Department of Criminology

The Bachelor of Science program in Criminology is based on the study of criminal behavior and society’s response to it, including the analysis of those policies and systems designed to control criminality. Through the in-depth exploration and study of both theoretical and empirical social science research students learn about many aspects of crime as a social phenomenon, including the correlates of crime and criminal behavior, the tools and methods used to study and prevent crime, and the institutions involved in the processing of criminal offenders.

The Department of Criminology promotes excellence in teaching, intensive study, and analysis of criminal justice systems, law and society, and crime policy.  The faculty in the Department of Criminology have held prior positions as research analysts in state government, in academia, and in law enforcement.  Detailed information on criminology faculty can be found here.  The program strives to prepare students to be exemplars in post-undergraduate education in criminology.  The program also strives to prepare students to be leaders in their chosen profession including research and analysis positions in national and global agencies at various levels. 

Criminology Course Sequencing

The course sequencing for criminology majors begins with an introduction to criminology, criminological theory, and the historical, philosophical, and modern day approaches to policing, courts, and corrections.  Throughout the course sequencing students are exposed to empirical research, governmental reports, and readings in required texts.  As part of the rich undergraduate educational experience that is offered at The College of New Jersey, criminology majors are also required to study a modern language and complete courses in quantitative reasoning, historical perspectives, and a natural science to name a few as part of the liberal learning curriculum.  In the junior and senior years, criminology majors hone their skills in advanced criminology topics, research methodology, applied data analysis, and policy analysis. 

Additional Educational Opportunities

Additional opportunities exist for criminology majors via internships and independent study.  The Department of Criminology also continues to receive generous financial support for some of its students from the Jeffrey R. Ralston Foundation via annual scholarships and fellowships.  The Jeffrey R. Ralston Crime Analytics Fellowship provides annual support to four select students to take part in intensive applied statistical and geospatial analyses of police data.  Please visit this link for more information about the Jeffrey R. Ralston Foundation's support of the Criminology department at The College of New Jersey.

Criminology Graduates

Graduates of the Criminology program have earned Masters, Doctorate, and Juris Doctorate degrees from institutions such as Arizona State University, Emory University, Harvard University, Quinnipiac University, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Villanova University, and Widener University.  Criminology alumni have obtained employment in academia, the practice of the law, law enforcement and analytical positions including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Jersey State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, United States Secret Secret Service, and numerous other agencies at various levels.    

Announcements

• Bruce Stout, associate professor of criminology, has received a grant from the Governor's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Committee to conduct an in-depth assessment of disproportionate minority contact in New Jersey's juvenile justice system.  The research project will specifically focus on the decision to commit to a juvenile correctional facility and will examine whether minority adolescents are more likely to receive such dispositions after controlling for other factors, such as offense severity and prior record.  The project will also include a survey of New Jersey efforts to address disproportionate minority contact and a review of "best practices" to address the problem. David Holleran, associate professor and chair of criminology, will serve as the analytic director for the project.

• Margaret Leigey, assistant professor of criminology, is preparing to conduct five-year follow up interviews with approximately 25 inmates who are serving sentences of life without parole in a mid-Atlantic State. All of the respondents are 55 years of age or older and have been incarcerated for at least 20 years. The research focuses on a variety of topics related to long-term incarceration and aging in prison. To support this research, she received a SOSA award. Dr. Leigey hopes to begin this research in July 2011.

The Department of Criminology and its Alumni Association co-sponsored the annual Gene Carte Dinner on April 12, 2011.  Pictured are Gene Carte Award recipient Mary T. Previte, honored for her years of service as Director of the Camden County Youth Center and as an assemblywoman, Class of '78 alumnus Juan Jackson, retired after an exemplary career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and bagpipers from the New Jersey State Police.

Alpha Phi Sigma Class of 2011 (pictured from left: Jennifer Randolph, Amanda Emmert, Jennifer Chawla, Amanda Drummey, Ivonne Gonzalez, Megan Kearney, Robert Plimpton, and Christopher Skinner).

The Criminology honors society Alpha Phi Sigma celebrated its graduating seniors as well as new inductees on the evening of April 6, 2011 in the 1855 Room. Margaret Leigey, assistant professor of criminology and faculty supervisor to Alpha Phi Sigma, was the mistress of ceremony.  The graduating seniors and inductees were joined by family, friends and Criminology faculty.

"Team Criminology" participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life on April 1, 2001.  The Team raised $1,490 for the American Cancer Society and the over 900 students who participated in the event  raised over $54,000.  Pictured are (from left to right) Megan Kearney, Samantha Leschek, Ryan Gale, Tiffany Etheredge, Amber Marsano, faculty advisor Bruce Stout, Michael Ryder, Jennifer Randolph and Robert Plimpton.

On March 23, 2011 members of the Criminology Student Association toured the Regional Operations and Intelligence Center (ROIC).  Pictured here are the students with Lt. Colonel Thomas R. Gilbert (right), Chief of Staff to the Division of State Police and an alumnus, and Major Thomas P. Souchek (left), Commander of the ROIC and Fusion Center.

