Bossier Parish Community College and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office have partnered to create an internship and employment pathway that will give second-year criminal justice students hands-on corrections experience and a direct path to a career in local law enforcement.
The partnership will allow eligible BPCC students to gain supervised experience at the Caddo Correctional Center while completing an internship course. Students who successfully complete the program, graduate from BPCC and meet all hiring requirements will be guaranteed employment with the Sheriff’s Office as Caddo Parish corrections deputies.
“This memorandum of understanding with Bossier Parish Community College gives second-year criminal justice students a structured way to learn corrections from the inside and a clear path into a career with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office,” Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn, Sr. said. “Students who complete the program will train at the Caddo Correctional Center, receive a stipend and partial tuition support, and, upon graduation and meeting all hiring requirements, be guaranteed employment as a Caddo Parish corrections deputy. We are looking for people who want to serve, and this partnership is how we recruit them, train them and keep them in Caddo Parish. This is how we build the next generation of this office.”
The first course begins Oct. 7. BPCC will select eligible students for the program, and participants will remain enrolled at the College throughout the internship. BPCC Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman, Jr. said the agreement demonstrates how partnerships between higher education and local agencies can create stronger career pathways while supporting the workforce needs of the region.
“This agreement represents the kind of strategic partnership that strengthens education, workforce development and public service,” said Bateman. “By combining BPCC’s academic instruction with the professional expertise of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, we are preparing students to enter the workforce with practical experience and a deeper understanding of the responsibilities that come with serving their communities.”
Students will complete training through a combination of in-person and online instruction. The Sheriff’s Office will provide orientation, supervision, safety oversight and performance monitoring. Interns will receive meaningful assignments that introduce them to the daily work, policies and responsibilities of a correctional facility.
The program is part of the Sheriff’s Office’s effort to change perceptions about law enforcement and recruit college students who are interested in public service. Through firsthand experience in corrections, students will build a foundation that can prepare them for future opportunities in law enforcement.
After completing the internship and graduating from BPCC, qualified participants will transition into full-time employment at the Caddo Correctional Center, with hired graduates committing to serve with the Sheriff’s Office for at least two years. During that time, employees will learn correctional policies and practices while developing the mental and physical skills needed for future positions within the Sheriff’s Office. Career opportunities may include patrol, investigations and school resource officer positions.
The agreement strengthens cooperation between BPCC and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office while creating a clear path from the classroom to a career in local law enforcement. For more information, contact Mallori Sanders, Program Director for Criminal Justice at [email protected] or 318-678-6302.