Criminal Justice Fellows Program
About the Program
The mission of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Fellows Program is to recruit talented high school seniors and graduates into the criminal justice profession. Each year this program will fund fellowships for individuals who have exhibited high academic achievement, a history of service to their school and community, and a desire to serve the state of North Carolina in a field within the criminal justice profession.
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Fellows Program will provide forgivable educational loans to participants who agree to enter an eligible criminal justice profession in North Carolina. This Fellowship will fund an Applied Associates Degree in Criminal Justice or other Committee approved field of study from any North Carolina Community College. Recipients who receive the educational loan would have five (5) years to repay, though it would be forgiven if they enter and remain in an eligible criminal justice profession in North Carolina for four (4) years.
The number of fellowships awarded annually shall not exceed 100 and the total number of students in the program each year shall not exceed 200. Applications are processed in the order that they are received. Recipients are selected during each of the quarterly NC Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission meetings, so apply early!
* The application process opens on September 1, 2023 and closes on April 30, 2024.
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Fellows Program is operated under Chapter 17C Article 2 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the North Carolina Criminal Justice Fellows Program:
- Be a high school graduate or a high school senior who will graduate by the end of the current academic year.
- Have intent to pursue a 2-year degree in Criminal Justice or related field at any of the 58 NC Community Colleges and to be employed in an eligible criminal justice profession in an eligible North Carolina county following completion of the program.
- Not have been convicted of any crimes listed in the CJFP Guide.
Program Forms
- Application Directions
- FP-1 Application
- FP-1.2 Reference Form
- FP-1.3 Community College Checklist
- FP-2 Promissory Note
- FP-3 Action Request Form
- FP-4 Transfer Request Form
- FP-5 Post-Graduation Status Form
- FP-7 Status Credit and Repayment Extension Request Form
- FP-8 Graduation Extension Request Form
Program Overview
Who can apply?
The Criminal Justice Fellows Program is open to high school seniors and graduates seeking an Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice or other Committee approved related field of study. Applicants may reside in any county in North Carolina and should intend to enter and remain in an eligible criminal justice profession in North Carolina for at least four (4) years following graduation.
What is needed to apply?
Applicants interested in the Criminal Justice Fellows Program can visit www.ncdoj.gov/cjfellows or email cjfellows@ncdoj.gov to obtain an application packet. In addition to a completed application, applicants must also submit unofficial high school transcripts, SAT and/or ACT scores, two (2) references, a copy of their driver’s license or government issued ID, and AOC records checks from all counties they have resided in or may have been charged in.
Where should applications be sent?
Completed applications and accompanying documents may be submitted by email, fax, or mail to the addresses below:
Email: cjfellows@ncdoj.gov
Fax: (919) 779-8210
Mailing Address:
Criminal Justice Fellows Program
P.O. Box Drawer 149
Raleigh, NC 27602-0149
When is the deadline?
The application process for the Criminal Justice Fellows Program opens annually on September 1st and closes on April 30th. Selection is ongoing and applicants are encouraged to apply early. Completed applications and all accompanying documents must be received by the April 30th cutoff date. If submitting an application packet via mail, applicants should make sure to mail it early enough to be received by April 30th as we use the date received and not the postmarked date.
Why should you apply to be a Fellow?
The Fellowship can help you to achieve your educational and professional goals by providing funds for tuition, fees, and textbooks and supplies. The maximum fellowship value per student for one academic year (two semesters) is $3,152.00. Maximum values are as follows:
Fall Tuition (16+ hours) $1,216.00
Fall Fees $60.00
Fall Books/Required Items $300.00
Total $1,576.00
Spring Tuition (16+ hours) $1,216.00
Spring Fees $60.00
Spring Books/Required Items $300.00
Total $1,576.00
The total value of the fellowship over two years is $6,304.00. Tuition, fees, books, and items beyond these listed values per semester/over the course of their program are the responsibility of the student. The Fellowship will not pay for courses being retaken due to the student having previously failed or dropped the course.
How will applications be reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed based on five (5) criteria: scholastic profile, writing ability, school and community service, references, and potential for excellence in an eligible criminal justice profession. Applications are reviewed by the Program Manager in the order that they are received and presented to the Committee at each quarterly Committee meeting for selection and admission into the program. Questions about the Criminal Justice Fellows Program, the application process or the selection process may be emailed to the Program Manager at cjfellows@ncdoj.gov.
Program Contact Info
Program Manager:
Mary Burton
Phone:
(919) 306-2597
Email:
cjfellows@ncdoj.gov
Mailing Address:
Criminal Justice Fellows Program
P.O. Box Drawer 149
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602