You will engage in continuous dialogue with current and former criminal justice professionals while critically assessing criminal justice agencies, laws impacting criminal justice functions, and various aspects focused on becoming culturally competent while engaging community members.
What will you learn
After successful completion of this program, you should be able to:
- Distinguish between police community relations and community policing and how each impact community policing.
- Analyze critical issues in law enforcement (use of lethal force, racial profiling, minorities in law enforcement, police misconduct) and their impact on day-to-day operations of a police department.
- Apply case law, criminal procedure, and custodial law by analyzing fact patterns and situations.
- Develop reports that effectively analyze and communicate a given situation.
- Characterize the importance of ethics and ethical decisions at all levels and processes within the criminal justice system.
Career opportunities and transfer options
There are many career opportunities in the field of criminal justice, including:
- Local and state police agencies
- Federal agencies
- Correction agencies (state and federal)
- Probation and parole (state and federal)
- Schools and nonprofit settings
- Lawyer (additional education required)
If you complete the Criminal Justice Police Academy program and pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) licensing exam, you will receive a certificate of completion and will be licensed to apply to any local city or county law enforcement agency.
Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement Associate in Arts
Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement with Police Academy Associate in Arts
After you complete the HFC Criminal Justice program, you can transfer to a 4-year university to complete your final two years of your bachelor's degree program. HFC has articulation agreements with the following 4-year educational institutions to make transferring easier:
- Eastern Michigan University
- The University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Lake Superior State University
- Madonna University
HFC Criminal Justice Program Coordinator and Instructor Dr. Jermaine Reese is working on articulation agreements with several more universities.
Course schedule
Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice is the first course in the Criminal Justice program. It presents an overview of the criminal justice system in the United States. Topics covered include the history of law enforcement: the political, sociological, philosophic, and background of police functions, and the criminal courts. Constitutional problems as they relate to the police are surveyed, and the use of recent technology in criminal justice is discussed.
Review the recommended sequence of classes and speak with your academic advisor before registering. We always recommend you talk to one of our friendly, expert advisors to make sure you select the right courses, stay on track toward graduation, and prepare for transfer or employment.
The Criminal Justice Academic Advisor is Sarah Krizan. To make an appointment with Krizan, contact her at 313-845-9889 or smkrizan@hfcc.edu.
For questions or more information about the Criminal Justice program, contact Reese at 313-845-9859 or jtreese@hfcc.edu.