Criminal Justice - Associate in Science Degree

The Criminal Justice curriculum is offered at the Claremont Campus, Keene Academic Center both days and evenings as well as 100% distance learning. The 68 credits [21 required classes] may be completed at both locations and on-line within two years by full time students. Part time students take three and half years for degree completion. This program of study is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and seeks to meet standards of the National Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

The Director is a member of the Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Science and NH Association of Criminal Justice Educators. The faculty and advisory board members are experienced practitioners in the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary Branches of Government.

Our graduates and students from Vermont and New Hampshire are full time and part time police officers, correctional officers, completing four year undergraduate degrees, deployed with the USMC, US Army, Homeland Security, the courts and serve in key local justice support roles. Eight of our graduates have been awarded the Earl Sweeney Award for public service, strength of character and academic achievement while attending River Valley Community College.

Candidates considering attending RVCC for CJ should possess certain qualities, including ethical sensibility, an interest in promoting justice, the ability to be highly observant, interest to learn the law and legal system, leadership skills, communication skills, the ability to think quickly, and the ability to handle stress while being genuine.

To Recapitulate with More Detail

 A professional in the field of criminal justice must obviously possess a strong ethical sensibility, since he or she works to promote adherence to laws and to prevent law-breaking, as well as determining consequences for those who do not follow the law. An interest in promoting justice is also desirable in someone who works in the criminal justice system. As a person who upholds and enforces the tenets of the criminal justice system, a criminal justice professional must respect and believe in that system.

Someone who works in the criminal justice profession must also be highly observant, able to notice changes in people that many others would not notice. He or she must be able to determine whether a behavior is suspicious, whether an environment is safe, and whether a certain course of action is acceptable. In addition, a criminal justice professional must possess knowledge of the legal system and a familiarity with legal issues in order to be able to enforce the laws. Leadership skills are also desirable in the criminal justice professional, as these professionals regularly make decisions regarding others. A criminal justice professional should inspire confidence in the community, where he or she plays a central role.

                  ...a DUI police report averages about seven to nine, single spaced pages

Communication skills are paramount to success in the criminal justice field. Professionals in the field should possess excellent communications skills because they must be able to give suggestions to employees, give orders to people over whom they have authority, and explain clearly to the community what legal issues are involved. They must be able to speak effectively and with confidence and authority. In addition, a professional in the criminal justice field must be able to write clearly and effectively. He or she will be writing anything from a press release to parole orders and therefore must be comfortable with a wide variety of writing styles and requirements.

The ability to think quickly is helpful in almost all professions; however, it is of the utmost importance in the criminal justice field. Employees will be working in institutions where decisions must be made quickly. In order to act in an effective manner, a professional must possess the ability to assess a situation and make a decision about the next recommended course of action. Often it is in the interest of public safety that this decision be made quickly as possible.

Finally, although most careers include some level of stress, a career in the field of criminal justice may be considered more stressful than many other careers. In a career that deals with public safety, law enforcement, crime and punishment, and legal maneuvers, stress is inescapable. A professional working in the field of criminal justice absolutely must be able to deal with the personal stress of the job in a healthy manner while performing his or her duties effectively and safely.

...According to a study by the International Chiefs of Police Association, only 8% of all calls relate to public order that typically is featured in the media;...All otherss require skills of empathy, respect and being a genuine person; the hardest is being genuine...

River Valley Community College serves as the center for the twenty one member Western NH Police Testing Alliance. Other NH testing locations can be accessed through the NH Police Standards and Training Council web site. Forty three additional departments are notified of applicant test scores.*

If you are interested in being a criminal justice major, apply for admission to the college and take the ACCUPLACER exam. With these exam results in hand, e-mail the Program Director for an advisory interview, course selection or additional inquiry at <DBurridge@ccsnh.edu>

2010-2011 Faculty, Student, Graduate, & Advisory Board Members: Richard C. Adams [Student],  Chelsea R. Belanger [Student], Officer Joshua P. Boone [Graduate], Adjunct Instructor Edwin F. Bourassa [Captain RET], Karen Brousseau-Allard [Graduate], Honorable Edward J. Burke [8th Circuit Court Justice], Adjunct Assistant Professor, Hon. Delmar D. Burridge [Court Administrative Officer RET, Former NH House Representative], Adjunct Instructor [Emeritus] / Assistant State Field Director, Probation & Parole Officer J. Christopher Callahan, Ryan J. Cameron [Graduate / Hesser College], Chief Marcello D’Alessandro, Professor Peggy J. DeStefano, Officer Alex N. Gaylor [Graduate], Adjunct Instructor Andrew Harrison, Instructor Dan Hackler [Continuing Education], Adjunct Instructor David Legere, Esq., Adjunct Instructor / County Attorney Peter W. Heed [Former State Attorney General], Steve J. Karaffa [Chief RET], Chief Kenneth J. Meola, Michelle M. Paskerta [RVCC Student], Jeffrey S. Putnam [Student], Adjunct Instructor / Officer Alexander T. Remolador, Private Dustin A. Rhodes USA – Artillery [Graduate], Chief Alexander W. Scott Esq., Adjunct Instructor / Lieutenant Anthony J. Shepherd Esq., Chief Edward C. Smith, Adjunct Instructor / Officer John F. Stewart, Private First Class John D. Steuwe USMC [Graduate], Adjunct Instructor  Art Walker [Chief RET].

*Forty four additional Police & Sheriff Departments include: South Eastern Grafton County (Route 4 Towns) NH, outermost Western portions of Merrimack and Hillsborough Counties NH that follow the Route 202 corridor; Departments of Windham, Windsor Counties VT and Brandon PD of Rutland County VT. Saved as "Criminal Justice Associate Degree Program.doc" at Starlight 10/26/2011