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Alumnus Dr. Carl Williams was recently sworn in as Police Commissioner for Jamaica.

A recent headline in the Jamaican Observer captured the sentiment of nation: “Say What? A Jamaican commissioner of police with a PhD!”

Dr. Carl McKay Williams (Ph.D. ’14) was named Police Commissioner for the island nation beginning Sept. 14. He will command the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), which includes a staff of 15,000 to 16,000, including 12,000 sworn officers. The agency is responsible for law and order on the island, the prevention and detection of crime, the investigation of alleged crimes, the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of all criminal laws in the Jamaican penal code.

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Dr. Williams leads a force of 12,000 sworn officers.Dr. Williams said his experience in policing and his academic training contributed to his appointment as the top cop in Jamaica.

“It is a very complicated task and a huge challenge, especially in a country plagued by high crime rates,” said Dr. Williams. “The combination of my academic training and professional experience have prepared me for this challenge.”

Williams, a 30 year veteran of the force, rose through the ranks, leading the country’s anti-narcotic campaign, the Anti-Lottery Task Force and the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency. Most recently, he held the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of crime.

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Dr. Williams (right)meets with members of the Justice Ministry.“Commissioner Carl Williams comes to the post with a track record of innovation and performance in a wide variety of command roles in the Jamaica Constabulary Force,” said Jamaican National Security Minister Peter Bunting in announcing his appointment. “He is highly qualified academically, with a Ph.D. in criminal justice.”

Dr. Williams received his bachelor, master and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University, going back and forth to Jamaica to apply the theories he learned at the College of Criminal Justice.

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Dr. Williams (l)target illegal guns and lottery scams in Jamaica.Dr. Williams’ dissertation explored the causes of firearms assaults on Jamaican police officers.

“Dr. Williams’ research on assaults and officer safety in Jamaica advances our collective knowledge of officer safety,” said Dr. William King, a Professor of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. “The findings will no doubt improve the safety of Jamaican law enforcement personnel. Dr. Williams also showed tremendous commitment to his studies.”

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Dr./ Williams studied organized crime at SHSU.At SHSU, his graduate studies focused on organized crime, and in 2011, Dr. Williams returned to his country as a commanding officer in Western Jamaica to tackle the rampant problem of lottery scams. In Montego Bay, local youth were scamming elderly residents in Jamaica and the U.S. by telling them they had won online lotteries and would require a processing fee to collect the prize. The scam was tied to a series of murders to keep victims quiet.

“This was based on my sharpened focus to think of strategies to address these crimes,” said Dr. Williams. “The response that we mounted in Western Jamaica was very successfully and still is.”

Dr. Williams also founded the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency, an elite task force focusing on public sector corruption and major criminal bosses by working with partners in the country and abroad. The multi-agency initiative also included representatives from the Jamaica Defense Force, Financial Investigation Division (FID), Customs, Revenue Protection Division (RPD), Taxpayer Audit and Assessments Department (TAAD).

“The academic training helped me to think of new strategies to get the initiatives off the ground,” said Dr. Williams.

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Dr. Williams was previously in charge of criminal investigations.Most recently, Dr. Williams served as the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the Crime Portfolio, where he had responsibility for all the criminal investigative functions of the force. He was a member of the command team during the implementation of Operation Resilience, which targeted gangs and gang-related activities in specific communities in an effort to reduce murders and shootings. The operation resulted in the seizure of 77 illegal firearms and the arrest of 174 gang members.

“In dealing with guns, it (my academic training) helped me to combat gun crimes in ways I did not know before,” said Dr. Williams.
With high crime rates continuing in his country, Dr. Williams said he will continue to reach back to his alma mater for new ideas and research to solve the problems.

“There is a lot of work to be done there,” said Dr. Williams. “Where do you think I would turn to get help?”

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The SHSU NABCJ was recognized at the fourth largest student chapter in the country.

The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) offers one of the largest student chapters in the country for the organization that promote equal justice for all.

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Members of the SHSU NABCJ enjoy dinner at the national conference.The SHSU chapter was recently recognized at the national organization’s annual meeting in Orlando this summer for being the fourth largest student chapter in the United States. The NABCJ is a group of criminal justice and community leaders dedicated to improving the administration of justice and includes state and federal corrections officials, police officers, sheriffs, judges and lawyers.
The SHSU chapter was represented at the conference by President Trenton Maxie and members Orlando Gray, Brittny Baily and Chris Kha. The conference included speakers, seminars and networking opportunities with professionals in the field.

