Name: Grace Hood
Hometown: Hastings, Minn.
Major: Criminology, sociology
Position: Correctional deputy for Dakota County, Minn., Sheriff's Office
When Grace Hood arrived at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, she wanted to work as a victim advocate, working on behalf of people who had been adversely impacted by crimes.
However, shortly after beginning her coursework, Grace realized that she enjoyed sociology more than psychology. That realization led her to turn her career choice on its head.
Instead of working as a victim witness coordinator, Grace, a criminology and sociology double major from Hastings, Minn., is instead working as a correctional deputy in the Dakota County, Minn., Sheriff’s Office. Although she graduates from UWRF May 4, she has already been working in her position for the past two months.
“Instead of working with victims of crimes, I’m working with the criminals,” she said.
Grace didn’t initially envision working in a jail. But her view of that changed as she completed courses at UWRF and took part in internships, she said. She completed two internships with Rise Up Recovery in Hastings, Minn., working with people convicted of criminal activity trying to turn their lives around. She became a certified peer recovery specialist, helping people create work and other life goals and plans to stay sober.
“I did not think I would end up ever working in a jail,” Grace said. “But as I worked at my internship and got to know people who have a criminal history, I realized that a lot of them need a chance and someone to help them get to a better place.”
Grace’s participation in internships not only helped her figure out her career, she said, but led to her landing her job before graduation. She urges other students to think about their careers outside of the classroom and get involved with career opportunities such as internships.
“My internships played a big role in me getting the job I have,” she said. “You not only learn whether a career is a good fit for you, but oftentimes internships lead to job opportunities.”
Grace said her coursework and instructors at UWRF prepared her well to be a valuable employee. She credits her adviser, Erik Withers, an assistant professor of sociology, criminology and anthropology, with directing her toward sociology and urging her to consider combining that area of study with criminology.
“I’m really thankful for his taking so much time with me to help figure this out,” Grace said. “He helped me have the confidence to go for it.”
Learning she had a full-time job in her field before she graduated was “very exciting,” Grace said. Working 12-hour shifts while finishing school can be a challenge, she said. But she is energized by doing work she is passionate about. She envisions doing her job for many years and said she would like to eventually expand her skills by taking part in such activities as a dive team and special response team. Eventually she may move into management, she said.
For now, Grace said she is excited to work with inmates and help them try to better their situations. Many of the people she works with deal with substance addiction and mental health issues, she said, and she wants to assist them.
“In this job, you can deal with some difficult situations,” she said, “but you realize that even if they have done some bad things, at the end of the day they are humans and they deserve a second chance. I am motivated to try to help them in any way that I can.”