Criminal Justice| Major

About the Criminal Justice Program at Lake Erie College

Criminal Justice studies the phenomenon of social control in organized societies where the rule of law is the primary social control mechanism. As a system, we examine the substantive and procedural laws of the U.S. Constitution and the enforcement of those laws. As a social science, we study crime causation through an interdisciplinary lens of sociology, psychology, anthropology, ecology, philosophy, religion, political science, and business. The Classical, Positivist, and Neoclassical Schools of Criminology are the foundations for this exploration. The goal? The pursuit of justice through a balance of crime control and due process. Our focus at Lake Erie College is on the operations of three (3) domains of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Students take required and elective courses that explore the roles, responsibilities, and processes involved in police contact, offender entry, judicial process, and corrections.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE?

Students in criminal justice primarily pursue careers in the civil service and private sector, focusing on fields such as public safety, security, law (with further education), institutional corrections (including jails and prisons), and community corrections (including probation & parole). It is essential for students to be aware that a successful background investigation is required for employment in many of these fields.