Mission Statement

The Edward Waters College Criminal Justice program is dedicated to education, research, and service in the fields of criminal justice, forensic science, and related areas of public safety and public service. It strives to endow students with the skills of critical thinking and effective communication; the capacity for personal and social growth and creative problem solving that result from the ability to acquire and evaluate information; the ability to navigate advanced technological systems; and the awareness of the diverse cultural, historical, economic, and political forces that shape our society.

The program offers its students a curriculum that balances the arts, sciences, and humanities with professional studies. It serves the community by developing graduates who have the intellectual acuity, moral commitment and professional competence to confront the challenges of crime, justice, and public safety in a free society. It seeks to inspire both students and faculty, to the highest ideals of citizenship and public service relevant to the 21st century workforce.

Accomplishments Include

  • Partnership with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Advisory Council (SHADCO)
  • National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
  • American Correctional Association

Goals

The Criminal Justice program seeks to prepare students to function effectively in various professional leadership roles within the Criminal Justice System. The program seeks to prepare students with knowledge on how the criminal justice system works at the local, state, and federal levels.

The program gives students an understanding of the changing and challenging nature of the interaction between the criminal justice system, the offenders in the system and society, and an awareness of the impact of how different social issues, politics, religious, educational, and cultural forces, both domestic and global, effects the system.

The program strives to prepare students to pursue further graduate and professional studies as well as to assume positions of leadership in commerce, industry, education, social work, government, and community service.

Objectives

  • To train and educate students in the field of Criminal Justice, utilizing a variety of instructional methods and techniques to stimulate and/or motivate students to learn.
  • To help students understand the roles and functions of the three major components of the criminal justice System: law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
  • To help students understand and roles and functions of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
  • To teach students the theories of crime causations and crime prevention measures.
  • To help students understand the basic principles of the American judicial system; a process by which an individual is tried, convicted, and sentenced – including the legal implications of inmates' constitutional rights.
  • To engage students in research/practical experience, and involvement with professional organization in the field at various levels – local, state, national, and global.
  • Students are exposed to the process of seeking and gaining admissions into graduate and professional studies.

Students are encouraged to join and participate in the program’s Leadership Club that promotes academic excellence, leadership skills, teamwork, character development, professionalism, and exposure to global opportunities.