Question for Bruce

Bruce,

Other than the obvious--police officer, private investigator, probation--what other careers might one pursue with an accredited (DETC) master's in criminal justice?

Thanks!

 

Ohgod... Jimmy's investigating another degree. Will his "preacher-turned-locksmith-turned..." quest never end?

(just messin' widcha')

 

Re: Re: Question for Bruce

Funny! I am just curious. I see Ashworth's CJ master's is so inexpensive I wonder what utiliity that degree would have since a number ask about CJ degrees and also Ashworth.

Actually, if I could afford it, I might be interested in the CJ master's or the psych master's at CCU.

Now, BTW, DesElms, you should say "Oh Gawd." That is more sophisticated, is it not?

 

There are opportunities in administration of various Court related programs such as Drug Court, Family Court, Juvenile Drug Court and the like. I'VE never had any desire to run such a program, but the need is definitely there and grant money is available.

 

Yea, I actually was the Putnam County Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) director for two years which was really more of an informal probation program than a treatment program. The name SATP was actually a misnomer.

It was basically as sham. It ended up being more about making money for the court system and grant money at that time was very difficult to obtain.

Maybe things have changed by now.

 

Re: Re: Re: Question for Bruce

Actually, no. That's how a Valley Girl would say it. I said it (and meant it) in exactly the same way that actress Bonnie Hunt said it, as the character Laurel Boyd in the movie Jerry Maguire; in the scene where Laurel is in the living room watching her sister, Dorothy (played by Renée Zellweger), about to get into the U-Haul truck to move to San Diego; and she (Dorothy) is suddenly stopped by Jerry (played by Tom Cruise), who is having second thoughts about her moving, and who is about to suggest that they get married -- and that she stay, after all -- instead.

In the scene, Laurel is in the living room, watching the couple out on the front sidewalk through the living room window. She wants Dorothy to go head and move to San Diego and get away from Jerry... whom she opined, in an earlier scene, might be a "bottom feeder" who wouldn't be good for Dorothy. She notices how long it's taking for Dorothy to finish her good-bye and get going.

"C'mon, now... get in the truck" she says to herself, quickly, tight-lipped, and almost under her breath, in tense anticipation... as if talking to sister Dorothy, who cannot actually hear her because she (Dorothy) is outside, in front of the house, on the sidewalk, talking to Jerry.

As it starts to become clear to Laurel that the couple is discussing something serious and that Dorothy might change her mind, Laurel, still to herself, still tight-lipped, tense and unmoving, utters: "Ohgod... no, no..." as if to say, "oh, no... wait... don't do it... get in the truck... what are you doing?"

That's how I meant it.

You know what I'd do, if I were you... and if those possibilities interested you... er... I mean me, for our hypothetical purposes, here? I'd get the Ashworth Masters in Healthcare Administration; and then I'd take that, and my license in social work that you have, and your religious degrees, and the fact that you're a full-time pastor of a church, and I'd go get me a job running (or starting a new) chaplaincy service in some kind of clinic or small hospital or something; or a job running the whole darned thing where, if so, you could also be of great value to the institution's chaplaincy service... or could start it, if it doesn't already exist there.

And, what the heck... you could also be available to employees who lose the keys to their offices; or employees and/or patients who lock themselves out of their cars in the parking lot.

Plus, you'd almost certainly have one helluva healthcare plan.

It's win-win for everyone... and pretty much utilizes all the various educational and training programs you've completed and/or credentials that you have! And it's probably more money, too. If you played it right, you could do it just about full-time, and still remain your church's pastor.

Just a thought.

The only thing they probably wouldn't let you do is wear around that picture of Bush43 on your chest!

 

A CJ/AJ/Crim degree can be somewhat versatile... all depending on your vision and your creativity... Combining this degree with another discipline is an employment "force multiplier" in that you are compounding the benefits of two areas and most likely your competition hasn't done that...

Combining CJ/AJ/Crim with...

Counseling/Psychology/Social Work work real well for counseling and human services professions...

Public Policy/Sociology/Psychology provide for a good sound basis from which to look into research oriented positions...

Public Administration/Organizational Leadership/Management/Organization Development/Human Resources Management/Information Systems Management (and other technology related disciplines) for consulting oriented positions

Human Resource Development/Education for organizational training oriented positions

Public Policy/Ministry/Theology for social justice-public policy oriented positions

For example... just a few of the possibilities...

Tiffin University offers an MS in CJ with a specialization in Forensic Psychology... http://www.tiffin.edu/livepages/148.shtml

UMass-OnLine offers an MA in CJ with graduate certificate programs in Domestic Violence Prevention, Forensic Criminology, Criminal Justice Informatics and Leadership & Policy Development... http://www.umassonline.net/degrees/MACriminalJustice.html

Northcentral University offers a PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in CJ... (although I cringe severely every time I see this degree "packaged" like this I suppose it might have utility somewhere... but then again... it's all in your vision and creativity... evidently I'm short-sighted in this instance) http://www.ncu.edu/university_information/dpro_det.asp?degree_program_id=20

There are of course many more programs with very attractive "packages" available for their degree programs... all depending on your vision for success!

