Criminal Justice

Technical standards provide guidance relative to skills and essential functions to successfully complete the Criminal Justice program. The standards reflect requirements crucial for success in the profession and are intended to serve as a guide for the legal, physical, emotional, psychosocial, and intellectual expectations within the profession. The standards further ensure students will exhibit the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgement, accept guidance and direction from superiors and/or faculty staff and maintain professional interpersonal relationships with fellow students and personnel in the field. Meeting these standards does not guarantee success in this program or guarantee employment, but are nonetheless required.  

To participate in an internship and work in the criminal justice field, students must be free of criminal convictions and complete a N.H. background check before assuming any internship duties. This check may require fingerprinting. Fingerprinting can be done at a local police department, state police or DMV locations. The student may incur fees in meeting these requirements. This process ensures work environment safety and security as well as the protection of confidential and sensitive information.

• Students must exercise and maintain high ethical, legal, and moral standards of the criminal justice field or face being removed from the program.
• The safety of all our students is paramount. Students must maintain proper boundaries at the college and adhere to the Code of Ethics of the college. Failure to do so could result in being removed from the program.
• Students are responsible for a criminal check, which is required for potential internships. Potential employers complete comprehensive background checks for many criminal justice careers. Applicants with a criminal record or history may not be employable or able to get an internship placement, and are encouraged to discuss career goals with a program advisor before admission.
• Basic health and fitness requirements are essential for many criminal justice professions. Applicants with special needs and/or limitations that may affect their internship placement and/or employability are encouraged to discuss career goals with a program advisor before admission.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with others and the ability to interact appropriately with individuals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and educational backgrounds are essential qualities within the criminal justice field. Skills must be demonstrated in the classroom setting and workplace. Ability to endure negative verbal and hostile views in potentially antagonistic situations while also maintaining composure during stressful and/or emergency situations. Ability to work independently and on a team.
• Must have effective communication skills and ability to interact with populations of all ages and ethnicities. Strong conflict resolution skills and ability to face emergency and volatile situations in a calm, non-defensive, rational and respectful manner are required. Must be able to solicit information from individuals such as the questioning of victims or the interrogation of suspects and to convey information clearly and accurately.
• Understand and follow written and/or verbal direction.
• Must have ample writing skills and the ability to formulate written reports and draft official documents.
• Demonstrate and maintain organizational and time management skills, including consistent attendance and participation in classes, field trips and internships.