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Criminal Justice

First semester freshman who have declared a major in Criminal Justice, or students who are considering a major in Criminal Justice, take a course titled Introduction to Criminal Justice. This course touches on all areas studied in Criminal Justice: law enforcement, community corrections, prisons and jails, the courts, the history of criminal justice, criminal law and criminal procedure, criminal statistics, etc. This overview of the field of Criminal Justice allows students to begin thinking about planning their career.

Throughout the remaining five semesters of the program, the study of substantive Criminal Justice continues as does the emphasis on career planning. Each student's academic adviser will begin planning internships with the student early in the program. Internships are an excellent means of narrowing career goals and making contacts. A student graduating from MacMurray in Criminal Justice will have the knowledge he or she needs to succeed in Criminal Justice, plus the information he or she needs to find a position.

Program of Study

Criminal Justice majors need a total of 39 credits to complete the requirements of the major. For specifics, see the catalog.

Internships

Each student is strongly encouraged to take at least 1 internship for 3 credits. Criminal Justice majors complete internships in a wide variety of placements.

Students are regularly placed in the Jacksonville/Springfield area with the Illinois State Police, the Springfield Police Department, and the Morgan County Sheriff's Department and Probation Office. Students have also been placed in the Jacksonville/Springfield area at the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center, the United States Marshal Service, the Illinois Department of Public Assistance, the Taylorville and Jacksonville Correctional Centers, and the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department.

Students can also participate in an internship outside the Jacksonville/Springfield area. During MacMurray's summer term, students frequently intern with law enforcement and probation agencies in their hometowns. Internships have also been completed in placements as diverse as private security with the Target Corporation and the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Selected Alumni

John Doyle, '07
Deputy, Winnebago County Sheriff's Department
Chad Schuttrow, '04
Trooper, Indiana State Police
Colin Dickey, '02
Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration
Tim Sweeney, '02
Illinois State Police, Canine Officer
Keith Williams, '01
Detective, Springfield Police Department
Josh Weber, '01
Deputy, Morgan County Sheriff's Department
Matt Bendler, '01
Officer, Gurnee, Illinois Police Department
Jay Ratermann, '01
Special Agent with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He obtained his position after an internship with Customs through their Outstanding Scholars Program.
Stephanie Lionts, '00
Investigator, City of Chicago Inspector General's Office
Marla Auffart Lithenhus, '00
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations
Jennifer Conner Brasel, '99
Aviation Security Inspector, Transportation Security Administration. She obtained her position through the Outstanding Scholars Program of the former FAA.

Kevin Gade, '99
Illinois Secretary of State Police
Renee White, '99
Probation Officer, Morgan County Probation Office
Wade Gummersheimer, '97
Officer, Fairview Heights Police Department
Jeff Lane, '97
Conservation Police Officer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Jeff McCormack, '97
Captain, United States Marines
Jason Marlow, '96
Trooper, Iowa Department of Public Safety
Brad Born, '95
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations
Chris Kleiber Peterson, '95
Officer, Cary Police Department
Ken Wells, '95
Special Agent, Health Care Fraud, U.S. Health and Human Services
Don Larson, '94
Trooper, Missouri Highway Patrol
Juan Tapia, '94
Probation Officer, United States Probation Office
Drew Helms, '90
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations