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David Bish

Bish Joins Campus Faculty in Administration of Justice Program

This comprehensive program provides an education that prepares graduates for a broad spectrum of careers in areas including federal, state, and local law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole services, community crime prevention and treatment services, and private sector security.
By: Steve Harmic

Attorney David Bish, of DuBois, has been named instructor in the Administration of Justice Program (AOJ) at Penn State DuBois.  He has begun teaching as this Fall semester gets underway.

Bish operates a private law practice in DuBois, where he handles family law, social security and disability cases, criminal law, and more.He has practiced since 2009.  Bish completed his undergraduate work at Penn State, where he earned a bachelor's degree in History, with a minor in Political Science. He went on to Valparaiso Law School in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he earned both his law degree, as well as a master's degree in Sports Administration.

"Administration of Justice is definitely a strong field in this area," Bish said, noting that graduates of the program will find plenty of career options in and around Central Pennsylvania. "Right here in our area, we have county jails, state prisons in Houtzdale and Rockview, we have the federal prison in Moshannon Valley, plus police departments and other opportunities.  And Nation-wide, for those who want to relocate, there are the same opportunities. The security industry, too, is taking off across the country; it's really an expanding field."

The AOJ program focuses on the interrelated components of the criminal justice system, such as public and private sector enforcement and investigation, legal systems, correctional treatment, and community services. This comprehensive program provides an education that prepares graduates for a broad spectrum of careers in areas including federal, state, and local law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole services, community crime prevention and treatment services, and private sector security.Additionally, there are opportunities in juvenile and drug rehabilitation counseling, recreation programs, forestry settings, and other sites.

The program trains students in both the theoretical and the practical aspects of crime control. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity and assistance to acquire knowledge of the roles of policing, courts, laws, and corrections as they relate to both the adult and juvenile justice system. Students also gain knowledge of the history, concepts, and critical issues related to the role of gender and ethnicity in the criminal justice system, as well as victimology and ethics.

Students will also have the opportunity to choose between two different options, either a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, or a Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice. The focus of the Bachelor of Science degree option is intended for students interested in entry-level jobs at justice agencies.  The option is focused on sharpening the student's talents of reasoning and judgment; qualities imperative to rational functioning in administration of justice and related professions. Extensive internships will provide valuable hands-on experience.

The Bachelor of Arts option provides students with a broadly based liberal education focused on the understanding and analysis of justice systems. Graduates of this program are given the background to be educated, thoughtful administrators in the justice system. Students earning the Bachelor of Arts degree will learn a foreign language and take additional humanities classes, useful educational components for those interested in a career in administration of justice.

For more information on the Administration of Justice Program at Penn State DuBois, or questions about how to enroll, call 814-375-4720, or visit the Administration of Justice home page.