Criminal Justice

Because fearless crime-fighter isn't an official major

Criminal Justice offers so much to learn and explore!

Are you interested in exploring a career in Corrections, Law Enforcement or taking on a role in our judicial system? By studying Criminal Justice at Columbia Basin College (CBC), you’ll explore the theories behind crime and punishment, juvenile delinquency, drug and alcohol addiction and other criminal justice areas.

CBC's Criminal Justice program offers students an exciting opportunity to learn hands-on investigation techniques during a mock crime-scene investigation!



Mock crime scene investigation topics include:

  • Police response
  • Evidence collection
  • Photography
  • Crime scene sketches
  • Interviewing and interrogation techniques
  • Crash investigation
  • and more!
Student with crime dummy

No matter where your interests lie, there are opportunities for you in Criminal Justice. This program has close links with many other fields of study, incorporating elements of Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Chemistry, Anthropology, English, Education, Philosophy, Social Work and Computer Science.

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Opportunities abound in Criminal Justice!

Where can a degree in Criminal Justice lead you? Columbia Basin College offers an AAS in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science to prepare you for a variety of exciting and challenging careers. If you enjoy working with people and their communities, being physically fit and active outdoors, and solving puzzles, this is the field for you.

Skills you gain in CBC's Criminal Justice program will prepare you for any one of the following careers:

  • Law Enforcement

    • Police officer, such as city police, deputy sheriff or state patrol
    • Forensic science
    • Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)
    • Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
    • US marshal
    • K-9 officer
    • Detective
    • Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
    • Hostage negotiator
    • Crime scene technician

  • Corrections

    • Corrections officer
    • Probation officer
    • Parole officer
    • K-9 officer
    • Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)

  • Judicial System

    • Prosecutor
    • Defense attorney
    • Bailiff
    • Court clerk
    • Judge
    • Court reporter
    • Investigator

  • Other areas of interest

    • Fish & Wildlife officer
    • Dispatcher
    • Child Protective Services inspector
    • Private detective
    • Security officer
    • Education
    • Homeland Security

Criminal Justice Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will have demonstrated the ability to:

  • Discuss basic procedures related to the fields of law enforcement and corrections
  • Utilize knowledge about state and federal laws that impact law enforcement and corrections in decision making
  • Understand and discuss the difference in relationships between law enforcement, the community and other legal entities
  • Understand and describe the relationships that exist between the various law enforcement, corrections and the courts systems and at the local, state and federal levels of government
  • Discuss ethics as related to law enforcement and corrections

 

Faculty with students

 

Theory

There are several broad theories dealing with criminology, victimology and criminal justice. Students will be able to articulate these theories as related to the three pathways and apply these theories to current studies in the criminal justice field as well as specific theories to specific courses (Juvenile Justice, Criminal Evidence and Investigation, etc.).

Methodology 

Students will be able to interpret and analyze data from scholarly and popular sources, fostering critical thinking, and enabling the ability to use relevant data for decision making and forming written and verbal arguments.

 

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Students at a crime scene