Criminal Justice Program Details

Criminal Justice 

2024-2025 Program & Course Information

(Required courses indicated by program)

Law Enforcement

Federal Law Enforcement

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• U.S. Capitol Police
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Department of Interior
• U.S. Department of Justice
• U.S. Marshals Service
• U.S. Postal Inspector
• United States Secret Service

State Law Enforcement

• Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
• Iowa Department of Public Safety
• Iowa Department of Transportation
• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
• Iowa DNR Law Enforcement
• Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
• Iowa State Patrol
• State Fire Marshal

Local Law Enforcement

• Adair County Sheriff's Office
• Adel Police Department
• Altoona Police Department
• Ames Police Department
• Ankeny Police Department
• Boone Police Department
• Carlisle Police Department
• Carroll County Sheriff's Office
• Carroll Police Department
• Cass County Sheriff's Office
• Clive Police Department
• Colfax Police Department
• Dallas Center Police Department
• Dallas County Sheriff's Office
• Des Moines Police Department
• Granger Police Department
• Greene County Sheriff's Office
• Guthrie County Sheriff's Office
• Huxley Police Department
• Indianola Police Department
• Jasper County Sheriff's Office
• Jewell Police Department
• Johnston Police Department
• Knoxville Police Department
• Madison County Sheriff's Department
• Madrid Police Department
• Marion County Sheriff's Department
• Marshall County Sheriff's Department
• Marshalltown Police Department
• Mitchellville Police Department
• Monroe Police Department
• Nevada Police Department
• Newton Police Department
• Norwalk Police Department
• Pella Police Department
• Perry Police Department
• Pleasant Hill Police Department
• Pleasantville Police Department
• Pocahontas County Sheriff's Office
• Polk City Police Department
• Polk County Sheriff's Office
• Prairie City Police Department
• Sac County Sheriff's Office
• Story City Police Department
• Story County Sheriff's Office
• Urbandale Police Department
• Van Meter Police Department
• Warren County Sheriff's Office
• Waukee Police Department
• West Des Moines Police Department
• Windsor Heights Police Department
• Winterset Police Department
• Woodward Police Department

Specialized Law Enforcement

• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Police
• Iowa State Fair Department of Public Safety
• Iowa State University Police Department
• PoliceOne
• Polk County Conservation
• Union Pacific Special Agents
• University of Iowa Police Department
• University of Northern Iowa Police Department

Corrections

Federal Corrections

• U.S. Probation/Pretrial Services, Southern District of Iowa
• U.S. Bureau of Prisons
• U.S. Courts - Probation/Parole

State Corrections

• Iowa Correctional Institution for Women
• Iowa Department of Corrections
• Newton Correctional Facility
• Polk County Juvenile Court

State Corrections - Community-Based Corrections

• 1st Judicial District
• 2nd Judicial District
• 3rd Judicial District
• 4th Judicial District
• 5th Judicial District
• 6th Judicial District
• 7th Judicial District
• 8th Judicial District

Homeland Security & Emergency Management

• Iowa Office of Homeland Security
• Polk County Emergency Management
• Story County Emergency Management
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Judiciary

• Attorney General's Office
• Iowa Department of Justice
• Polk County Attorney's Office
• U.S. Courts
• Iowa Courts

Other Agencies

• Army Corps of Engineers
• Crime Victims Assistance Division
• Iowa Courts
• Iowa Department of Human Services
• Iowa Office of State Medical Examiner
• Polk County Medical Examiner
• Polk County Youth Services

Additional Resources

• Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
• PoliceOne

Employment in the criminal justice field is highly dependent upon one's character and background. Students who have a criminal history may complete the program of study, but it is NOT likely that they will find employment in the criminal justice field, and students with a criminal history may NOT be eligible for an internship, which is required for the AAS degree.

Students in the Criminal Justice AAS Degree program must complete CRJ 932 Internship as part of the graduation requirements, which is graded in the Pass/Fail format. It is a required class. We strongly encourage students to plan ahead and begin researching internship opportunities early, so they can obtain this experience during their last (or nearly last) semester at DMACC.

Although many criminal justice or criminal justice-related agencies offer internships, they are typically limited in the number of student interns they can supervise at a time, and most higher education institutions with criminal justice programs require internships prior to graduation. Thus, there may be competition for a limited number of positions. Planning early – a semester BEFORE students hope to complete the internship – is crucial.

Beginning Fall 2023, DMACC’s criminal justice internship course requires (1) 120 hours of supervised internship at a criminal justice or criminal justice-related agency, and (2) successful completion of CRJ 932 offered in an online format. This online course supports and enhances your learning from your internship experience.

It is the student’s responsibility to secure an internship with an agency or organization related to the criminal justice field. 

