This popular program has been recently updated to reflect changes in society. The dedicated faculty will guide students through practical, hands-on activities that include scenario-based role playing, case studies, and tours of existing facilities. The program familiarizes students with best practices to ensure personal safety, protection of the public, and the safety of staff, clients and the community. The first year is common to most of Loyalist’s programs in Justice Studies, allowing the flexibility to transfer to a program in Customs Border Services, Protection, Security and Investigation, or Police Foundations. Community and Justice Services has a three-fold focus: prevention, intervention and reintegration. Prevention involves studies in behaviour management, conflict resolution, applied psychology, criminology, and addictions. Intervention skills include interviewing and counselling, case management, program development, and suicide intervention. Reintegration emphasizes guiding clients back into the community, and may involve anything from life skills (such as managing a budget, personal hygiene and cooking) to cognitive restructuring, anger management and addictions counselling. Classroom studies in the second year are enhanced by two four-week field placements in a relevant community or justice agency. Students make an immediate and significant contribution while they define their occupational direction. Effective assessment and communication skills are emphasized throughout the program, making Loyalist graduates attractive to employers. Students enjoy another employment edge with alternative dispute resolution training, and certificates in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and Suicide Intervention.

The Community and Justice Services program will prepare students for careers working with youth and/or adults at risk in both the community and inside residential and/or custodial facilities. Graduates work in a vast range of settings including: youth custody facilities, child welfare homes, federal and provincial correctional facilities, attendance centres, community justice agencies, victim support agencies, and a variety of residential facilities for people at risk. Students entering this program should have a strong desire to make our communities safer. There is such a high need for community and justice services professionals that many students receive job offers before they graduate. Those who are hired on by the provincial or federal correctional system will receive additional training upon employment. Graduates hired and trained by Correctional Services Canada can earn approximately $60,000 per year.