260 Graduate from College in December

Security Studies graduates and faculty.

The College of Criminal Justice graduated its fall class of 2013 in December, with about 230 undergraduates and more than 30 graduate students, including two new Ph.D.s.

Ballistics Study Leads to Changes at Federal Agency

A team of researchers led by Sam Houston State University identified a number of areas of improvement in a national database of forensic ballistics evidence used to link guns to violent crimes.

Locking in a Police Career

La Vista (NE) Police Chief Bob Lausten

Police Chief Bob Lausten, a SHSU graduate and 30 year law enforcement veteran, still uses the padlock from his police academy class. Every time he looks at it, he remembers the core lessons that come with the job.

Phi Alpha Delta Meeting

Mon, Dec 9, 2013
5 p.m.
Lowman Student Center Room 304

Connecting Criminal Justice Classrooms

A new twist will let students at Lone Star College-Montgomery see beyond the community college classrooms—literally—via in-class videoconferencing sessions or face-to-face meetings with other students at Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice.

Called the “University Connections Series,” the new pilot program will pair an Introduction to Criminal Justice class at LSC-Montgomery with a Research Methods class at Sam Houston State University this spring. During the semester, the participating class will connect with its university counterpart to collaborate on projects, interact with each other, and share knowledge.

Students enrolled in these LSC-Montgomery sections will cover the same learning outcomes as in a traditional class and earn the same three credit hours upon successful completion.

“The goal is to assist our students in seeing themselves beyond LSC-Montgomery,” said Matthew Samford, academic counselor at LSC-Montgomery.

“Students will be able to get a taste for university-level academics and connect with those who are living the university life.”

LSC-Montgomery professor Mark Stelter will be connecting his Introduction to Criminal Justice course with Sam Houston State University’s Criminal Justice Research Methods course, which is taught by Dr. William (Bill) Wells.

“Both sets of students will see a great combination of current salient issues in the field and applied academic research,” said Stelter. “In my course, students study U.S. crime rates and trends. Dr. Wells will show how such data is gathered, analyzed, and assessed in ways much richer and deeper than our course normally has time to cover.”

Dr. Wells sees benefits for both groups of students as well.

“SHSU students will gain a better appreciation of research methods by interacting with the Lone Star College students who are learning core elements about the criminal justice system and the nature of crime,” said Wells. “I’m excited to share criminal justice and criminological research with Lone Star College students. I hope they will become interested in learning more.”

LSC-Montgomery has projects in different disciplines with other area universities. For more information, contact Matthew Samford at (936) 273.7341, or Matthew.T.Samford@LoneStar.edu.

LCC Graduates Become Top Cops

Five graduates of the Leadership Command College, the premiere executive development program for Texas law enforcement, recently returned to the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) as new police chiefs.

Alpha Phi Sigma Meeting

Wed, Dec 5, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Criminal Justice Center, CJava Cafe

Come join Alpha Phi Sigma, the CJ National Honor Society, at its biweekly meetings!

National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice

Wed Dec 4, 2013
4:00pm
Lowman Student Center, Room 302

SHSU Faculty/Staff Training on Campus Sexual Assault

Faculty and staff from Sam Houston State University are invited to attend a seminar on Dec. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Lowman Student Center Theater on to how to address sexual assault on campus and respond if an assault is reported to them.

Graduate Student Organization Meeting

Tue, Dec 3, 2013
3:30 P.M.
Bates Room, Criminal Justice Center

Crime Victim Services Alliance

Tue, Dec 3, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

The Society of Forensic Science Meeting

Tue, Dec. 3, 2013
5:30 PM
Chemistry and Forensic Science Building
Room 103

The Society of Forensic Science is a special interest group at SHSU, consisting of individuals who are interested in working together to expand and share their knowledge of Forensic Science. The society participates in various volunteer and fundraising activities throughout the year.

The Election of New Officer will be held at the December meeting.

Alumnus Oversees Largest Prison System in U.S.

Deputy Executive Director Bryan Collier, TDCJ

Bryan Collier (’86) began his career at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) manning the switchboard while a student at Sam Houston State University. Now 28 years later, he is second in command at the state agency that oversees the largest adult prison, parole and probation system in the country.