If you have concerns or are unable to secure an internship for the upcoming term and are otherwise on track to graduate, email the DMACC Criminal Justice designated Internship Instructor below, corresponding to your desired semester of registration for CRJ 932:

• Spring 2024 – Samantha O’Hara 
• Summer 2024 – Danielle Galien
• Fall 2024 – Samantha O’Hara
• Spring 2025 – Samantha O’Hara
• Summer 2025 – Danielle Galien

Students should contact the Designated Instructor who is teaching the course in the term for which they plan to register for CRJ 932 Internship. Example: If you wish to obtain an internship/register for CRJ 932 in Summer, your Instructor will be Danielle Galien; you will communicate with her prior to the Summer term, as you arrange for your internship and then get her approval to register for the course.​

Note: If you are currently employed or were previously employed in the criminal justice field, or have other relevant experience, you may be able eligible for the Credit for Prior Learning – Credits by Experience Process. Please review the information and contact the Criminal Justice Internship Coordinator.​

Eligibility Requirements

• Completed at least 24 credits in a Criminal Justice degree program
• Minimum grade point average of 2.0

Note: Many agencies will complete a background investigation as part of their internship application process. Students with criminal records may find limitations in their options. Please contact the course instructor with questions. DMACC does not complete a background investigation as part of the internship course specifically nor part of the Criminal Justice program generally.

Course Description

Students are expected to gain experience in a criminal justice-related agency under the supervision of professionals totaling 120 hours. Students will develop marketable skills and networks for future possible opportunities in the criminal justice system or related systems.

According to the main competencies, upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to examine future career aspirations; demonstrate record-keeping skills expected of an intern; formulate a review of the agency internship; discuss the role of your agency within the criminal justice system; appraise the internship experience from an academic standpoint; and assess the impact of the internship from a personal growth standpoint. Please click here for the DMACC Catalog for additional details.

How to Register for the Course CRJ 932

1. Review the following form and save the document for reference later:
   • CRJ 932 Course Description and Requirements Statement.
2. Complete and submit the following form to the internship instructor listed above:
   • CRJ 932 Internship Application.
3. Contact a criminal justice-related organization and participate in their internship application process. Upon selection by an agency for an internship, complete and submit the following two forms to the internship instructor listed above:
   • CRJ 932 Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgment; and
   • CRJ 932 Intern and Agency Agreement.
4. Upon receipt of all three completed DMACC forms (i.e., Internship Application; Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgment; and Intern and Agency Agreement), the Registration Office will be notified of instructor approval and then the student will be registered for the course.

Course Completion for CRJ 932

This is a Pass/Fail class. In order to pass, students must:

• Successfully complete a minimum of 120 hours with the agency or organization;
• Earn successful (passing) evaluations by the internship site supervisor/coordinator; and
• Successfully complete the CRJ 932 course, offered in an online format in a learning management system (Canvas).

Please read through all four CRJ 932 forms closely to fully understand this internship course. The student must pass the course in order to complete the AAS in Criminal Justice.​

REMEMBER:

Employment in the criminal justice field is highly dependent upon one's character and background.

Students who have a criminal history (or other similar life experiences) may complete the program of study, but it may NOT likely that they will find employment in the criminal justice field. Students with a criminal history may not be able to secure an internship and nor complete this class (CRJ 932) which is required for the AAS degree.

Please contact the DMACC Criminal Justice internship instructor listed above with questions as soon as possible.

Criminal Justice Honors Program

Who? You! Stand up and stand out in this new initiative!

What? Honors@CriminalJustice, click here for the DMACC Honors Program, and choo​se to focus on the discipline of criminal justice!

Why? You can investigate or create projects of YOUR interest in the criminal justice system, while DMACC pays for the Honors seminar credits (2 classes of 2 credits each), and tuition rebates of up to 3 credits per semester (9 credits of courses in the criminal justice program), for a total of 13 to 16 free credits, Honors designation on your college transcripts, PLUS the possibility of scholarships if you transfer to a four-year institution!

Where? Honors seminar courses are offered in virtual classroom and online in fall 2020, and discipline courses with honors also are available in virtual classroom and online formats beginning fall 2020!

When? Apply today for admittance!

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Criminal Justice Club

Why Join?

Students who join the Criminal Justice Club will gain unique knowledge and experiences through the club's collaboration with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Take a deeper look into the workings of the Criminal Justice field, while assisting the community through various events and activities​. ​

The club aims to take your education to the next level with hands-on learning experiences. Taking an active role within the club also helps you stand out when applying for a job in your chosen profession.

Expectations:

Students in the Criminal Justice Club are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the expectations of someone who aspires to become a professional criminal justice practitioner.

Contacts:

Cory McClure
Building 3W, Room 32
515-965-7334
clmcclure@dmacc.edu

Start Application