Alumni Testimonials
I am very happy that I completed the Criminal Justice Spanish program because it helped me as a student. I met new people and amazing professors. Another highlight about this program that I really enjoyed was being able to study abroad in Spain. Having this certificate will help me in my future career because not many people are bilingual so being able to know terms in Spanish and in English puts me at an advantage.
I recently graduated this past Spring 2023.
Lesly Lima, BA student in Criminal Justice
The Certificate Program in Criminal Justice Spanish enriched my career preparation by strengthening my language proficiency and cultural competence. It equipped me to engage with diverse communities, understand international perspectives on crime, and collaborate effectively with Spanish-speaking counterparts. This language skill will be invaluable in allowing me to bridge communication gaps and promote justice across borders.
Lesley Vega, MA student, Criminal Justice
Graduation: December 2023
How does this certificate prepare me professionally?
The ability to communicate professionally about legal concepts with individuals who speak other languages is an asset for criminal justice professionals, especially in California where Spanish is the most commonly spoken foreign language. Although someone may have a basic working knowledge of Spanish that serves them in everyday interactions or provides them with the ability to have basic conversations with friends or family, this certificate will train students on the nuanced Spanish terminology and concepts within the criminal legal system in the U.S.
In addition to providing an advantage in the hiring process, being proficient in Spanish can be financially beneficial. For example, the Central Intelligence Agency has a Foreign Language Incentive Program that addresses the demand for agents with fluency in foreign languages and offers a hiring bonus to those who meet the minimum proficiency level for qualifying languages. There are also Bilingual pay bonuses administered in some law enforcement agencies across the country, including in California.
Ways that the criminal justice Spanish certificate can be helpful to someone working in the field of criminal justice:
- The ability to understand and communicate with community members or witnesses, victims, and clients (e.g., attorney, law enforcement, legal assistants, social work, community outreach groups)
- The ability to transcribe the testimony or reports made by native Spanish speakers (e.g., court reporter, domestic violence advocate)
- The ability to communicate with officials in different criminal justice departments to fully convey the culture context involved (e.g., between police officers or detectives and other officials, corrections, parole, EMS/EMT, 911 dispatch)
- The ability to speak with relatives of someone injured in an accident or involved in a crime (e.g., victim advocates, case workers, police detectives, attorneys, paralegals)
- The ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking children or adults (e.g., immigration or border patrol, probation)