S.J.C. offers criminal justice degree, cops approve
With crime an everyday reality for many Belizeans, there is no shortage of cries for something to be done. But for those who want to take a more proactive role in crime reduction, S.J.C.’s School of Professional Studies is offering an associate’s degree in criminal justice. Commencing in September, the two year programme will cover topics including theories of crime causation, criminal procedures, methods of preventing crime, human rights, and challenges faced by the police, courts, and correctional facilities.
And just as they are the first to be called when a crime has been committed, the Belize Police Department was one of the first to jump on board. With scholarships provided by the Ministry of Education and S.J.C., they will have seven officers enrolled in the course. Today S.P.S. Dean Deborah Domingo and Director of Training at the Police Department, Superintendent Elodio Aragon, stopped by our studios to explain why they give the programme two thumbs up.
Deborah Domingo, Dean, SJC School of Professional Studies
“We got together some stakeholders from various sectors within the criminal justice system of Belize and they gave us valuable advice. We’ve put together I think a programme that is broad, that is of good quality. We’ve also partnered with our sister institutions in the U.S., other Jesuit universities, primarily St. Louis and Regis University, to vet what we have been doing.”
Supt. Elodio Aragon, Dir. of Training, Police Department
“The Police Department believes that education and training is a must if we want to improve the service to the people of this country. We know that if we want professional service then we need to have professional people within the ranks of the department. This course is giving us the opportunity to do just that and more importantly we are looking for the future in this department and so we are looking for people who want to be a part of this department to come and say this criminal justice programme is there, let me part of it and when they join the Police Department, then we have better educated people in our system.”
Deborah Domingo
“We also believed that there is going to be a growing need for persons to work not just in law enforcement, but for customs, for immigration, in security, investigation, so we see the market out there and we believe that this programme is what Belize needs.”
Application forms can be picked up at the School of Professional Studies at the S.J.C. campus on Princess Margaret Drive or you can print one off their website at www.sps.sjc.edu.bz.
