Criminal Justice
Committed to Deepening Our Understanding of Crime, Governance and Social Justice
A practice-focused, intellectual experience. Students often debate issues such as police legitimacy, victims’ rights, mass incarceration, fairness in sentencing, and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as a wide variety of other topics. Criminal Justice majors make a difference by working in various criminal justice agencies, becoming attorneys and attending graduate school.
Statement on the death of Tyre Nichols
All of us in the Department of Criminal Justice express horror and anguish at the inhumane acts of Memphis Police officers that led to the death of Tyre Nichols. We express our sorrow to Mr. Nichols’ family, loved ones, and community. We stand in solidarity with our neighbors in Philadelphia, and with people across the country, who are once again experiencing the individual and collective trauma of institutional violence.
As a department of teachers, researchers, and scholars, we stand united in delivering education, conducting rigorous social science, and engaging with our communities in ways that advance human rights, social justice, and equality. As we pursue this mission, we recognize and treasure our common humanity.
We support peaceful forms of protest in advocating for social, cultural, and institutional change. We must respect and watch over each other, and keep one another safe, in our collective action to achieve a more just and equitable society.