Mission Statement
The mission of the Criminal Justice Program is to provide excellence in graduate and undergraduate instruction; research and scholarship; professional development; and university and community service. The program seeks to promote professionally and academically relevant curricula and programs and effective cooperative relationships with regional service agencies in order to prepare criminal justice practitioners at the graduate and undergraduate level.
Areas of Study
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Law Enforcement
Courses investigate the more than 18,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. Law enforcement and criminal behaviors are examined to provide students with broad overviews of the field.
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Corrections
Courses examine the world of prisons, jails, probation, and parole. Inmate subcultures, the death penalty and community supervision are major fields within the concentration.
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Law and Courts
Courses investigate the legal process, court trends, and law school.
Degrees Offered
Faculty
The Criminal Justice faculty members have earned terminal degrees in a wide range of specializations within the broad areas of the discipline. Areas of expertise include policing, homeland security, prisons and jails, community corrections, law, and violence. The faculty's expertise is complemented by active involvement in scholarly research.
Meet our Faculty
Career Opportunities
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Law Enforcement
Recent graduates from the Division of Criminal Justice are working for Beaumont Police Department, Lamar University Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department, and United States Border Patrol.
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Corrections
Recent graduates from the Division of Criminal Justice are working for Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Youth Commission, Federal Probation, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
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Law
Recent graduates from the Division of Criminal Justice are working as district attorneys, private practice, and Federal Pre-trail Services.
Labor Relations Information Systems Podcast with Dr. Vidisha Worley