Criminal Justice program goals

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  1. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will be prepared to enter the criminal justice field as competent professionals with an ecological systems approach to understanding crime and the consequences of crime.
  2. Demonstrate an ethical and just professional use of self and the ability to use supervision and consultation.
  3. Demonstrate understanding and appreciation for differences based on gender, age, ethnicity, race, religious creed, sexual orientation, class, and physical, mental and developmental disabilities.
  4. Practice effectively within agencies and delivery systems and identify, plan and pursue needed agency and system changes aimed at promoting social justice.
  5. Gain an understanding of crime and justice within the framework of broader social processes within our society.
  6. Analyze the impact of social policies on people (both clients and workers) agencies, communities, service systems and nations including the American Indian and Alaska Tribal Nations.
  7. Understand and critically apply theoretical frameworks to understand individual development and behavior across the lifespan, the interactions among individuals and social systems and their relationship to crime and justice.
  8. Gain understanding of criminal justice as an applied science where there is an integration of theory, scientific method and practical application.
  9. Understand and use evidence based practice skills to work with those who involuntarily become connected to the criminal justice system, including victims of crime and their families and the families of those who have been perpetrators of crime.
  10. Understand, use and promote evidence-based methods to work with special populations in the criminal justice system such as sexual offenders, domestic violence offenders, substance abusers, the mentally ill, offenders affiliated with the military, and elderly incarcerated.
  11. Use effective oral and written communication skills with a range of client populations, colleagues and members of the community.