Event Provides Students with Opportunities to Explore Law Enforcement Careers in Partnership with Calcasieu Parish Sherriff’s Office
Lake Charles, Louisiana – Monday, March 10
SOWELA Technical Community College will host its first-ever Criminal Justice Day event on Tuesday, March 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in partnership with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. The event will provide 300-plus Southwest Louisiana high school students with the chance to explore a variety of law enforcement careers through interactive exhibits, such as working through a crime scene and SWAT mobile unit.
“We are very excited to host the first Criminal Justice Day here at SOWELA,” said Dr. Lisa Quibodeaux, SOWELA Criminal Justice Program Coordinator. “Visiting students will be able to witness/experience different arenas of the criminal justice field, to include K-9 demonstrations, SWAT team operations, and a death investigation scene. We want to thank all the agencies who are participating in this event. This is an excellent opportunity for students to explore the various types of careers available in the criminal justice field.”
High schoolers will meet professionals who work as death investigators/forensics, corrections officers, drone and IT professionals, K-9 officers, and more. Students will visit exhibits for each specialty area, showcasing the tools and technology they might employ in this career field, with the goal of connecting job opportunities available with a Criminal Justice degree.
Agencies from around the state will participate in the event, including the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Iowa Police Department, Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution, Allen Correctional Facility, Lake Charles Police Department, Louisiana State Highway Patrol, and Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Across the country, law enforcement agencies struggle to fill vacant positions. Locally, Southwest Louisiana is no exception. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and probation officers have a job growth of about 4%.
SOWELA’s Criminal Justice degree provides practical experience to prepare students for employment or promotional opportunities in criminal justice agency positions in crime prevention, public safety, corrections, or other related fields. It emphasizes safe and efficient work practices, basic occupational skills, and the application of federal, state, and local laws as they apply in emergency and routine situations.
The program offers a concentration in Death Investigation. SOWELA also provides credit for three Criminal Justice classes to POST-certified individuals.
For more information about attending Criminal Justice Day, contact cole.cheek@sowela.edu. To learn more about the program or how to apply, visit www.sowela.edu/apply or contact onestop@sowela.edu. Scholarships and financial aid are available for those who qualify. Registration opens for Summer and Fall 2025 on March 31.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree, so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 85 years.