Criminal Justice Field Placements

Designed to enhance the criminal justice student's total academic experience, the field placement program provides students with the opportunity to work in a criminal justice related setting while earning course credit in the process.

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the program, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Preference given to declared criminal justice majors.
2. Must be of at least junior standing.
3. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
4. Must have completed CRM JST 150, Research in Criminal Justice.
   
   

In addition to the requirements above, it is recommended, but not required, that students desiring placement in any of the following areas either complete or be concurrently enrolled in the courses indicated:

Law Enforcement Placements

• Criminal Justice Administration (CRM JST 370)
• Police Process ( CRM JST 271)

Correctional Placements

• Criminal Justice Administration ( CRM JST 370)
• Correctional Process (CRM JST 273)

Legal Agency Placements

• Criminal Justice Administration (CRM JST 370)
• Criminal Court Process (CRM JST 275)

Planning/Research Placements

• Criminal Justice Administration (CRM JST 370)
• Methods of Social Welfare Research (CRM JST 662)

Enrollment in the Field Placements Program

There are several important steps you must take to sign up for a Field Placement:

1. Enroll in the course: Field Experience Practicum (CRM JST 311), for the semester during which you want to participate. This step may be taken at any time in the process, as long as it's done.
2. Go to the Field Placements office, Enderis Room 1125, to get an application and agency list. See below for location and contact information.
3. Once you decide on your placement preferences and fill out the application, submit it to the Field Placement Office, Enderis Room 1125.
4. You will be contacted when you have been granted an interview with an agency. This may take as long as several weeks. If your address or phone number change, be sure to let the program coordinator know.
5. Attend the Field Placement Orientation Meeting. Information on briefing dates is normally mailed out several weeks before a new semester begins. If you do not receive this information, contact the program coordinator by one of the methods shown below.

Students may not arrange their own placements without going through the program coordinator first! You will not receive credit for the course if you do not work through the coordinator.

Undergraduates may take field placements for up to 6 credits but MUST get permission from Dr. Thomas Lebel FIRST. Graduate students may take field placements for only 3 credits.

Contacting the Field Placements Office

The Field Placements Project Assistant is Rebecca Headley. She may be contacted at (414) 229-4973; Fax (414) 229-5311; e-mail rheadley@uwm.edu or stop by the office in Enderis Hall, Room 1125. Alternate point of contact is Professor Thomas LeBel, Field Program Coordinator, at (414) 229-2356 or e-mail: lebel@uwm.edu. You can also write either of them at:

Criminal Justice Field Placements
Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
PO Box 786
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0786

Student General Responsibilities

Students are responsible to an assigned field supervisor in their respective agency during the placement period. Students will coordinate work schedules (normally 8 hours per week) with their field supervisor. Students will adhere to the following while in the field placements program:

Dress

Students will dress in an appropriate manner to the field instruction setting.

Agency Rules

Students will comply with all agency rules or regulations and should be prepared to provide detailed personal information if the agency requires a background investigation.

Confidentiality

In all instances, the confidentiality of clients' relationships with the agency will be respected, as well as the confidentiality of agency records. Agency records will not be removed from the agency and cases will not be discussed with persons not professionally involved in the situation. Cases will not be discussed in a nonprofessional manner, and the use of case material for class discussion or assignments is to be approved only by the field supevisor. Identifying information is to disguised at all times.

Work Hours

Normally, students are expected to work with the field agency 8 hours per week. Many agencies require up to 13 hours per week though, so know the requirement when application is made! If a student cannot resolve schedule conflicts with their field supervisor, contact the program coordinator for assistance. Students are expected to report to the agency on time and work the required number of hours.

Insurance

Insurance rules for field placements are rather complex. These are general guidelines--the program coordinator can give you more detailed information. Students are expected to provide their own health and auto insurance. Students enrolled in CRM JST 311 are covered under UWM's General Liability arrangements for liability insurance purposes.

Transportation

Students must arrange their own transportation to and from the agency work location, unless the agency agrees to make arrangements or cover these expenses.

Student Academic Requirements

CRM JST 311 is a graded course even though there are no class meetings throughout the semester. All of the following will be factors in determining the final grade:

Orientation

Although not part of the overall grade, students must attend the orientation meeting and a final meeting during the semester of placement.

Daily Journal (33%)

Students are required to keep a daily journal during the placement. Details will be provided by the field programproject assistant.

Final Paper (33%)

Students will submit a final paper at the end of the semester. Again, details will be provided by the field program project assistant.

Field Supervisor Evaluation (34%)

Students' field supervisors will complete a performance evaluation, which will be submitted directly to the program coordinator at the final meeting.

Agency Responsibilities

Provide Relevant Experience

Students are to be provided the broadest range of experience possible within the agency. While clerical duties may be an important experience for the student, typing and answering phones alone do not expose students to all aspects of agency operations.

Flexibility

Students have other class work to accomplish during their placement. Scheduling should be flexible enough to accommodate these classes.

Resources

Provide students with the training needed to perform specific functions. Make provisions to pay student travel and incidental expenses incurred while performing for the agency on the same basis for which regular workers are reimbursed.

Supervision

Students should be provided with supervision commensurate with duties and experience. The field supervisor must prepare and submit an evaluation of student performance, which will be provided by the field placements office.

Coordination

Work closely with the UWM field placements coordinator. Report any changes to agency requirements, and report any student misconduct or other unsatisfactory performance.

If you're currently in a field placement here's important information you need to know:

• The Field Placements Project Assistant is Rebecca Headley. The field placement office is located in Enderis 1125 and the phone number is 229-4973. See "Contacting Field Placements" above for specific contact info.

If you want to enroll in the Field Placement Program:

• Stop by Enderis Hall 1125 to pick up an application and field agency list. If no one is there, you can also get these items at the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare front desk, 11th Floor, Enderis Hall.
• Preference in placements is generally given to those students who get their applications in earliest.
• Remember that you must enroll in CRM JST 311 (Field Experience Practicum) (Grad students enroll in CRM JST 999, Independent Reading, with Dr. Lebel).