WEBVTT 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Dr. Gibbons: This is our 26th annual Criminal Justice Career Day at Western Oregon University. 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:13.000 What we do is have a variety of activities for mostly high school students 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:17.000 but for others interested in coming to Western and having a career in criminal justice. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:20.000 There's a panel with various criminal justice professionals. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 There's an opportunity for students do a tour of the campus. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.000 And then there's a fair with several agencies represented. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.000 There are a variety of careers in criminal justice. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:38.000 There are careers in law enforcement, corrections, the courts, the juvenile and the adult system. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:43.000 Within each of those, there are options for people to work as well. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:52.000 For example, you might work in personnel. You might do trainings. There are educational opportunities. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:58.000 As well as the fields that most people are familiar with such as being a police officer, 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:64.000 an FBI agent, or a correctional officer/parole/probation officer. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.000 Douglas Ladd: I graduated in 1987 from Western Oregon, 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:11.000 and I'm currently the station commander for the State Police in Roseburg. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:16.000 There's no question in my mind I am where I am today because of my experience at Western Oregon. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:25.000 What I learned here in terms of getting an overall education that taught me critical me thinking skills 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:31.000 and taught me sort of thinking outside the box allowed me to get where I am today. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:33.000 It was an excellent experience. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:37.000 John Schmerber: I graduated from Western in 1988 and my current duties right now 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:42.000 is precinct commander of our west precinct that takes care of all operations and investigations. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:47.000 Hands down Western Oregon has by far the best instruction - the most intimate instruction 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:51.000 - and while at the same time an absolutely fun place to be. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:59.000 Wendie Legee: I graduated from Western Oregon in 1987 and I presently supervise a unit of officers 00:01:59.000 --> 00:01:64.000 who are responsible for either supervising federal offenders within the community 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.000 or writing presentence reports for the federal judges. 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:13.000 I did do a lot of research before I came to Western Oregon and actually it was the campus size, the classroom size, 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:19.000 the attention I felt from advisors and staff here that really convinced me. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:24.000 Not only that, the reputation of Western Oregon University in the criminal justice program, 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:29.000 also that this was the best fit for me and probably a lot of people. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Bryon Birkholz: I graduated from Western Oregon University in 2003 and 2005. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:42.000 I'm currently the unit manager at the federal correctional institution in Sheridan, Oregon for the federal bureau of prisons. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:47.000 As I looked out over the crowds today during the panel, I thought of a few things that could be beneficial for the students 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:52.000 to hear as they prepare for a career in criminal justice. Get good grades. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:57.000 Your grades are going to be looked at when you go into your career field and on your application, so take care of those. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.000 Be a good citizen. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:62.000 Know your community, get know the folks here at the university, 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:07.000 and utilize those resources as you progress through your degree and into your professional career. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:14.000 Third, mind your business. Your education is what you're focusing on now for a future career. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.000 So treat it as though you're starting your career now. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:25.000 Dr. Gibbons: The major in criminal justice has the student learning about each aspect of the criminal justice system: 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:36.000 law enforcement, courts, and corrections as well as broad areas like criminology and research methods and even some statistics classes. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:41.000 So you'll come out a very well-rounded, liberal arts students. 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:50.000 I've taught here 26 years at Western because of the students, and my colleagues, and the atmosphere - the family atmosphere - at Western. 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:58.000 Several of the panel members today, for example, were my students back in the 80s when I first started here. And we're still friends today. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:66.000 We still talk to each other fairly frequently, and now instead of calling me Dr. Gibbons, they call me Steve. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.000 It's just a great place to work; I love my job.