Criminal Justice Career Guide

Consider joining the Education, Nonprofit, & Public Service Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!

Past Internship Sites:

17^th Circuit Court – Kent County
20^th Circuit Court – Ottawa County
Children’s Assessment Center
Department of Human Services – Muskegon County
Holland Department of Public Safety
Kent County Juvenile Detention Center
Kent County Sheriff Department
Muskegon County Public Defender
Steelcase
Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration

Where Alumni Have Landed

State Trooper – MI State Police
Medical Only Claims Specialist – CompOne Administrators, Inc
Parole/Probation Manager – State of Michigan
Behavioral Specialist – Centria Healthcare
Command Center Operator – DK Securities
Service Specialist – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Corrections Officer – Michigan Department of Corrections
Child Protective Services – State of Michigan
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney – Kent County
Project Manager – M3 Multifamily Media Management
Campus Supervisor – Jefferson County Public Schools
Patrol Sergeant – Holland Department of Public Safety
Truancy Officer – Ottawa/Allegan Counties
Resident Coordinator – Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program (KPEP)
Legal Assistant – Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge
Juvenile Justice Specialist – Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
Veteran’s Outreach Coordinator – US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Criminal Case Records Technician – Ottawa County
Business Analyst – Meijer
Crime Scene Technician – Grand Rapids Police Department

Spotlights

Heather Alberda 2000, 2026

Planning the Center for Health and Well-Being's inaugural 1 in 5K to support survivors of violence at GVSU.

Patrick Reinke '07

In my 2nd year on campus I took a job with GV Public Safety. Working with DPS introduced me to the world of policing. I soon after found myself changing my major and starting down a new career path.

My favorite Grand Valley memories are being down on the sideline for Laker football games cheering the team on for many Grand Valley Victories. Watching football from anywhere but the sideline will never be the same!

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Student Organizations to Consider

Alpha Psi Sigma – Scholastic honorary society for criminal justice
Criminal Justice Student Association
Law Society
Pals Student Mentors

More student orgs

Study Abroad Programs

Criminal Justice Study Abroad Options

The systems of checks and balances that keep societies in order are different around the world and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. By learning about these other systems, you can learn to critically think about justice systems with your fresh perspective by comparing and contrasting them.