Criminal Justice

Our NEW Associate in Science Degree Program in CRIMINAL JUSTICE is a comprehensive program designed to cover the fundamental preparation and coursework needed for a successful career in the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice A.S. Degree Program has three major areas of emphasis: PROBATION, CORRECTIONS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE GENERALIST. Students entering the program will be learning the foundation, operations, and principals of the field. Graduates of the program will be well-prepared for successful, professional employment and advancement in a wide range of criminal justice careers. The program is designed to provide a full complement of Liberal Arts and Science courses as well, transferrable to any Minnesota State College or University (MnSCU). A direct program pathway has been developed to continue the 2-year A.S. degree and articulate into the 4-year B.A. degree at Metro State University, Twin Cities.

Major Offerings

Career Opportunities

• Corrections Officers
• Probation Officers
• Local Police Departments
• State and Federal Agencies
• Correctional Treatment Specialist
• Security Guards
• Gaming Surveillance Officers

Job Placement

Not available - view our tracking summary on Southeast Tech's Class of 2007

Program Highlights

• Explore the historical development of the current correctional system
• Overview of the evolution, history, theories and societal responses associated with the juvenile justice system
• Make-up of the criminal justice system and their interrelationships in our diverse society
• How society influences policing
• Examine issues of crime, violence, and punishment from the perspectives of criminals and prisoners

Instructors

Our team of faculty in the Criminal Justice Program all have a minimum of a Master's Degree, have combined experience of over 125 years and most of the team currently work in the field in various leadership roles.

• Janet Adams earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Religion from St. Olaf College in Northfield and completed her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Janet began her criminal justice career as a dispatcher/jailer for the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office and now serves as the Program Coordinator for the Goodhue County Adult Detention Center in Red Wing, MN. She currently serves as Past President for the Minnesota Jail Programs & Services division of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, and has been a member of the MJPS Executive Board since April 2006. In addition to her job responsibilities, Janet sits on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Chemical Health Initiative Advisory Board and the Wellness Committee for Goodhue County. She appreciates the opportunity to get back into an academic setting and looks forward to joining the SE Tech Criminal Justice Team as an instructor.
• Zashata Burton began working as an alcohol and drug counselor in 1993. She has over 8 years of experience as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Additionally, Zashata is a Therapeutic Coach specializing in hypnotherapy and neurolinguistic psychology to assist others in identifying and reframing negative and self destructive thought patterns. She is well educated, earning a Bachelor of Elective Studies degree and a Master of Science degree from St. Cloud State University. Her major areas of study were in music, corrections, and alcohol and drug counseling. She also taught Criminal Justice courses at St Cloud State University as an adjunct faculty.

• Greg Cady earned his B.E.S. degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice and his M.S. degree in Criminal Justice - both from St. Cloud State University. He began his teaching career in 2004 as an adjunct instructor at the college with acceptance of a full-time position in 2007. Greg has dedicated nearly eighteen years to the criminal justice profession, serving in various positions. Additionally, he is a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve with over seventeen years of service. He currently lives in Red Wing with his two children and enjoys skiing, boating, camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
• Tamra Graham has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from the University of Alaska - Anchorage, and a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, where she was a President's Scholar. She has worked in both the public and private legal sectors. Currently, Tamra teaches political science, philosophy, and criminal justice courses here at the college. She was raised in Alaska and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and many outdoor activities, including geocaching.
• Troy Hove is the current Training and Compliance Officer for the Goodhue county Adult Detention Center and holds the rank of Sergeant. In October of 1999, Troy's career transitioned from the food service industry where he had 15 years of supervisory experience, into the newly built Goodhue County Adult Detention Center. In his first position as a Detention Deputy, Troy worked directly with the detainees as a Housing Unit Officer, Field Training Officer, and Training Officer. He was then promoted to Activities Director where he worked with volunteers and coordinated several different activities and programs designed to prepare detainees for release and provide positive outlets for their energy. Troy was promoted to Sergeant in 2002 and assumed the duties of Shift Commander while overseeing the safety and security of the facility. In 2003, Troy assumed his current duties as the Training and Compliance Officer. Troy’s educational path started at Minnesota State College Southeast Technical where he enrolled in the Microcomputer Support program. However after starting employment with Goodhue County as a Detention Deputy, he transferred into the law enforcement program at the University of Phoenix. Troy obtained a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2007. Soon after graduation, he began work on his M.B.A. specializing in leadership through Walden University and will graduate in January 2010. In 2005 Troy attended How to Run a Direct Supervision Housing Unit in Longmont, Colorado sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and has been instructing various NIC classes ever since. Troy is a founding member of the Minnesota 6th District Training Consortium which provides four yearly academies to new and veteran deputies. Troy also works with the 6th district consortium to provide county-specific classes in supervision, becoming a field training officer and interpersonal communication.
• Scott McNurlin earned a Master's degree in Police Leadership, Administration, and Education from the University of St. Thomas, a Bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement Psychology from Metropolitan State University, an Associate's degree in Law Enforcement from Inver Hills Community College, and a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Hamline University. He is a 2001 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy in Quantico, VA. Scott began his career with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office in December of 1983 and he has been the chief deputy of the Sheriff's Office since January 1998. Scott worked as an investigator and school resource deputy prior to his appointment as chief deputy and he has also held the positions of tactical team commander, patrol deputy, and jailer/dispatcher. His dedication and expertise earned him 2008 Officer of the Year.
• Angela Newhart began her career with the State of Minnesota in 2001 as a corrections officer at MCF-Red Wing. In 2006 she accepted a high school teaching position at MCF-Red Wing, continuing her work with serious, chronic juvenile offenders. Angela has eight years of experience in the criminal justice profession. Angela earned a master's degree in Education and completed the Graduate Teaching Licensure Program at the College of St. Scholastica. She also obtained a bachelor's degree in Communication and and associate's degree in Liberal Arts from Bethany Lutheran College.
• Joanne Pohl, J.D., M.L.S. is Director of the Court Services Department of Goodhue County and has more than three years previous teaching experience as an adjunct professor at Inver Grove Heights Community College. She has 30 years experience working in Goodhue County Criminal Justice System with nine years as Assistant County Attorney and 21 years as Court Services Director.