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. Students may refer to the Career Opportunities site for a starting point.
If you have concerns or are unable to secure an internship for the upcoming term and are otherwise on track to graduate, email DMACC Criminal Justice Internship Coordinator Dr. Samantha O’Hara at sjohara@dmacc.edu.
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
- Review the following form and save the document for reference later:
- CRJ 932 Course Description and Requirements Statement.
- Complete and submit the following form to Dr. O’Hara via email at sjohara@dmacc.edu:
- CRJ 932 Internship Application.
- 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 Dr. O’Hara via email at sjohara@dmacc.edu:
- CRJ 932 Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgement; and
- CRJ 932 Intern and Agency Agreement.
- Upon receipt of all three completed DMACC forms (i.e., Internship Application; Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgement; and Intern and Agency Agreement), Dr. O’Hara will notify the Registration Office 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 Internship Coordinator Samantha O’Hara at sjohara@dmacc.edu with questions as soon as possible.
