Perspective Online

March is National Criminal Justice Month

by Dr. David Jenks

Several years ago the Criminology and Criminal Justice coordinators at the University of West Georgia, David A. Jenks, and West Georgia Technical College, Louis Shepard, got together to try and ease the transition of students who were interested in pursuing a four year degree once they finished a two year degree at WGTC. After articulating five courses (Lower Division Area F), the two schools monitored and continued work to create a seamless transition so that students would not lose credit or have to repeat equivalent coursework. The agreement was drafted in line with Chancellor Huckaby’s call for greater cooperation among educators and Georgia’s Higher Education Completion Plan and Complete College Georgia, both of which contributed to increased retention, promotion, and graduation within the University System of Georgia.

Dr. David Jenks and Mr. Louis Shepard, West Georgia Technical College

Dr. David Jenks and Louis Shepard, West Georgia Technical College

At about the same time in 2009, the United States Congress established March as National Criminal Justice Month in part because the criminal justice system touches the lives of nearly every American in some form another. Most directly impacted by the system are the millions of individuals who have been victimized by crime; the millions who are incarcerated, or on probation or parole; and the nearly three million Americans who are employed in the justice system. The purpose of National Criminal Justice Month is to promote societal awareness regarding the causes and consequences of crime, as well as strategies for preventing and responding to crime.

Consider the following facts:

Criminologists and Criminal Justice Practitioners, in conjunction with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and its affiliates urge policymakers, criminal justice officials, educators, victim service providers, nonprofits, community leaders, and others to help direct public focus toward the need to make our criminal justice system as effective as possible. Both the Department of Criminology at the University of West Georgia and the Criminal Justice Department at West Georgia Technical College have dedicated faculty who seek to contribute to this effort by providing an educated work force within the criminal justice field in the state of Georgia. Demand for quality CJ programs has continued to increase and it is imperative that we raise awareness throughout the region, the state, and the country regarding the truth about many criminal justice issues.

Dr. David Jenks is the chair of the Department of Criminology.


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