When Madison Guinn first enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2013, she wasn’t sure what direction to take. She started in psychology, but her passion was elsewhere.
“I’ve always wanted to go into criminal justice,” she says. “My family didn’t really want me to do that at first, but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”
Guinn joined UL Lafayette's Criminal Justice Society to satisfy her curiosity, but after the group's field visit to Angola State Penitentiary, she was more convinced than ever that her future was in criminal justice.
“My mom told my dad, ‘She's going to come back and she's going to end up changing her major to what she wants.' And lo and behold, I came back from that trip and I said, ‘I don't care; I want to be in criminal justice.’”
The field visit was the turning point that inspired her to change her major and commit fully to the degree program she’d always felt drawn to — UL Lafayette’s B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Gaining Real-World Experience
When Guinn was a junior, she found herself planning for more than her own future as she became a mom. Criminal justice instructors worked with Guinn to maintain her momentum toward her degree.
“I took a semester off, which ended up turning into a year,” she recalls. “When I came back, I came back swinging. I did summer classes at night so I could finish at a decent time, and the instructors were very supportive. I was in labor around finals and they helped me figure it all out.”
Guinn’s advisor helped her become the first UL Lafayette intern with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, an experience that ultimately launched her career.
“The internship was wonderful,” she says. “They didn’t really have a formal internship program at the time, so I got thrown into every side of it… patrol, crime scene, corrections. It helped me realize that this was exactly what I wanted to do.”
Guinn was able to leverage her position into a full-time job offer before she even graduated.
“Before I finished the degree, I had a start date... If it weren't for the criminal justice program, I don't know if I would’ve been able to get to where I am.”
Guinn began her law enforcement career as a corrections officer. From there, she advanced to patrol officer then to school resource officer. She is now a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Each step built on the foundation she developed as a student.
“I learned so much through that program and internship,” she says. “I was always interested in corrections, and I still am. Even now, I still work security shifts in the jail on weekends. I love what I do.”
A Career That Gives Back
Balancing her demanding career with life as a single mom wasn’t always easy.
Early in her law enforcement journey, unpredictable assignments in corrections and patrol often kept her away from home. She eventually moved into criminal investigations, giving her more control over her schedule and environment while staying in the field she loves.
“When I moved into my detective role, I was finally able to say I brought my child to his first day of school,” she says. “It was a big deal for us, and I got to do that working as a detective. I’m so blessed to have a job that allows me to do what I love and still be present for him.”
For Guinn, the greatest reward comes from the impact she’s able to make in her community — and the fulfillment that comes with doing meaningful work.
“I don’t ever want to be in a job that I’m miserable in,” she says. “I love going to work. I get to do what I want to do every day.”
Opening Doors to Opportunity
Guinn credits her time at UL Lafayette with helping her find the right path and gain the experience she needed to build a lasting career.
“With a criminal justice degree, you can go into probation and parole, investigation, rehabilitation — there’s so much more than just being a cop,” she says. “It takes a million people to make the system work.”
Her advice for future students is simple: follow your passion.
“If it’s what you want to do, then do it,” Guinn says. “Otherwise, you’ll regret it later. It’s such a rewarding job.”
Launch your career with UL Lafayette’s online B.S. in Criminal Justice program.
