AU Criminal Justice Attends the OLCCJE Criminal Justice Career Fair

Ashland University Criminal Justice majors, members of the AU Criminal Justice Club, and CJ professors Dr. Spelman and Dr. Craig attended the Ohio Council of Criminal Justice Education Criminal Justice Career Fair held at Tiffin University on Friday, November 7, 2014.  Over 27 agencies representing federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and also the Departments of Children's Services and Juvenile Probation were present to give students information concerning careers.

 

 

 

 

CJ Student Internship: Spotlight on Kelsey Garrabrant

Criminal Justice Senior Kelsey Garrabrant interned with the Ashland County Juvenile Probation Department and Court in Ashland, Ohio. This organization has several different types of careers available, such as attorneys, probation officers, and social workers.  Additionally, it handles all juvenile cases for Ashland County.

What were your job duties at your internship? What kinds of activities were you involved in?

My duties included filing the records of old cases or pulling those that were coming up that week. I was present for all the hearings and trials and was able to learn more of the judicial system this way. One of my favorite duties was spending the day with the probation officers. I would accompany them on home visits for several of their juveniles and would be a witness to any probation violations.

How did Ashland’s Criminal Justice Program prepare you to meet the challenges of your internship?

The Ashland Criminal Justice program really helped prepare me simply through education. With the classes I took, I became more knowledgeable about terms that were used through courts and professional terms used within the court and by attorneys and judges. I was able to comprehend all that went on during trials and hearings without being stuck on what a certain motion or word meant. I was especially prepared for the probation department through my Intro to Corrections class with Dr. Spelman. He covered the duties of probation officers throughout the course and I was actually able to aid in some of those duties throughout the summer without explanation by the officers.

What experience(s) did you find most helpful or valuable during your internship? How do you think your internship will impact your chosen career path?

I really believe that my interaction with the court system and department helped me tremendously. Being able to sit in on hearings and trials of all types helped to advance my knowledge in the court system. Along with that, being hands-on with the probation department helped me to actually experience the day-to-day life of a probation officer. This internship helped me tremendously by not only supplying new knowledge on various career options for me, such as an attorney or probation officer, but solidifying my choice to choose a career path in the criminal justice field. 

CJ Student Internship: Spotlight on Joseph Szymanski

Criminal Justice Freshman Joseph Szymanski interned with the Ashland County Sherriff’s Office in Ashland, Ohio in April and May of 2014.  The Sherriff’s Department provides quality law enforcement to all residents of Ashland County.

 

What were your job duties at your internship?  What kinds of activities were you involved in?

I completed day to day tasks with Deputies and Correction Officers, including booking inmates, checking for drugs and other contraband in cell blocks, as well as conducting building and security checks.  I was also involved with the Enforcement Road Division.  Through this Division, I investigated civilians with warrants and transferred inmates to various locations, including the court house, hospitals or other institutions (jails).

 

How did Ashland's Criminal Justice Program prepare you to meet the challenges of your internship?

I was a freshman at the time and had only taken a few criminal justice classes, but my professors taught from actual field experience which helped prepare me above and beyond what I expected. This internship was successful for me because I was put into hands-on situations.  I learned something exciting every day and each day was different.

What experience(s) did you find most helpful or valuable during your internship? How do you think your internship will impact your chosen career path?

My internship was hands-on and each day was exciting, different and dramatic and it made what I am learning more interesting.  This internship made me feel I was a part of a team and it allowed me to help society and the community by enforcing laws.  It is certain to me that I want to work in the field instead of sitting behind a desk all day. This is my dream and I am thankful that Ashland University’s Criminal Justice Program has let me do this.

CJ Student Internship: Spotlight on Auston Smith

Criminal Justice Senior Auston Smith interned with the Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation Services in Dayton, Ohio, an office with multiple kinds of probation officers, including drug court probation officers.  This organization serves the youth of the Dayton community. 

What were your job duties at your internship?  What kinds of activities were you involved in?

My job duties consisted of performing random drug screenings, conducting office visits with the youth, presenting a few cases in the drug court, and a few miscellaneous tasks. I was able to participate in several activities in this internship. Activities like staff and youth kickball, softball, and basketball tournaments. Things that really got the kids involved. 

Could you speak a little bit more about the role of a probation officer who serves youth offenders?  What is the end game when working with kids in this capacity?

Drug court is for the troubled youth who have more of a drug problem than kids on traditional probation. As a probation officer in drug court, you are a probation officer/ mentor and positive influence for your kids. If you can help your kids reach the goal of getting off of probation, every single thing on their record will be expunged.

How did spending time and bonding with the kids you served help you do your job?

Every kid loves playing and competing in sports. In these events, I would take the time to get to know some kids and pick their brain and give the kids a chance to also learn a little about me as well. I am young so it was easy for me to relate to these kids and some of the situations they are facing. They would simply ask me for my input and advice on some things and I made sure I told the kids what was real and how to overcome some tough adversity they are facing. This made my job easy because the kids cooperated with me. I was told by a probation officer that the kids worked better with me versus their last interns which made me feel great.

How did Ashland's Criminal Justice Program prepare you to meet the challenges of your internship?

Ashland's Criminal Justice Department prepared me for all aspects of this internship. This was done by just simply going over the aspects of becoming a juvenile probation officer.

What experience(s) did you find most helpful or valuable during your internship? How do you think your internship will impact your chosen career path?

The most valuable experience I gained at my internship was when I was able to present five cases in Drug Court. I actually felt like I was a real probation officer. My internship will definitely impact my career path because I now know that becoming a juvenile probation officer is something I would love to do. The people I encountered at my internship taught me a lot and really inspired me.