Phi Alpha Delta Meeting

Mon, Nov 25, 2013
5 p.m.
Lowman Student Center Room 304

National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Meeting

Wed Nov 20, 2013
4:00pm
Lowman Student Center, Room 302

Voices Lecture Series: Michael K. Sweeney, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault

Wed, Nov 20, 2013
1:00 - 3:00pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Michael K. SweeneyAs a 28 year law enforcement veteran, Michael K. Sweeney handled many sexual assault cases at the Aurora, CO and Ocean Springs, MS police departments. Now he is teaching law enforcement officers, advocates, and counselors how to investigate these cases and understand victims and perpetrators.

Crime Victim Services Alliance Meeting

Tue, November 19, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

STAFS Classes Open to Students, Alumni

The Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility is opening its hands-on trainings on various aspects of crime scene investigations to college students and alumni.

Real Talk w/CJ: U.S. Postal Inspector Stephaine Harden

Thu, Nov 14, 2013
2 - 3 P.M.
CJ Courtroom

U.S. Postal Inspector Stephaine Harden.Come rain, sleet, snow or hail, Stephaine Harden’s job is to support and protect the U.S. Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers and to enforce laws to defend the system against dangerous or illegal use.

Alpha Phi Sigma Meeting

Wed, Nov 13, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Criminal Justice Center, CJava Cafe

Come join Alpha Phi Sigma, the CJ National Honor Society, at its biweekly meetings!

Society of Forensic Science Meeting

Tue, Nov 12, 2013
5:30 PM
Chemistry and Forensic Science Building
Room 121

Guest Speaker will be Lt. Col. Robert McCormick, who will share his experiences in artillery and anti-terrorism. Pizza and drinks will be served.

Probation/Parole To Get Lessons in Impaired Driving

The Impaired Driving Initiatives at Sam Houston State University is expanding its efforts to get drunk and drugged drivers off the road by developing a new program to assist Texas probation and parole officers to recognize the signs and systems of various kinds of drug impairment among their clients and families.

The program will be added to a growing cadre of agencies and individuals enlisted to reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities on Texas roadways. Funded through grants from the Texas Department of Transportation, the Initiatives have ongoing efforts to train law enforcement officers, school personnel, and employers to recognize the signs of drunk and drugged drivers.

“Eight out of ten convicted offenders reside in our communities – living in our neighborhoods, working in our communities and driving to and from their place of work and recreational activities,” said Cecelia Marquart, Director of the Impaired Driving Initiatives.

“The primary goal of this proposal is to educate community supervision and parole officers on traffic safety, specifically the potential for impaired driving among their respective clientele to enhance roadway safety. They can detect not only the impairment of the probationer or parolee, but possibly the individual who brought them to their visit or individuals encountered during home visits. The end result would promote safer Texas highways. ”

>In 2010, there were 2,023 crashes involving fatalities in Texas, with 575 involving alcohol and 185 involving drugs. Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest growing problem, and it ranks second behind marijuana in illegal drug use. About half of Americans routinely use at least one prescription drug for medical reasons, and about 20 percent of citizens have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons over their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Health.

The new program will target offenders in the community, many of them out on drug offenses. In 2011, there were about 141,000 offenders in Texas prisons, 107,000 offenders on parole, and 413,000 offenders on some sort of community supervision. Thirty percent of parolees and 16 percent of the probationers were convicted on drug-related offenses.

The Impaired Driving Initiatives grant will work with the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, the Community Justice Assistance Division, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, The Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Parole Division, community supervision administers and law enforcement (Drug Recognition Expert Instructors) to develop the curriculum for the course. The six to eight hour course will be offered to probation and parole officers in 2014.

Impaired Driving Initiatives have developed model programs to train school personnel and Texas employers to recognize the signs and symptoms of impairment. In addition, law enforcement officers are provided national specialty training to detect drugged drivers on the road. Those programs will continue with TxDOT grant funding.

CVI Puts Research into Practice

The Crime Victims’ Institute (CVI) at Sam Houston State University initiated a new series of reports to help victim advocates translate the latest research in the field into practical services and resources for victims.

Intern Finds Pipeline to Future Corporate Career

As an intern for American Air Liquide, Nicole Aguais spent the Fall helping to keep more than 5,000 employees, 200 facilities, and 2,000 miles of industrial gas pipeline in the U.S. safe for a multi-national company.

Employment, In-House Services Lead to Success for DWI Courts

Offenders from a Texas DWI court were more likely to succeed in the program if they were employed and followed curriculum developed and delivered by local criminal justice and treatment professionals, a study at Sam Houston State University found.

