Criminal Justice
Associate in Applied Science
A degree in criminal justice can open doors in law enforcement, criminal law, public policy, and beyond. The Criminal Justice Associate Degree program at YCCC will give you a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system. Our program is designed to be small and individualized to provide one-on-one instruction and career advisement.
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Degree track options
Full-time
Online (Full-time & Part-time)
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Estimate degree completion time
4 semesters, 60 credit hours
Degree questions, answered.
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Courses
Courses cover police organizations, criminal law, criminology, criminalistics, and corrections. Classes address contemporary criminal justice topics like the administration of justice and the judiciary, victim advocacy, and public attitudes on criminal justice issues. Our degree is offered online or in-person. Part-time tracks are also available.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify the functions and roles of all major aspects of the United States criminal justice system.
- Describe the institutions, laws, and theories that make up the legal system.
- Explain the constitutional constraints under which police and prosecutors must operate in a free society and the reasoning behind these limitations.
- Discuss the importance and application of basic ethical behavior in the exercise of public trust and discretionary authority.
- Demonstrate effective written, oral, and electronic-based communication skills in a professional workplace.
Careers
Our criminal justice degree is designed to prepare students for entry level careers in law enforcement, corrections, emergency dispatch, victim advocacy and security. Students may also transfer to a four-year institution to continue their criminal justice education.
ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
What our students say
Hear firsthand what our criminal justice students have to say about their experience with YCCC.
Jennifer Escoto
Department of Probation & ParoleHi, my name is Jennifer Escoto. I work for the Department of Probation and Parole for the State of Maine. I have been with the department since 2005, and I graduated from York County Community College in their Criminal Justice degree program.
A Message from Chief Joann Putnam
Criminal Justice – Law EnforcementChief Joann Putnam, Chief of Police in Wells, ME discusses her own personal journey through law enforcement and becoming Chief of Police in Maine.
Meet the Faculty
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Timothy Burton
Criminal Justice Faculty
Chief Burton has fifteen years’ experience as an adjunct instructor for Husson University, the University of Texas, Odessa College, and YCCC. Chief Burton holds a master’s degree in business from Husson University and a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Southern Maine. Chief Burton began a thirty-five-year law enforcement career as a Police Officer in the City of Portland, Maine. He progressed through the ranks over the next twenty-six-years and retired as the Chief of Police in 2008. He accepted a position as the Chief of Police in the City of Odessa, Texas where he served for almost ten years before retiring from law enforcement. He is recognized as a police policy and management expert. In addition to teaching, Chief Burton is the Criminal Justice Diversion Project manager for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the State of Massachusetts. The Project works to improve the effectiveness of the Criminal Justice System’s response to those with mental illness and co-occurring conditions.