Loras College not only values and provides quality education in the classroom but also understands the importance of real-world experience when it comes to being prepared for life after graduation. The Criminal Justice program provides a variety of opportunities for students to get involved in their area of interest.
ROBERT AGERBEEK (’19)
Throughout my time with the San Diego Police department I learned valuable information and knowledge that I believe I would not have been able to get in other places. I look forward to sharing and putting this knowledge toward my schooling, and, hopefully future career with the San Diego Police Department. I could not be more grateful for my experience throughout the summer.”
JOSEPH JANOUCH (’19)
For three years I have wondered what to do with this degree in criminal justice and this internship helped me find out what I wanted to do. I do not just want to catch criminals and punish them. I want to help those that are struggling to get back on their feet. I want to make society better by helping to form criminals into good and productive members of society.”
BRENDAN NUGENT (’19)
I experienced many situations that taught me more than what a classroom can teach like how to investigate certain scenes or how to properly emotionally and factually appeal to a jury. I learned the most valuable lesson almost anyone working in the criminal justice system should know, that there are many sides to a story. Most importantly, I learned to be independent and professional. When speaking about the public defender’s office internship, I would recommend it to anyone who is seeking a job in the criminal justice system.”
STEPHANIE WEHR (’20)
After 200 hours I can confidently say this is my dream job and I am hoping to be a part of the next academy class. This is the one job that I see myself doing. Every time I got to come in and do a ride-along or learn more I would be so excited the entire day or night. You get to help people attempt to get their life in order. One of my biggest strengths I have discovered in this internship is how driven I am. I noticed throughout the process all I would do is think “How can I better myself to apply for the police department?” I would try every day to better myself as a candidate for the job. After 200 hours there is not a doubt in my mind that this is what I want to do.”
SUCCESS STORIES FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE ALUMNI
Through instruction in the classroom and real-world experiences via internships, the Criminal Justice program at Loras College is committed to preparing students for work in their field. Hear from Loras alumni about how their time here set them up for success in their careers.
JOHN MCMAHON (’18)
The lesson I learned through my experiences in my field instruction at the Madison Police Department is that there are things that simply cannot be taught in a classroom. It gave me a chance to apply all that I had learned in the classroom to see how the criminal justice actually works in comparison to how it is said to work in class. These hands-on experiences will stick with me for a lifetime as I have learned many important lessons in this instruction that will greater prepare me for a future in law enforcement.”
EMMA COOKE (’18)
Patrol Officer
Highland Park Police Department
The criminal justice program at Loras made me realize my passion for the law and put me on a path that I am excited to start after I graduate. I feel confident in my abilities to make decisions based on ethical considerations, knowledge of the law and apply it in my internship at the United Marshal’s Service this summer!”
RYAN KELLEY (’18)
Elm Street Residential Officer
Dubuque, Ia
The biggest thing that the internship did for me was show me a different realm of criminal justice that I was unfamiliar with. My entire time here at Loras, I was focused on becoming a police officer in a small community. In looking through internships, I came across the Residential Facility on Elm St. I had remembered touring it my freshman year at Loras but I did not know what happened there on a daily basis. I knew it was a community corrections program but I did not know where that path would lead me. After completing this amazing experience, I realized that a place like the Residential Facility is where I am supposed to be. My whole focus for joining the criminal justice field was to help people in my own community. The Residential Facility offered me a great experience to understand that it was the perfect platform for me to showcase my skills and abilities to help others. Overall this experience has showed me the way to my future and I plan on working at the residential facility full time in the near future.”
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Criminal Justice Program maintains a list of internship opportunities. The following are examples of where students have interned in the past.
