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CORRECTIONS

Area corrections officers could earn up to 15 college credits tuition-free as part of a new state program designed to help officers meet the education requirements. Click here to learn more about the Michigan Corrections Officer Grant Program.

Corrections offers many exciting career opportunities at the state, local and federal levels. Local corrections involves working as a correctional officer or deputy within a county sheriff’s department. Requirements for this position differ for each county. Some require applicants to complete the Michigan Sheriff’s Coordinating and Training Council (MSCTC) Local Correctional Academy, while others do not.

State correctional officers are employed by the State of Michigan and work with the Michigan Department of Corrections at various prisons throughout the state. These positions require a minimum of 15 college credits in a criminal justice related field, including corrections, criminal justice, family relations, guidance and counseling, law enforcement, pastoral counseling, psychology, social work or sociology.

KCC offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Corrections and a Corrections Certificate. For more information about KCC’s Corrections Program, see:

Associate of Applied Science in Corrections

Advising & Transfer

View transfer guides outlining opportunities for students looking to transfer their KCC credits to a four-year institution. Contact Academic Advising at 269-965-4124 or advising@kellogg.edu to schedule an appointment to plot a personal transfer plan.

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Corrections Professional Certificate

KCC’s Corrections Professional Certificate Program is a fully online program that consists of four four-credit courses (listed below) for a total of 16 credits. Completing this certificate program fulfills the State of Michigan Civil Service and Department of Corrections requirement for obtaining 15 or more college credits to acquire or maintain employment as a corrections officer. Credits earned may also be applied toward KCC’s Associate in Applied Science degree in Corrections.

The Corrections Certificate can be completed in one to two semesters. Students must complete 16 credits by following the options below. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 (“C” or 73%) or better is required to obtain the Corrections Professional Certificate. Completion of this certificate program meets the required courses to write the civil service exam for the Michigan Department of Corrections.

CRJU 130: Introduction to Corrections

The historical development and philosophy of corrections, the development of corrections in the United States, current reforms and approaches in modern corrections (including the concepts of probation, parole, minimum security and maximum security), and the work of related social agencies will be examined. This course also examines legal issues related to the history of corrections; the impact of the US Constitution on certain case law, and historical philosophies behind the court’s decisions about prisoner rights and how prisoners should be supervised.

CRJU 131: Institutional Corrections

A survey of the history and philosophy of correctional institutions focusing on: the use of imprisonment as a mechanism of social control, custody versus treatment, rights of prisoners, prison and jail management, institutional training programs, an examination of contemporary correctional institutions, penological and criminological theory, prison and jail architecture and prison society. This course will also consist of an overview of prisoner litigation, the relevance of due process as it pertains to the field of corrections, prisoners, probationers and parolees. Students will also research correctional case law, civil suits against correctional staff and how the federal and state court processes each case.

CRJU 132: Client Development and Understanding

An analysis of the correctional client. Specific attention will be directed to the comparison of normal and criminal behaviors; etiologies of delinquent and criminal offenders; identification of mentally disordered, substance and sexual abusers, and predatory and property offenders. Correctional institutional and community-based intervention strategies, referral agencies and treatment programs will be identified and evaluated. Special attention will be made to the Eighth Amendment and the legal ramifications of the use of force. Defining the court processes, the functions of the various appellate processes as well as pre-trial release and diversion.

CRJU 133: Client Relations in Corrections

A study of social-psychological factors and processes in criminal behavior including the social concepts of culture, socialization, attitude formation, personal and group alienation, discrimination and affirmative action programs. The Constitution, Bill of Rights and the application of the law, as well as the court process. Specific attention will be directed to the impact of these social concepts on race and ethics groups and various methods by which correctional officers may promote diplomacy and conflict resolutions.

Corrections Careers

Students completing KCC’s Associate in Applied Science in Corrections degree will become eligible to become a corrections officer for a local sheriff’s department or a corrections officer with the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Possible job areas/titles for graduates with an education in corrections include:

Community corrections
Correctional officer
Deputy sheriff – jail
First-line supervisors or correctional officers

Local Sheriff’s Department

Corrections students interested in working with a local sheriff’s department should contact the agency they wish to apply to and ask for their application requirements.

Michigan Department of Corrections

Corrections students interested in working for the Michigan Department of Corrections can find applications online at michigan.gov/statejobs. More information is also available by calling the main recruitment line at 517-335-6711 or by emailing corrcrtmnt@michigan.gov.

Projected Job Outlook & Salary Info

For the latest employment and wage estimates for corrections careers in Michigan, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website at bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mi.htm.

Why Study Corrections at KCC?

KCC’s Corrections Program instructors have had a lifetime of experience in the correctional field. They are highly knowledgeable in the skills needed to become a corrections officer, as well as in the steps needed to successfully apply for a corrections position.