In fact, Maxie came back with a potential job offer from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to work in new correctional institutions opening in Mississippi and Alabama.

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The chapter at SHSU is active.“I was very inspired by the conference and grabbed everyone’s business cards,” said Maxie. “When I got back, I photocopied them and began passing them out aggressively to all the members and everyone I know. A lot of people are in criminal justice, but I found out that you don’t have to be in criminal justice at all.”

Maxie was surprised to find that the organization is international, with members from Trinidad and Tobago attending the conference. He also had the chance to meet students from other NABCJ Chapters to share information of what these groups were doing on their campuses.

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Trenton Maxie share business cards from the conference with members of his organization.In addition to holding bimonthly meetings, where members discuss issues involving minorities in the criminal justice system, the SHSU group is involved in community service. It recently completed an “In Justice” program for new students at SHSU, letting freshman know the right way to respond if they come in contact with law enforcement officers. Among their recent topics of discussion were riots in Ferguson, Missouri following the police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown and the arrest of Viking Running Back Adrian Peterson on child abuse charges.

On September 25, the NABCJ participated in “Is Orange is the New Black?,” a collaboration among NABCJ, the NAACP and Women United at SHSU. The program covered the statistics of women in prison, how it affects their families, and cases and scenarios that relate to the show "Orange is the New Black." The NABCJ provided statistical information on the racial and gender makeup of the populations in prison in Texas and nationwide.

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The NABCJ conference was held in Orlando.Each spring, the NABCJ provides a mini-conference, inviting professionals from various fields to discuss career opportunities and providing workshops on preparing for the job hunt. All students are invited to attend.
The NABCJ is also involved in community service with the elderly, offering bingo to residents of two local nursing homes. This year, they hope to adopt a local school to raise funds for resources in the classroom.

For more information about the organization, contact Trenton Maxie at tjm022@shsu.edu. The NABCJ meetings are held the second and forth Wednesday in the Lowman Student Center, Room 302.

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Several organizations on campus, including the Crime Victims' Institute and the Crime Victim Services Alliance, will hold a series of events at Sam Houston State University in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Purple Ribbon Distribution
Oct 6-9 and Oct. 20-23
9:00am - 1:00pm
LSC Mall

Shirt Decoration for Clothesline Project
Oct 20-23
10:00am - 2:00pm
LSC Mall

Domestic Violence Documentary
Wed, Oct 22, 2014
6:45pm
LSC Theater

Shirt Display for Clothesline Project
Oct 27-30
10:00am - 2:00pm
LSC Mall

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Fri, Oct 31, 2014
10:00am - 12:00pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

The College of Criminal Justice will offer a chance to view a national webinar for law enforcement professionals and criminal justice students on how to meet the challenges posed by untested rape kits in police evidence rooms. The webinar will feature Dr. Bill Wells of the College of Criminal Justice, lead investigator for a National Institute of Justice study on the issue at the Houston Police Department. Dr. Wells will be available following the presentation to answer audience questions.

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Thu, Nov 20, 2014
1:00pm - 2:00pm
LEMIT, Room 220

Dr. Scott Radnitz is an Associate Professor in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and Director of the Ellison Center for Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies at the University of Washington. His areas of research including post-Soviet politics, such as protests, authoritarianism, identity, and state building.

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House Resolution 469 was enacted on May 17, 1963 by the 58th Texas Legislature creating the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and Behavioral Science at Sam Houston State University. The bill was championed by Rep. David Crews of Montgomery.

WHEREAS, Sam Houston State College and the headquarters of the Texas Department of Corrections are located in Huntsville, Texas; and

WHEREAS, The proximity of these institutions appears to place Sam Houston State College in a uniquely favorable position to utilize the resources of the Texas Department of Corrections in developing an outstanding program of training and study in the exploration of crime as a social phenomenon, rehabilitation of criminals, and related subjects; and

WHEREAS, The development of such a program would be of great benefit to the people of this state and nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, That the administrative staffs of these institutions be directed to explore cooperatively the feasibility of developing a continuing program of statistical research, training and study in criminology, penology, juvenile delinquency and related fields, and in particular to explore the feasibility of instituting a broad program to include:

(1) training for graduate and undergraduate students interested in preparing for careers in various correctional areas of crime and control and in correctional administration;

(2) workshops and training institutes for the continued professional training of those already employed in specialized correctional programs and in the management of correctional institutions;

(3) consultation and technical assistance to correctional agencies in program development, personnel training, and institutional management;

(4) promotion of research, demonstration projects, and surveys of pertinent problems in the fields of delinquency, crime, and corrections; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this initial survey be conducted without the appropriation of additional funds for that purpose; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the administrative staffs of these institutions be directed to submit a report on this matter to the 59th Legislature of the State of Texas no later than one week after that Legislature formally convenes.

