For Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students studying criminal justice, a recent event on campus was a chance to talk with Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents about career opportunities and what they could expect.
Caliyah Jefferson, a McDonough resident and junior studying criminal justice, is interested in crime scene investigation and forensics.
“I want to be in a position to contribute by helping bring justice for people and not be afraid of the criminal justice system,” she said.
GBI has four major divisions: forensic science, Georgia Crime Information Center, the investigative division and the medical examiner’s office.
“One thing that many people don’t know is that GBI is a request-only agency,” said Special Agent Turner, who works in Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes. “We are here to help all Georgia law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, police departments and by directive, the Governor of Georgia.”
Turner emphasized to students that a great way to get in the door with GBI is to apply for an internship.
“That’s what I did and I couldn’t recommend it more,” she said. “You really get hands-on experience.”
For Dr. Susan Quinn, an associate professor of criminal justice and criminology at GGC, bringing in professionals in the field opens eyes and doors for her students.
“I want students to have the chance to see there are a lot of different pathways for careers and jobs in the criminal justice system,” she said. “A great way to do that is bringing in professionals and meeting them outside the classroom.”
That’s exactly what Connor Salmon, a Lawrenceville native and senior studying criminal justice, gained from the experience.
“I want to start as a law enforcement officer and learn more about the day-to-day operations and how they are different from other divisions,” he said.
GBI does see its share of GGC alumni in various roles. One of those is Special Agent Beyer, who has been with the agency since 2020.
“The campus has really grown since I was a student here,” he said. “I had a very positive experience here and that helped me in my career path.”
Before joining Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes, Beyer handled cases that included public corruption and homicide.
“I started with Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes in July because I want to help look out for and protect the children of Georgia,” he said.