ESU Expands Criminal Justice Internships to Include Educational Safety

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.

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.

"The legal process in schools has been really interesting to see," he said, noting how witnessing court proceedings has shown him how judges often emphasize community service over harsher punishments for students.

Bowers' 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's incarceration and his own behavioral struggles, he said.

"I want to see kids go in a different direction than the one they're going down," he said. "I want to be that person who helps direct them on the right path because I know the benefits of getting on the right track."

That track began for Bowers at age 15, when he attended the Milton Hershey School and found stability and direction.

"Living with 11 other high schoolers and house parents taught me discipline and helped solidify my desire to pursue a career in criminal justice," he said.

Bowers' 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.

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.

"Brady has set himself apart from others since beginning the program here at ESU," Dr. Maloney said. "He has an inquisitive mind, amazing work ethic, but also an incredible heart. He truly wants to help make the world a better place."

Bowers said the conference gave him valuable insights into trauma's 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.

"I was honored I was asked to attend and grateful for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and understanding of juvenile justice," he said. "That's something you won't get in classes - all those presenters and speakers with years of experiences."

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.

"The 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," Dr. Ruck said.

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.

"I 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," Dr. Ruck said.

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.

Thanks to ESU's criminal justice program, Bowers is already equipped with the versatile skills and knowledge needed to succeed, he said.

"The professors here are knowledgeable and approachable - they don't just come to class and teach," he said. "They definitely made me feel prepared for any eventual career opportunities in criminal justice."

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