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 it is a requirement for the degree.

Please read all of the information on this page carefully.

Note for Current or Former Criminal Justice Practitioners
If you are currently employed or were previously employed in the criminal justice or related fields, you may be able eligible for the Credit for Prior Learning – Credits by Experience Process. Please contact the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) as soon as possible.

CRJ 932 Internship Course Eligibility Requirements

• Students must have completed at least 24 credits in a Criminal Justice degree program; and
• Minimum grade point average of 2.0.

CRJ 932 Internship 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.  This course is graded pass/fail (click here for details in the DMACC Catalog). Instructor approval is required for registration.

The CRJ 932 Criminal Justice Internship course requires 120 hours of supervised internship at a criminal justice or criminal justice-related agency, earn successful evaluations by the internship agency supervisor, and successfully complete CRJ 932 Internship, a course offered in a web-blend format on Canvas. The internship hours must occur within the time period of the academic semester or term in which the student is enrolled in the course. The academic course supports and enhances the learning from the internship experience.

Important Reminders from the Program Chair

Students should contact the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) in the semester PRIOR to the when the internship is desired, so she can provide support or ideas to students and/or monitor progress to ensure the student can be registered successfully for the course in the desired semester. 

It is the student’s responsibility to secure an internship with an agency or organization within or related to the criminal justice field. Students are encouraged to use resources through DMACC Career Services and to find this expectation as practicing “real world” job-seeking skills. The student should also reflect upon their activities completed in CRJ 107 Survey of CJ Agencies course to help in this internship-seeking process.

Students are strongly encouraged to plan ahead, research, and apply for internships at agencies during the semester PRIOR to when they wish to register for and complete the internship class. 

Students should have the internship/agency agreement completed (see information below) and provided to the Program Chair by the end of the semester prior to when the student wishes to begin the internship and CRJ 932 class. 

Students cannot be registered for CRJ 932 any later than the end of the first week of the semester in which they wish to begin their internship.

Student Steps to Prepare for the CRJ 932 Internship Course and experience

1. Contact the Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara)
   1. Let her know what agency and what semester you intend to obtain an internship; or
   2. Schedule an appointment with her if need of assistance or ideas in the internship-seeking process.
2. Review course description document
   1. The Course Description and Requirement Statement document and save the document for reference later on your computer: CRJ 932 Course Description and Requirements Statement.
3. Complete application document
   1. Email your completed Internship Application document to the Program Chair: CRJ 932 Internship Application.
4. Find agency/apply/secure internship
   1. Contact a criminal justice-related organization and participate in their internship application process; or
   2. Contact the Program Chair if you need help or ideas.
5. After securing an internship
   1. When the student is selected by an agency for an internship, email the Ethical and Professional Acknowledgment document and the Intern/Agency Agreement document  to the Program Chair: CRJ 932 Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgment; and CRJ 932 Intern and Agency Agreement.
6. Registration
   1. After the Program Chair receives the Internship Application; Ethical and Professional Conduct Acknowledgment; and Intern and Agency Agreement, she will notify the DMACC Registration Office to register the student for the CRJ 932 course with her instructor approval.
   2. The student is then registered for the CRJ 932 course and internship can occur.
   3. Registration can be completed during the course registration open in the term prior to the semester, or during the first week of the semester, in which the CRJ 932 course is desired. Students cannot be enrolled into a course after the first week of the semester or term.

Pro Tip:
When in doubt, with questions or concerns, students should reach out to the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) or their academic advisor. Don’t struggle alone.

REMEMBER:

Employment in the criminal justice field is highly dependent upon one's character and background. Many agencies will complete a background investigation as part of their internship application process. Students with criminal history (or other similar life experiences) may find limitations in their options for internships. The CRJ 932 Internship course is required for the AAS degree.  DMACC does not complete a background investigation as part of the internship course specifically nor as part of the Criminal Justice program generally. Please contact the Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) with questions.

Honors Program & Criminal Justice

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

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

Why? The DMACC Honors Program is available for students with high academic standards in order to expand their boundaries and better prepare them to enter the workforce or continue on to a four-year college or university. The mission is to provide quality, student-centered education and opportunities for leadership, service, and research that challenge and stimulate students with high academic standards. Check out more benefits here!

Where? Honors seminar courses are offer online and in-person, and discipline courses are also offered online and in-person!

When? Apply today for admittance!

Questions? Contact honorsdirector@dmacc.edu with questions  or reach out to the Criminal Justice Program Chair (Samantha O’Hara) today!

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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