Justice studies

The online master’s degree program in criminology and criminal justice at Arizona State University continues for an eighth consecutive year as one of the nation’s top 10 such courses of study, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings announced. The online Master of Arts degree program earned a No. 7 ranking for 2022.

ASU’s No. 7 ranking is higher than those of the University of Cincinnati, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, the University of Central Florida and the University of Oklahoma.

• Read more about ASU's criminal justice online graduate degree program ranks in US News' top 10

Jeff McClelland was a dedicated and accomplished executive at the time of his death in 2006. A new scholarship his family has established in his name honors his great respect for higher education and demonstrates their commitment to the criminal justice profession.

Each year the Jeffrey D. McClelland Scholarship will support a graduate student working in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions-based Center for Correctional Solutions at Arizona State University.

• Read more about New scholarship to assist graduate students' work at ASU Center for Correctional Solutions

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2021 graduates.

Just two weeks before she moved into her freshman dorm at ASU, Carson Swisher surprised her mother with an announcement that would alter the course of her future: She was changing majors. She wanted to study criminal justice.

• Read more about Switching major 2 weeks before starting at ASU proved right choice for grad

Maddi Briguglio has every reason to be proud of her stellar undergraduate career, the kind of achievement that’s a textbook definition of inspiration.

• Read more about Student spotlight: Successful internship leads SCCJ grad student to job providing resources to formerly incarcerated

As protests grew over the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement took root nationwide, graduate students at Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) wondered about what they might do on their own campus to encourage dialogue and understanding about diversity.

• Read more about Graduate students organize speaker series to increase discussions of diversity, applications to justice issues

A college student's frequent dream is that an internship is so successful that the employer offers him or her the chance to stay by accepting a great job upon graduation.

• Read more about Student spotlight: Internship leads to dream job in assets protection at major employer

“Defund the police” has been a popular rallying cry at recent protests across the nation.

Originated by the Black Lives Matter movement and police reform activists, the slogan was introduced to the public last week and is quickly picking up steam with politicians, city councils and mayors throughout the country.

• Read more about Is defunding the police a good idea?

In the United States, managing the tensions between the privileged, politically dominant classes of society and its politically, socially and economically disadvantaged classes, to which communities of color have disproportionately belonged, has always been a central concern of police and the criminal justice system. Some U.S. police agencies were explicitly established in the Civil War era to help preserve slavery and white supremacy.

• Read more about Transforming Policing and Criminal Justice: An Open Letter from Faculty Members of ASU’s School of Criminology & Criminal Justice

The logistical challenges of teaching a class inside a state prison are complicated enough during a typical semester, let alone one that includes a pandemic.

This spring, an Arizona State University professor and a doctoral student were instructing 10 students based at the Downtown Phoenix campus, plus 10 more who happen to be men serving criminal sentences at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Florence.

• Read more about Quick thinking keeps instruction going for incarcerated students in ASU's 'Inside-Out' class

To recognize alumni of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (SCCJ) who have engaged their communities in exceptional ways, the School proudly announces its 2020 alumni awards.

• Read more about School of Criminology and Criminal Justice recognizes community engaged alumni with annual awards