Phi Alpha Delta Meeting

Mon, Nov 11, 2013
5 p.m.
Lowman Student Center Room 304

National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Meeting

Wed Nov 6, 2013
4:00pm
Lowman Student Center, Room 302

Special Presentation: Houston DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier Pena

Wed Nov 6, 2013
12:00 p.m
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

As a Special Agent in Austin, Javier Peña volunteered for an assignment to track down Pablo Escobar, an infamous Columbian drug lord who led the Medellin Cartel during their reign of drug trafficking, terrorism and murder. Now Peña leads the Houston office of the Drug Enforcement Administration in the War on Drugs in the South and East Texas regions.

Graduate Student Organization Meeting

Tue, Nov 5, 2013
3:30 P.M.
Texas Room, Criminal Justice Center

Crime Victim Services Alliance Meeting

Tue, Nov 5, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

CJ Faculty Makes List of Top Female Scholars

Two faculty members at Sam Houston State University and an alumna were named among the 20 most prolific female scholars in Criminal Justice and Criminology in an article published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.

Recent Publications

Here is a list of publications recently produced by faculty, students and alumni of Sam Houston State University, College of Criminal Justice.

Alumnus Protects U.S. Airspace at FAA

Alumnus Marc Glasser protects the airspace over the Northwest U.S. for the FAA.

Alumnus Marc Glasser (BS ’85) is flying high as a U.S. Government Special Agent where his service has included safeguarding the U.S. airspace for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), investigating white-collar crimes for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and protecting three Secretaries of States for the U.S. Department of State.

Voices Series: Barbie Brashear of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council

2 - 3 P.M.
CJ Courtroom

The Crime Victims’ Institute will debut a new series on Oct. 30 to explore victimization issues and career opportunities available in victim services.

The Voices Lecture Series will focus on the victim services field. The series, which is expected to host five speakers throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, is planning sessions on domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and exploitation, and human trafficking.

Alpha Phi Sigma Meeting

Wed, Oct 30, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Criminal Justice Center, CJava Cafe

Come join Alpha Phi Sigma, the CJ National Honor Society, at its biweekly meetings!

Society of Forensic Science Meeting

Tue, Oct 29, 2013
5:30 PM
Chemistry and Forensic Science Building
Room 121

Society of Forensic Science Meeting and Scary Movie Night! Guest speaker will be a representative from the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Scary Movie to follow the meeting at the Forum Apartments no later than 6:30 p.m. Pizza and drinks will be served.

Phi Alpha Delta Meeting

Mon, Oct 28, 2013
5 p.m.
Lowman Student Center Room 304

Real Talk w/CJ: Eric Vento of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area

Wed, Oct. 23, 2013
3 - 4 P.M.
CJ Courtroom

Just a year after graduating from Sam Houston State University and joining the Houston Police Department, Officer Eric Vento (’10) was assigned to the city’s Gang Task Force working in “hot spot” policing, moving around crime-ridden neighborhoods and attacking gang activities through drug and violent crime arrests.

Now Vento serves on a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team in both uniform and plainclothes with a mission to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.

Crime Victims’ Institute Explores Intergenerational Intimate Partner Violence

Most parents who experienced intimate partner violence had children that grew to face violence in their own adult relationships, according to a study published by the Crime Victims’ Institute at Sam Houston State University.

Helping Law Enforcement Agencies Prepare for Critical Incidents

Officers involved in critical incidents on the job – such as school shootings, the death of fellow officers or riots – will share lessons learned from these tragic incidents with law enforcement agencies in hopes of preventing tragedies in the future.

National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Meeting

Wed Oct 23, 2013
4:00pm
Lowman Student Center, Room 302

Crime Victim Services Alliance

Tue, Oct 22, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

CMIT Adds Research Opportunities

The Correctional Management Institute of Texas is expanding its research capacity with the additions of its first research associate and a cadre of faculty and graduate students that specialize in the field.

A Chemist's Journey to Forensic Science

Dr. Jasmine Drake

After spending three years in a lab creating and analyzing compounds that could be used as an energy source for a future superconductor, Dr. Jasmine Drake wanted to find a job with a more immediate impact on society.

Beto Chair Lecture Series: Professor David M. Kennedy

Friday Oct 18, 2013
9:30 - 11:00 A.M.
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Professor David Kennedy

Professor David M. Kennedy of John Jay College of Criminal Justice will present “Toward a New Criminal Justice: Race, Violence, Drugs, Prison, and Legitimacy” as the Fall Beto Lecture. He is the Director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control. The Center focuses on crime prevention initiatives to combat violent street groups, gun violence and gun trafficking, overt drug markets, and domestic violence by building relations between the community and law enforcement, strengthening neighborhoods, and reducing arrests and incarceration.