Asbury Police Department – Asbury, IA
Aurora Police Department – Aurora, IL
Bellevue Police Department – Bellevue, IA
Bettendorf Police Department – Bettendorf, IA
Bolingbrook Police Department – Bolingbrook, IL
Burlington Police Department – Burlington, IA
Carol Stream Police Department – Carol Stream, IL
Cedar Rapids Police Department – Cedar Rapids, IA
Clayton County Sheriff’s Department – St. Olaf, IA
Clinton County Conservation – Comanche, IA
Cook County Sheriff’s Office – Maywood, IL
Dane County Sheriff’s Office – Madison, WI
Deerfield Police Department – Deerfield, IL
Des Plaines Police Department – Des Plaines, IL
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) –
Department of Justice – Chicago, IL
Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office – Dubuque, IA
Dubuque Police Department – Dubuque, IA
DuPage County Sheriff’s Department – Wheaton, IL
Dyersville Police Department – Dyersville, IA
Elgin Police Department – Elgin, IL
Evergreen Park Police Department – Evergreen Park, IL
Fairview Heights Police Department – Fairview Heights, IL
Frankfort Police Department – Frankfort, IL
Freeport Police Department – Freeport, IL
Glenview Police Department – Glenview, IL
Hinsdale Police Department – Hinsdale, IL
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department – Maquoketa, IA
Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office – Galena, IL
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office – Iowa City, IA
Joliet Police Department – Joliet, IL
Iowa City Police Department – Iowa City, IA
Iowa State Patrol
Illinois State Police
Lake Forest Police Department – Lake Forest, IA
Libertyville Police Department – Libertyville, IL
Lincolnwood Police Department – Lincolnwood, IL
Madison Police Department – Madison, WI
McHenry Police Department – McHenry, IL
Morrison Police Department – Morrison, IL
Mount Prospect Police Department – Mount Prospect, IL
Naperville Police Department – Naperville, IL
Northbrook Police Department – Northbrook, IL
Oak Brook Police Department – Oak Brook, IL
Oak Lawn Police Department – Oak Lawn, IL
Oak Park Police Department – Oak Park, IL
Palos Park Police Department – Palos Park, IL
Palos Heights Police Department – Palos Heights, IL
Peoria Police Department – Peoria, IL
Peoria County Sheriff’s Office – Peoria, IL
Plainfield Police Department – Plainfield, IL
Rochelle Police Department – Rochelle, IL
Rockford Police Department – Rockford, IL
San Diego Police Department – San Diego, CA
U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms – Chicago, IL
U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Customs & Border Protection Agency – Rosemont, IL
U.S. Department of Homeland Security – FEMA – Chicago, IL
U.S. Marshals Service – Northern District of IA – Cedar Rapids, IA
U.S. Marshals Service – Chicago Office – Chicago, IL
Waterloo Police Department – Waterloo, IA
West Virginia Department of Natural Resources – Farmington, WV
Wheaton Police Department – Wheaton, IL
Will County Sheriff’s Office – Joliet, IL
Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office – Rockford, IL
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Madison, Wi
JUDICIARY (COURTS)
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office – Markham, IL
Dubuque County Attorney’s Office – Dubuque, IA
Dubuque Public Defender Office – Dubuque, IA
Jo Daviess County State’s Attorney’s Office – Galena, IL
Juvenile Court Services – Dubuque, IA
Linn County Juvenile Court Office – Cedar Rapids, IA
Macon County State’s Attorney Office – Decatur, IL
Reynolds & Kenline Law Firm – Dubuque, IA
Stephenson County Public Defender’s Office – Galena, IL
Victim/Witness Assistance Program – Dubuque, IA
CORRECTIONS
Anamosa State Penitentiary – Anamosa, IA
Department of Correctional Services – Dubuque, IA
Dubuque Residential Facility – Dubuque, IA
DuPage County Probation Department – Wheaton, IL
Four Oaks of Iowa – Cedar Rapids & Dubuque, IA
Hillcrest Family Services – Dubuque, IA
Jo Daviess County Probation Department – Galena, IL
Lawrence Hall Youth Service – Chicago, IL
Lee County Probation Department – Dixon, IL
McHenry County Probation & Court Services Department – Woodstock, IL
Ogle County Probation Department – Oregon, IL
Sandstone Federal Corrections Institution – Sandstone, MN
Scott County Sheriff’s Office (Jail Division) – Davenport, IA
Stephenson County Probation Department – Freeport, IL
United State Probation/Southern District of IA– Davenport, IA
United States Probation/Northern District of Illinois – Chicago, IL
West Union Residential Facility – West Union, IA