My Passion For Criminal Justice

Following my internship, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and accepted a position with the Department of Child Services (DCS) as a case manager; the same one I had observed in the forensic interview room years ago. Intervening in the lives of families as a DCS case manager is extremely fast-paced, stressful, contentious and heartbreaking. Entering a stranger’s home and making a decision that will impact their lives for years to come forces one

According to the National CASA Association in 1999, one out of every two women and one out of every ten men in prisons and jails were either physically or sexually abused before incarceration. Now that it is nearly two decades later, it is safe to assume that those numbers may have increased due to incarceration as well. The brief point that is being displayed is that before they were labeled as criminals and law breaks, they were hurt and or abused children. As a Music Therapist for children, I would provide a safe environment for children to express their feelings of what is on their minds without acting in retaliation of what was done to them. My unique ability to connect with children, passion for children’s mental health and persistent

My desire to help young adolescents who are remanded to the foster system regardless of their circumstances has pushed me in pursuing a Criminal Justice degree and has furthered my desire to become a Victim Advocate. Understanding how the criminal justice system works will only make me a better Victim Advocate. The ability to provide information and consolation on what victimization is, can help anyone who is going through a traumatizing experience. It can even lessen the intensity of trauma when there is someone present who understands and can empathize with the victim. A Victim Advocate is also essential in explaining the legal and protections of a victim, providing information on the criminal justice process, providing emotional

Always, I was told from parents and elders that anyone can achieve their dreams through arduous work and dedication. Surprisingly, I hadn’t pondered this until I observed a shivering homeless person standing at the corner asking for help on one snowy, frosty winter day. This affected my life greatly. On the way, I just started thinking about the life of homeless people and how they are not fortunate enough to get their own place to live, their choice of delicious food to eat and several other amenities that we all enjoy in our everyday lives. An incident, like this, sparked an enthusiastic sense of compassion and empathy in me. Along with my family, I started thinking deeply and my thoughts to help the homeless expanded to other areas and I wanted to start helping the community around me as much as possible.

Throughout my childhood I have lived in the same town, lived in the same tattered trailer, and have never truly known comfort in the financial sense. My family has always struggled. This is part of what has motivated me to at least do something with my life. I want my family to know that monetary comfort and that my children will be able to go to the college that they want to attend and have worked their butts off to get to and not worry about paying for it. This is why I decided to continue schooling after high school.

For me, this ideal means living a life of service by being receptive to the needs of others and by being a voice to the underserved members in one’s community. From a physician’s standpoint, this value could manifest as a thoughtful doctor who sees people and not diseases; pains and not symptoms; friends and not patients. This principle of valuing all people while committing to a life of service is something I have strived for throughout my life.

This paper will examine and review articles using a three-step process. First, a hand search of 64 joumals across the disciplines of justice, criminal justice, correctional education, psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, social work, special education, general education, and vocational education was completed for the years 1975 to 2004. Second, a computer search was conducted using ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center), PsychLit, general and special education, and criminal justice databases for the years 1975 to 2004. Descriptors used were correctional education, corrections, and juvenile delinquents. Third, bibliographies in identified articles were consulted to expand the research base. Articles included in

“If you have a passion for it, you’ll find it out in the field” (Josh Valentino). I completed my criminal justice internship at the Yale Child Abuse Programs Department of Pediatrics, in New Haven Connecticut. My internship with the Child Abuse Programs was such an eye opening experience. I not only got to learn about my field of study, but this internship has also aloud me to discover a lot about myself as a person as well. When I walked into the Yale building on my first day as an intern, I did not know what to expect, and I certainly had no idea that my time there would leave such a huge impact on me. I remember thinking that this was my chance to confirm that my ultimate goal of working as a forensic psychologist was the right career choice me.

This academic experience gave me insight into how significant the field of Social Work is to that of the Criminal Justice

I am interested to hear about your past in Criminal Justice, because I am a Military Policeman with retirement only 5 years away. Some of the skillsets that I think could benefit us is our ability to build rapport with people fast and having to tell that facts to people in situations that are not always glamorous. It is best for people to understand what they will face next, in plain straight forward discussions about disclosure and client patient confidentiality.

However, given that perpetrators often continue to have a relationship with their children even if the relationship with the parents ends, it’s important to help ensure that the perpetrator is not a threat to the children. This is especially true given that studies have found there is some overlap in the occurrence between DV and child abuse. Not surprisingly, my interest in the law closely aligns with my interest in DV. My research focus is restorative and rehabilitative justice alternatives to traditional deterrent and punitive measures, especially for DV perpetrators I’m interested in the laws and procedures pertaining to DV, including protective orders, visitations for children, child custody agreements, maintenance agreements, and so on. Although I will be a part of the CLS department, I hope to continue to work closely with the PSB department and the law school, in order to continue gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issues being studied. To fully understand the issue surrounding DV, a working knowledge and familiarity with the laws, policy, and procedures surrounding DV is extremely beneficial. Additionally, the psychological impact to those exposed to DV should also be considered, which is why I hope to continue to work closely with the PSB department. My ultimate goal is to continue to do interdisciplinary research into DV and its effects on those touched by DV. Eventually taking the research on DV into the real world and helping to improve policy, laws, and procedures surrounding the issue. Through law school I will gain the expertise of the laws impacting those touched by DV helping in the understanding of their effects. Additionally, law school will give me a better understanding of the judicial system which will be helpful to one day lobby for policy

“You have two hands, one to help yourself, the second to help others.” (Audrey Hepburn) Ever since I was young I have felt the need to help others and do my part. That is why I chose to pursue the criminal defense field. Even though it will be a long process of paper work, court appearances, heartaches and headaches, after it all I will have the pleasure of knowing I was able to make a difference in somebody else’s life. Although the hours can be intimidating, being a criminal defense attorney will provide a steady income to raise a family on and would allow me to pursue my passion of helping the less fortunate.

With this often leading to social problems such as homelessness and addiction, these cycles need to be broken and I aim to play my part in breaking them. I have always looked beyond the personal history of a person and included their values, ideas, and feelings in my approach with them. This has helped me to gain trusting professional relationships with those I support. I am passionate and driven by my want to make this world a better place and I believe I could excel in the criminal justice sector.

I would strongly recommend that there be ongoing ethical training to be utilized during my criminal justice career. I do not think this can be visited too often. I think coming up with new and realistic scenarios that are worked through as a group could help strengthen everyone’s knowledge on how to handle the issues that can come up at that agency.

I was raised up believing in the importance of service and community as I saw my family members and neighbors selflessly help and be in community with people in need. It is therefore no surprise that I discovered my passion for service and volunteerism while still young. In my hometown Nairobi, Kenya, I did community service through various ways, including my involvement in the charity walk for Street Children and Orphans in Kenya in 2003 and the 2007 Brookside Freedom from Hunger Campaign. I participated in the charity walk for these causes and helped raise money to support street children, orphans, ending hunger, and was recognized as one of the top three people to raise the most funds. In high school, I volunteered at the St. Nicholas Children's home in Kenya, where I served, played, and was in solidarity with the children. In 2013, I earned the President’s Bronze Standard award given to me by Honorable Mwai Kibaki, the third president of Kenya for being a young person equipped with positive life skills and a change maker in my community, country, and globally.