Criminal Justice

Program Details

According to The People’s Law Dictionary, criminal justice is defined as the “procedure by which criminal conduct is investigated, evidence gathered, arrests made, charges brought, defenses raised, trials conducted, sentences rendered, and punishment carried out.”

Studying Criminal Justice at Inver Hills prepares you for the career paths of peace officer, police officer, or policing and corrections. Our instructors have years of experience working as criminal justice professionals.

As a peace officer, police officer, or policing, you will focus on preventing criminal activity, investigating crimes, and apprehending suspects. You will work with the court system to make sure perpetrators are prosecuted.

A career in corrections offers you the chance to serve your community and keep citizens safe. You can make the most of your desire to work in a rehabilitative environment and help people turn their lives around.

Criminal Justice at Inver Hills

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Transfer Information

Completing this transfer pathway A.S enables you to transfer with junior-year status to the following majors at Minnesota State universities:

Student Clubs

BSOL (Beta Sigma Omega Lambda): Criminal Justice Club

Purpose: Provide criminal justice forums, job fairs, community service and awareness of criminal justice careers and academic programs, including raising awareness of the Inver Hills Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement degree and certificate programs.

Visit BSOL on Facebook.
Contact

Leslie Palmer, PhD
Criminal Justice Instructor
BSOL Faculty Advisor
651-450-3619

Criminal Justice at Inver Hills Adds Up

What you’ll accomplish as a student in our Criminal Justice program:

  1. Examine critical roles of corrections, rehabilitation, and probation in criminal justice system
  2. Analyze causes and effects of criminal behavior and delinquency
  3. Explore how state and federal laws work to keep our communities safe
  4. Benefit from small class sizes and collaborating with likeminded classmates
  5. Serve and protect fellow citizens while enforcing the laws of our community
  6. Perform operations such as SWAT, crime scene investigation, interrogating suspects, counter-terrorism, and threat assessment
  7. Strengthen your mind and body through rigorous mental and physical training
  8. Work directly with expert, student-focused criminal justice faculty with professional experience in the field
  9. Get firsthand experience tackling real-world criminal justice issues, situations, and problems
  10. Save money and continue your academic and professional careers with less student debt

According to U.S. News & World Report, national student loan debt topped $1.7 trillion in the second quarter of 2021, or roughly $740 billion more than U.S. total credit card debt.

In Minnesota, 900,000 student loan borrowers owe an average $31,250 in federal and private student debt. That debt translates into an average monthly payment topping $250. 

Tuition and fees for one year at Inver Hills costs a little less than $5,500. Compare that to $15,000 to $20,000 at a for-profit college, or $40,000 to $50,000+ at a private college or university. You can complete your first two years at Inver Hills getting a topflight, hands-on education from knowledgeable, caring and experienced faculty and then transfer to a four-year school as a junior all while saving thousands of dollars.