Alpha Phi Sigma Meeting

Wed, Oct 16, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Criminal Justice Center, CJava Cafe

Come join Alpha Phi Sigma, the CJ National Honor Society, at its biweekly meetings!

Crime Victim Services Alliance Meeting

Tue, Oct. 15, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

Society of Forensic Science Meeting

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Tue, Oct 15, 2013
5:30 PM
Chemistry and Forensic Science Building
Room 121

The guest speaker for the meeting will be Dr. David Gangitano, Associate Professor, College of Criminal Justice, Department of Forensic Science. Pizza and beverages will be served.

Internships 101 Meetings

Mon, Oct 14 - Tue, Oct 15, 2013
10 a.m.
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Learn more about the College's Internship Program, which is designed to provide students in their senior year valuable work experience, on-the-job training, and an opportunity to develop a professional networking base for the future. Students in this program are offered unparalleled opportunities to participate in one of the nation's leading internship programs in the field of criminal justice.

Students earn academic credit while interning with such organizations as INTERPOL, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, or the Department of Homeland Security as well as local probation and parole agencies, police and sheriffs' departments, child protective agencies, crime labs, and prosecutors' offices.

A number of students have turned their internships into professional careers following graduation from the undergraduate program at SHSU.

Phi Alpha Delta Meeting

Mon, Oct 14, 2013
5 p.m.
Lowman Student Center Room 304

GSO Brown Bag Presentation

Fri, Oct 11, 2013
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Texas Room, Criminal Justice Center

The Graduate Student Organization will offer a Brown Bag Presentation with Dr. Brian Boutwell on “What if everything you knew about crime was wrong?” A compilation of biosocial research in Criminal Justice and Criminology.”

National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Meeting

Wed, Oct 9, 2013
4:00pm
Lowman Student Center, Room 302

Graduate Student Organization Meeting

Tue, Oct 8, 2013
3:30 P.M.
Texas Room, Criminal Justice Center

Crime Victim Services Alliance Meeting

Tue, Oct 8, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

Monitoring Gangs in Texas Prisons and Beyond

Emil Garza, the head of the Security Threat Group Management Office at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, will discuss gangs in Texas state prisons as part of a special presentation on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. in the CJ Courtroom.

Phi Alpha Delta Induction Ceremony and Fundraiser

Mon, Oct 7, 2013
5 p.m.
Lowman Student Center

Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Society will hold its first induction ceremony and fundraiser. Those being inducted are asked to dress professionally by wearing a white shirt and black pants or a black skirts. Inductees are welcome to bring family and friends. The ceremony will be followed by a fundraiser at Chilli's! Members can earn points by helping with setup or tear down of the event. For more information, email Kristen Gilchrist at keg020@shsu.edu.

Polish Delegation Tours Texas Correctional System

The Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) co-hosted a biennial visit by a delegation from the Polish Central Board of Prison Services to learn about state and local correctional facilities in Texas.

Events Recognize Domestic Violence Victims

To raise awareness about domestic violence, the Crime Victims’ Institute (CVI) and the Crime Victim Services Alliance (CVSA) will host three events in October, including “The Clothesline Project,” a screening and panel discussion on “Telling Amy’s Story,” and a lecture from a leader in a domestic violence agency in Texas.

Alpha Phi Sigma Meeting

Wed, Oct 2, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Criminal Justice Center, CJava Cafe

Come join Alpha Phi Sigma, the CJ National Honor Society, at its biweekly meetings!

Crime Victim Services Alliance Meeting

Tue, Oct 1, 2013
5:15 p.m.
Lowman Student Center, Room 319

The Crime Victim Services Alliance is committed to advancing knowledge and awareness of victim services as a movement and as a profession among students interested in the criminal justice system, crime victim rights and crime victim services.

Society of Forensic Science Meeting

Tue, Oct 1, 2013
5:30 PM
Chemistry and Forensic Science Building
Room 121

Our guests this week will be human and canine representatives from the Human Search Dog Network, an organization that trains dogs to discover hidden human remains. Pizza and drinks will be provided.

Tracking Drug Sources with Isotopes

Nicola Beckett of Griffith University

The Society of Forensic Science hosted a presentation by an Australian researcher who is using cutting-edge technology to investigate designer drugs and clandestine labs.