Student Spotlight

Ryan Gale is a senior Criminology major and is scheduled to graduate in May, 2012. As a Sophomore, Ryan was named a Jeffrey R. Ralston Foundation Scholar and most recently, as a Junior, he has been selected as a Jeffrey R. Ralston Foundation Crime Analytics Fellow. Ryan is a member Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society. Ryan has been invited to join Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, limiting invitations at The College to the top one percent of the junior class. It is one of the highest academic honors a student at TCNJ can receive.  He has held internships with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police and the Attorney General’s Office of the State of New Jersey. Ryan is also a member of the Criminology Student Association and is a Bonner Community Scholar.  In the future, Ryan looks to pursue a career in state or federal law enforcement, while considering continuing his studies in graduate school.

Alumni News

Jennifer Chawla earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology with minors in Spanish and Law, Politics, and Philosophy. She is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Phi Sigma, and Sigma Delta Pi academic honor societies. In addition, she served as vice president of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society and secretary of the Criminology Student Association. During her junior year, Jennifer completed an internship with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Last semester, she also competed with the Political Science Department’s Moot Court Team in the ACMA Regional Tournament. At this year’s Gene Carte Awards Dinner, she was named one of the five seniors with the highest grade point average in the Criminology department. She will be attending Seton Hall University law school in Fall 2011.

Jennifer Randolph earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology degree with a Law, Politics, and Philosophy minor.  She served as the President of Alpha Phi Sigma, the Criminology Honors Society.  She was also the Vice President of the Criminology Student Association.  Jennifer is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the Golden Key International Honour Society, the Order of Omega, and The College of New Jersey Honors Program.  Jennifer was a recipient of the Jeffrey R. Ralston Scholarship as well as the 2010 Academic Achievement Award in Criminology.  She was an active member of The College of New Jersey Club Cheerleading team.   Jennifer will be attending Seton Hall University law school in Fall 2011.

Kevin Schroeck earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, as well as a minor in Psychology and a self-designed interdisciplinary concentration in Law and Behavior at TCNJ, graduating in December of 2009. Following graduation, Kevin attended the Mercer County Police Academy where he graduated in July of 2010 with an academic rank of third in his class. The police academy provided extensive knowledge of the physical and mental requirements to be a successful police officer. He is currently working on his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at the Rutgers University-Newark School of Criminal Justice. Kevin was recently accepted into the PhD program in Criminal Justice for the Fall of 2011 at Rutgers University. Kevin is also pursuing a career in law enforcement and hopes to continue his studies of geographic information systems in analyzing crime data. Kevin would like to thank the TCNJ Criminology department for all the incredible knowledge and guidance they have provided him.

Rick Moule earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology with minors in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies in 2009. In Fall 2009, he enrolled in the Master of Arts program in Criminal Justice at Arizona State University. He has since switched into the Master of Science program, and is expected to graduate in the Spring of 2011. Rick currently serves as one of the original teaching assistants for ASU’s undergraduate online program in Criminal Justice, with coursework in the areas of situational prevention and criminological theory. His main research interests include social networks, gangs, peers, and life course criminology. His thesis combines these interests, and focuses on exploring how outside threat can promote or inhibit friendship maintenance among gang and non-gang adolescents. Rick is currently awaiting offers from some of the top Criminology PhD programs in the country, and will be continuing his education this fall.

 Shaina Rose Basile-Ciaccio earned the Bachelor of Science     degree in Criminology with a minor in Political Science in December 2008. In the Fall of 2009, she was accepted at Villanova University on a full scholarship for a Master's in Criminology, Law and Society. Shaina currently serves as a teaching and graduate assistant for undergraduate Criminal Justice courses at Villanova, such as Delinquency Prevention and Introduction to Criminology. Her main research interests include prevention in schooling as well as various aspects of bullying, including gender. Her thesis includes a mixed methods approach to a high school case study in central New Jersey. Shaina was married in January 2011 and is looking to become an adjunct professor as well as continue her education at the PhD level.

Regina McKenna earned the Bachelor of Science degree
in Criminology in 2007. She is now a third year student at Rutgers University School of Law - Camden. Regina is a legal intern with the Rutgers Domestic Violence Clinic and authorized to practice in New Jersey Superior Court - Family Division. She represents indigent victims of domestic violence from Camden County in matters including obtaining final restraining orders and negotiating consent orders involving child support and child custody arrangements. Regina is also a trained New Jersey court-appointed mediator. Regina graduates from Rutgers this May and she will take the Pennsylvania and
New Jersey bar exams in late July. In September, she will begin serving as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Heidi Willis Currier, Superior Court of New Jersey, Civil Division, Middlesex County, for the 2011-2012 term. Following Regina's clerkship, she hopes to work as a trial attorney in civil litigation, yet continue to do pro bono work for domestic violence victims. Commenting on her education in criminology at The College of New Jersey Regina writes, "I am grateful that my criminology major at TCNJ fully prepared me for the difficulties of law school and law practice."

Keith Carmy earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology in May 2008 and began law school at Rutgers-Camden that summer.  He received First Year Honors and he has made Dean's List three semesters.  After his first year, he was accepted to the Rutgers Law Journal and this past year he was made a Notes and Comments Editor.  He will have his comment published in an upcoming edition of the state constitutional law issue.  In addition, Keith was elected Vice President of the Rutgers-Camden chapter of the Federalist Society.  He has served as a teaching assistant
for a first year legal writing course for the last two years.  He has also spent time working for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance pro bono program. He interned for the past two summers at the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, and he would like to eventually become a prosecutor or a district attorney.  Next year, Keith will be clerking for the Honorable Jeanne T. Covert, who is the presiding criminal judge in the New Jersey Superior Court in Mount Holly, NJ.