Criminal and Justice Studies

The criminal-legal system affects millions of people in the US. Criminal and juvenile justice, forensic psychology, and other interdisciplinary fields rooted in the Progressive Era, during which the fields of sociology and criminology, as well as the profession of social work, emerged. At the time, deepening understanding of the interplay of behavior, development, family/community contexts, and legal policy led to innovations like probation, juvenile courts, and community-based interventions. Later in the 20th century, policy and practice was rehabilitative and more punitive creating high incarceration rates/costs. The criminal-legal system is now facing tremendous change. High costs of maintaining prisons/jails and a broader understanding of substance abuse and mental health treatment’s role in limiting recidivism have combined to drive states/municipalities to reconsider traditional approaches to criminal justice. Responses increasingly emphasize community-based efforts, assistance with reentry, and attention to mental health needs.

The BS in Criminal & Justice Studies degree is responsive to these changes. It provides critical foundational knowledge about the adult criminal-legal system and juvenile justice system including theory, key policy, and cutting-edge research on delinquency and desistance. Theories and research on the intersections of substance use, mental illness, poverty, community surveillance, and crime are interrogated. Coursework also includes contemporary approaches to the prevention and treatment of crime that rely on multi-system (macro, mezzo, micro) and community-based approaches used in the criminal-legal field. A core component of the curriculum includes experiential learning through internships, study abroad, and/or service learning.