Visiting Central State Students Learn About Criminal Justice System, Internship Opportunities

April 25, 2024

Central State University students enrolled in two criminal justice courses visited the General Division for a day packed with programming designed to show what the court is really like.

Twelve juniors and seniors from Assistant Professor of Political Science Brittany Brake’s State and Local Government class and Assistant Professor of Sociology Genevieve Ritchie-Ewing’s Crime Scene Analysis class started their visit at the Reibold Building on April 18. Senior probation officers Emily Rau and Jenica McGee gave a presentation on the Probation Services department, including levels of supervision, probation conditions, and types of casebooks. Two probation clients were invited to speak about their experiences in the criminal justice system, and they highlighted the support of their probation officers in avoiding recidivism and maintaining sobriety.

Additional portions of the presentation covered a probation officer’s day-to-day job responsibilities and work environment. All students, many of whom were interested in careers in the criminal justice field after graduation, received information on applying for internships or job shadowing with the court.

After lunch, the students walked two blocks to the Montgomery County Courts Building to sit in on Kushinda Court, a specialized docket for young African-American men ages 18 to 29 headed by Judge Gerald Parker. Judge Parker took students’ questions after the docket and opened a dialogue about new approaches to decreasing criminal behavior.

The General Division welcomes the opportunity to open its doors to young people. For more information about internships with the court or college visits, please contact the court’s Intern Program at interns@montcourt.oh.gov.