As you work toward a degree in criminology, you’ll learn a lot about the justice system, incarceration, and alternative paths for rehabilitation. You’ll learn about strategies that are being used to reduce crime and help communities that are struggling.
Theoretical knowledge is important, which is why getting a degree is so helpful for those who want to work in criminology fields. However, you won’t get the kind of practical experience that can help prepare you for the reality of working with people from all backgrounds, personalities, and situations.
Volunteering in community service roles can be a great way to prepare yourself for your career before you graduate. Here are just some of the valuable skills, insights, and experiences you can build by getting involved with your community.
Develop Better Interpersonal Skills
Criminology careers are all about people. Regardless of the career path you decide to take, there’s a good chance you’ll be working with a wide variety of people on a daily basis. By working directly with members of the community, you’ll have a chance to develop better interpersonal skills.
Depending on the community service you do, you might get a chance to practice skills like connecting with different types of people, conflict resolution, and communicating with other professionals, such as parole officers or social workers. It takes time to develop interpersonal skills, and it’s critically important in the field. Working on those skills now will help you to meet the demands of your future career in criminology.
Increase Community Awareness & New Perspectives
We all make snap judgments about people. However, making assumptions about specific people or groups of people before you know more about them can be a big problem in the criminology field. Volunteering in your community can help you get a clearer picture of the needs and issues of people in different neighbourhoods while allowing you to gain new perspectives.
Community awareness can help you become more empathetic, which is important for everyone, but especially for people working in law enforcement and criminal justice. You’ll get a fuller picture of your community and gain awareness that will help you connect with people around you.
Start Networking
No matter where you volunteer, it’s likely that you’ll be able to start building your professional network through community service. When it comes to networking, giving more than you take is important for creating strong connections. By volunteering, you’re demonstrating that you’re willing to give to your community and make a good impression on people you might encounter working in the field later on.
Build Cultural Competency
Essentially, cultural competency is a person’s ability to understand and work with people from different cultural backgrounds effectively, by appreciating their cultural identity and respecting their needs when providing services. As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, it’s important for anyone interested in criminology to build their cultural competency.
Like other interpersonal skills, cultural competency requires practice. While donating your time as a volunteer, you’re likely to work with people who can help you build your cultural competency, answer your questions, and model effective communication with people of different cultural identities.
Get a Better Understanding of the Justice System
The justice system is complex and far from perfect. Before you embark on a career in criminology, it’s helpful to see the system in action—the steps of an investigation, arrest, and criminal court case.
Community service with the court or law enforcement can help you get up close and personal with the system and help solidify your knowledge of how everything works. Getting a closer look will help you learn a lot about what works—and what doesn’t.
Decide on a Career Path
If you’re planning on pursuing a criminology career, you have lots of options for which path you can take. However, that can feel a little overwhelming! Community service can help you find your passion within the field.
Diversity within the criminal justice system is important. If you are part of an underrepresented group in the career you ultimately choose, know that you are bringing a much-needed perspective that will help develop the system.
Community Service Options
There are lots of options for community service and most organisations will welcome someone who is willing to pitch in and learn. Some volunteer opportunities to consider include:
- Becoming a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer, advocating for children within the foster care system.
- Working with restorative justice programmes, which focus on community-building over punishment.
- Mentoring for juvenile justice programmes to help kids get back on track.
- Helping victims of crimes through nonprofit victim services programmes.
These are just a few of the many volunteering options that will allow you to gain valuable experience for your career while you make a positive difference in the world. Going into your community service experience with a positive attitude, respect for those you work with and serve, and an open mind will help you make the most of the opportunity.
