East Stroudsburg University has broadened its criminal justice internship program to include educational safety, partnering with three Monroe County school districts, and one in Northampton County to provide students with practical, on-site learning experiences in school-based law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Senior Brady Bowers, a criminal justice and sociology major from Ephrata, Pa., is among the first participants of the expanded program. While shadowing Officer Greg Milford at East Stroudsburg Area High School South, Bowers is observing first-hand how officers manage everything from social media harassment and cyberbullying to disorderly conduct and vaping violations.<\/p>\n
“The legal process in schools has been really interesting to see,\u201d he said, noting how witnessing court proceedings has shown him how judges often emphasize community service over harsher punishments for students.<\/p>\n
Bowers\u2019 drive to guide students to better paths stems from personal experiences, he said. Growing up in a single-parent household with his mother and two sisters, he faced significant challenges, including his father\u2019s incarceration and his own behavioral struggles, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see kids go in a different direction than the one they\u2019re going down,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to be that person who helps direct them on the right path because I know the benefits of getting on the right track.\u201d<\/p>\n
That track began for Bowers at age 15, when he attended the Milton Hershey School and found stability and direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiving with 11 other high schoolers and house parents taught me discipline and helped solidify my desire to pursue a career in criminal justice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bowers\u2019 interest in juvenile justice deepened at ESU through classroom learning and opportunities like his participation in the James E. Anderson Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice in Harrisburg from November 6-8, which he attended alongside Carrie Maloney, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice and Director of the criminal justice program.<\/p>\n
The invitation was part of a larger effort by the criminal justice faculty to act as mentors to students throughout their pursuit of a degree, Dr. Maloney said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrady has set himself apart from others since beginning the program here at ESU,\u201d Dr. Maloney said. \u201cHe has an inquisitive mind, amazing work ethic, but also an incredible heart. He truly wants to help make the world a\u00a0better place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bowers said the conference gave him valuable insights into trauma\u2019s effects on children, strategies for addressing vaping and nicotine use without punitive measures, and the broader complexities of working with at-risk youth, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was honored I was asked to attend and grateful for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and understanding of juvenile justice,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s something you won\u2019t get in classes \u2013 all those presenters and speakers with years of experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard Ruck, Ph.D., instructor of criminal justice, played a key role in developing the educational safety internship program at ESU by helping to secure a contract with East Stroudsburg High School South, as well as contracts with Stroudsburg Area, and Pocono Mountain. Dr. Maloney brokered an additional contract with the Bangor Area school district.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impetus surrounding the expansion of the current ESU criminal justice internship program to include educational safety and law enforcement was born of a collaborative process researching emerging areas of critical needs within the wider American criminal justice system,\u201d Dr. Ruck said.<\/p>\n
Regular discussions between program faculty determined that school-based safety was an area ripe for development, with potential to give students like Bowers experiential and practical on-site learning opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have confidence that the skills and experiences Brady cultivated during his internship with the district will result in an academically prepared, ethically minded, and profoundly motivated criminal justice professional,\u201d Dr. Ruck said.<\/p>\n
Starting in January, Bowers will transition to a paid position as a security officer within the school district while continuing his internship. He anticipates completing specialized training through the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), a certification that could lead to a more advanced role in school safety.<\/p>\n
Thanks to ESU\u2019s criminal justice program, Bowers is already equipped with the versatile skills and knowledge needed to succeed, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe professors here are knowledgeable and approachable \u2013 they don\u2019t just come to class and teach,\u201d he said. \u201cThey definitely made me feel prepared for any eventual career opportunities in criminal justice.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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