The Corrections Specialist

The Corrections Specialist Professional program provides students the basic competencies involved in a position in a corrections facility and/or provide insight for counselors, attorneys and other legal aides additional information and theory related to the US corrections system.  In fact, many legal assistants, law enforcement professionals, court and corrections officials have acquired a background understanding in Correction, Rehabilitation, Parole and basic Policing in order to better inform their positions and every day actions on the job.  An increasingly complex field with the growing privatization of correctional facilities and multifaceted discussions on federal sentencing mandates, addiction and other socio-economic issues, a career in Corrections is not only challenging but can be immensely rewarding as well.

The Corrections Specialist Program

The US Criminal Justice system is a complex web of interconnected authorities, facilities, issues and concerns.  One of the most important facets of criminal justice is the Corrections System that houses, monitors and reintegrates individuals – adults and juveniles – under supervision of the law.  The criminal laws and penal system that determine corrections requirements, the various stresses on the largest corrections system in the world here in the US as well as the various issues, concerns and considerations for rehabilitating and reintegrating individuals back into society require a fundamental understanding of the entire system in order to successfully take on the roles and responsibilities of professionals working in the Corrections system.

Recognizing the need for skilled professionals that undertake a career in this difficult and complex field, the Corrections Specialist Program takes students through the ins and outs of the US Corrections system and the laws that govern it alongside the individual, political and societal issues that corrections professionals face every day.

Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

• Define terms related to corrections
• Assess the purpose, implementation, and effectiveness of corrections
• Trace the historical evolution of the correctional system
• Examine the organization of corrections
• Examine challenges faced by the correctional system
• Compare and contrast the differences and similarities of the various clients of a correctional facility
• Examine challenges faced by the correctional system
• Analyze prison life and the effects it can have on individuals and society
• Appraise the legal rights of inmates and the use of capital punishment Analyze the probation and parole process
• Analyze the juvenile court and juvenile justice system
• Summarize the history and administration of probation and parole
• Defend the importance of presentence investigation in the sentencing process
• Examine the basic models for administering parole
• Analyze the role of rehabilitation in probation and parole
• Analyze the role of probation and parole officers
• Examine the role of supervision in probation and parole
• Use Microsoft Office