Upsurge in Criminal Justice Enrollment

Despite the usual kinks associated with any new major, the criminal justice major has seen a jump in enrollment since its unveiling in the fall of 2010.

David Sleigh, full-time trial lawyer since 1983, has taught three criminal justice classes over a period of four semesters, along with director of public safety, George Hacking, who also taught during the fall semester. Sleigh was approached early last year about teaching and since then has taught American judicial processes, criminal law, and constitutional law.

"I've had a really positive experience this last semester. I've found the students in the major to be enthusiastic about the subject material," Sleigh said.

Sleigh stated that the major had gotten off to a bumpy start since the responsibilities of coordinator were passed around the social science department due to, social science professor and coordinator for the criminal justice program, Janet Bennion's absence.

"It's been a team effort given that professor Bennion was off on sabbatical at the same time this was getting started," Sleigh said. "I think one of the problems is that they do not have a full-time faculty member or two devoted to teaching the criteria. If you're a major, I'd assume it would be pretty hard to meet the graduation criteria."

Bennion said it would not be difficult.

"We have got splendid adjuncts. We've got a retired court judge, a criminal lawyer, and law enforcement specialists," said Bennion. Bennion did acknowledge that, as with any new major, there may not be enough students signed up for a course to run.

The new program now has added a total of 25 majors; a jump from five people last year.

"That's pretty promising and with the new faculty coming in I think it's going to be a pretty stable major," Bennion stated. "We're still in the beginnings of how to satisfy everyone. We've got a couple of people graduating spring of 2013."

The major is encompassing the fields of Sociology, Psychology, and Anthropology in order to create a foundation of behavioral science. Bennion argues that this is what sets the program apart.

"We basically are doing something different from other groups. We are providing a behavioral science base for instructing people who want to eventually go into the criminal justice field," Bennion stated. "If people are going into the police, prison, boarder patrol, courts, or fish and wildlife enforcement, they have to understand the mind of the criminal and what factors into their behavior."

New faculty is expected to be hired next year for the new major. Bennion refrained from comment when asked who might be hired for the position, but stated that she hoped the new person would be able to help fill the political science position that professor David Plazek is leaving.

"It will be the right person for the job. We also hope to find somebody who also can help us with Political Science," Bennion said.