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Question for Bruce

Well DesElms, you're too funny. When I pastored in Detroit, all the educated congregants said "Gawd" for God. I hated that with a passion. It's like they thought they were closer to Him than the rest of us.

Wow! Your employment plan is well thought out. Guess you now have a new career path--Employment Specialist. I am serious. Your plan for me is most excellent.

Except, I don't like business, don't like administrative duties, and hate math with a passion.

But, nice job of connecting all my degrees, licenses, professions, etc. Not bad, not bad at all!

 

Re: Re: Question for Bruce

Very interesting. I always liked forensics and worked as a forensic social worker for a time.

Actually, I thought a degree in CJ with my locksmithing background would be helpful in obtaining security jobs--installation of security systems, etc.

 

OK... I took too long to edit the previous posting and was unable to fix it before it turned to stone...

I realized that I didn't answer your question as you asked it (I missed the DETC statement) so I revised my response as follows:

I don't really believe that MOST employers will know the difference between DETC and RA... The research positions may be limited in scope... consultants may or may not "slide" here... In academic circles there is a distinct bias against most everything other than RA (excepting professional accreditations, such as business, theology, and a few others)

The diffinitive answer to your question is going to entail an inner focused reflection on the exact DETC curriculum you intend to pursue, the focus area where you intend to write your papers, your professional resume, and your vision and creative reasoning process...

 

Using the same train of thought for my own inward reflection...

The real interesting thing that I had not realized is that I could use my BS in CJ degree, and my prior experience in CJ with my new career in School Psychology... School Psych's are also employed by juvenile confinement institutions...

With all of these emotionally disturbed kids out there who are merely taking up space in educational institutions... There's just too much "business" out there for us...

So moving into a doctoral program with a dual focus on Ed Psych and Juv Delinquency could be whispering "sweet nothings" in my ear!!!

 

Turn to stone. Ha! I like that. I'm gonna' use it, if that's okay with you.

HELPFUL HINT-O-TH'-DAY: If you go ahead and post, then realize that you've got more work to do; and if you think there's even the remotest chance that you won't be able to get said work done before the 10-minute timeout expires (and it "turns to stone"); or if you think you can, but you just don't want that 10-minute-timeout (and stone turning) breathing down your neck, then don't even try!

Instead, simply highlight and then copy (using Ctrl-C) your raw text from the "Your Reply:" text editing box up into the clipboard.

Then delete the post altogether (making sure, of course, you do so before the 10-minute-timeout happens).

Then start a whole, new posting; and, in same, just paste (using Ctrl-V) the raw text from the first try at the post into the new "Your Reply:" text editing box.

Then do all your fixing... and use the "Preview Reply" button feature to test and re-test your post until it looks exactly right... and contains no errors that will make you have to re-edit it once it posts, with the 10-minute timeout breathing down your neck!

Then, when it's perfect, click on the "Submit Reply" button to actually post your work...

...which, of course, begins a whole new 10-minute editing/deletion time-out period; but one which you probably won't need because you made sure, using the preview function, that your post was perfect before even posting it... right?

 

Jimmy,

When one mentions a Criminal Justice degree, it seems the automatic reaction for most people is to think "police officer". In reality, we (cops on the street) are far outnumbered by the support staff in the CJ system, who play just as an important role as we do.

This is a question I'm asked fairly often by my students, so I'm well prepared for it! Besides being a police officer/PI/probation officer, those that would benefit from a CJ degree include parole officers (distinct from probation), corrections officers, police telephone operators & dispatchers, youth workers, victim/witness advocates, domestic violence counselors, court clerks, mental health/addiction counselors who want to help law enforcement, the list goes on.

 

DesElms,

I consider "turn to stone" to be public domain... free to use by all means...

I was totally unaware of the 10 minute rule... and since I have a reputation for being long-winded on my written correspondence (just ask any of my co-workers)... I naturally was an outstanding candidate for the "stoning."

And thanks for the HELPFUL HINT-O-TH'-DAY! I will most definately be able to make use of it!

 

You should also be aware that some states will not considera NA degree as CEUs and therefore many, but not all departments in that state will accept a degree that is approved as an accredited post secondary institute of higher learning...or in Texas...a RA school only.

Worth knowing.

 

Double post...sorry.

 

Actually, licensure for some mental health disciplines can be granted to NA graduates, e.g., MFT's.

Also, RA is not spefified for CEU's for MFT's.

 

Sounds like you've got a handle on it.

 

Actually, in TX, licensure for some mental health disciplines can be granted to NA graduates, e.g., MFT's.

Also, RA is not spefified for CEU's for MFT's.

 

Thanks Bruce.

Kind of what I thought. A number of CJ grads I know work in addictions.

You mention "my students," are you teaching now?