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Housatonic offers criminal justice

Published: New Haven Register August 5, 2004

Looking for a career but not sure just what to do? Want something with an exciting future? Do you like to watch CSI or The Agency or any show that has to do with law enforcement? Then a career in Criminal Justice may be just for you.

The Criminal Justice program at Housatonic Community College encompasses law enforcement, administration, corrections, counseling, investigations, juvenile justice and security and loss prevention.

Course offerings are transferable to four-year institutions that also have programs in criminal justice, public administration, social sciences, and more. The program offers an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice and five certificate programs: Victim Services, Corrections, Criminal Investigation, Security Operations, and Pre-Service Corrections for the State of Connecticut. Each certificate program varies in the amount of credits required.

Samantha Mannion, Program Coordinator, said the reason it exists has everything to do with HCC’s relationship with the surrounding community areas.

“ We have a great program that is extremely dynamic and responsive to the community,” she said. The Greater Bridgeport police departments have hired many of our students as police officers, in dispatch and in administration; law firms have hired HCC students as paralegals. “We teach our students beyond the threshold of what they need to know.”

Mannion said that it gives her the greatest sense of accomplishment to know that the students are getting a firm foundation at Housatonic, not only to start a career, but to continue at four-year intuitions.

“ Our students are very well prepared when they transfer to four-year colleges because of the high caliber of education they received here at Housatonic.”

She also said that a large number of police officers are enrolled in the program. They’ve been referred to Housatonic by their organizations as being a place where they can get a superior education and they come back for retraining and certification.

There are close to 300 students, in the program. The program offers a variety of courses that allows students to concentrate in a specific area in law enforcement. The students also do a practicum that allows them to focus and work in a particular area of specialty. The practicum allows the students to network within the field. They may also be eligible for college credit.

Mannion said the criminal justice field is growing, with opportunities in such areas as victim services.

HCC’s instructors are all well-respected professionals in their fields. For example in police administration, the instructor is one of the top police administrators in the state. The legal courses are taught by people in the state’s attorney’s office who deal with the law every day and not only bring their own personal expertise, but field experience.

Housatonic also has a Criminal Justice Club that is a direct offshoot of the program. The club is student-run, with outside activities and bus trips. The club has toured the State Forensic Crime Lab, the State Police Academy, Garner Correctional Institute and to the Federal Correctional Institute in Danbury.

It is the second fastest growing program at the College.

Students in the program do real-world simulation work. They learn how to do evidence collection, use finger print kits, process crime scenes, search cars, question suspects, and have mock trials.