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Dr. David W. Crews sponsored the legislation creating the College.

by Dan Beto

In mid-1962, shortly after Dr. George J. Beto had become Director of the Texas Department of Corrections, Conroe legislator David W. Crews traveled to Huntsville to meet the new head of the prison system. During their meeting the two men lamented the lack of cooperation between the Texas Department of Corrections and Sam Houston State Teachers College. Dr. Beto recalled during that initial meeting Representative Crews said that he would prefer to see Sam Houston known for a criminology program.

The two men – who became immediate friends – parted that day with the understanding that they would work together to bring Representative Crews’ vision to fruition.

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The House Chambers at the Texas Capital.Working closely with Beto over the next several months, Representative Crews introduced House Resolution 469 during the 58th Legislative Session.

In February 1964 Dr. Arleigh Templeton was named President of Sam Houston, and he wholeheartedly embraced the resolution and all that it implied.

In September 2014, in preparation of the criminal justice program’s 50th anniversary, former Representative Crews, now retired from the practice of law, was contacted and asked a series of questions about his vision.

What prompted you to propose legislation creating a criminal justice program at Sam Houston?

DWC: I saw that having a college and the prison system administration so close to each other as something to be utilized for the greater benefit of both institutions. The timing was right; Dr. Beto, with his background in academia and his political ties, was the first man in a position to get it done.

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Dr. George BetoI’ll tell you a funny story about my first meeting with Dr. Beto. When I went to meet with him, he suggested that we go over to the Director’s House for lunch. When we got there, Mrs. Beto was not there so he asked the inmate cook to fix something for lunch. Apparently the inmate cook was caught off guard, and all he could prepare for us on such short notice was tomato soup. I do not like tomato soup, but I ate it anyway.

What did you see as the benefits for the college and the Texas Department of Corrections? Was your vision realized?

DWC: As an education school Sam Houston was a natural fit to create a teaching college for corrections and law enforcement. I will admit that I never envisioned the center being the nationally, and even internationally, recognized program that it has become. Yes, my vision has been more than realized. I’m truly amazed at what this program has become.

Who were the important players in this legislation both in Huntsville and Austin, and why?

DWC: First and foremost would be Dr. Beto. Without his guidance none of this would have happened. Arleigh Templeton as President of the college saw the benefits of developing a criminal justice program and worked with Dr. Beto to make it a reality. George Killinger gave the center its initial direction and promoted it throughout the state.

In Austin, Senator Bill Moore and Representative Bill Heatly were instrumental in making sure the funding for the center was allocated.

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Texas CapitalHow did you sell the legislation in the Texas Legislature? What was the lynchpin for approval? Did you have a lot of support or opposition? Did you gain or lose any major provisions in the bill?

DWC: There was no funding attached to the bill so that was a definite selling point.The opposition thought it was a waste of time and didn’t see the value of doing it. I spent a lot of time talking to several in opposition. Of course, some thought it would be better in their district and were not in favor of it for that reason alone. I put together the bill and consulted with Dr. Beto. As soon as he agreed to the language in it that’s what I presented and that’s what passed.

What was the legislative climate on crime, criminal justice, and social research at the time? Has that changed?

DWC: Social research was being done independently. The state did not really provide funding for social research. The legislature was adding more laws for specific crimes every year. It brought in to focus by those in the legislature of how criminal justice should be approached in Texas. Training and education of law enforcement and correctional staff was limited in Texas prior to the creation of the program. In the years since its inception, and particularly since the building of the Criminal Justice Center, there have been literally thousands of people from all over the United States and from many other countries who have derived benefit from this program.

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Clik here to view.How did you feel when the legislation passed?

DWC: Oh, I was elated. I saw this as the first step in addressing some of the problems associated with the criminal justice field.

What were your thoughts or feelings when the building was dedicated?

DWC: I had a sense of accomplishment and pride in my contribution toward the realization of the center. Too, it was a tangible symbol of the work many people did to create it, for which they all may be proud.

Part of the legislation called for workshops and training institutes for the professional development of persons already employed in criminal justice agencies. Do you have any thoughts on the work of the Correctional Management Institute and the Law Enforcement Management Institute?

DWC: Professional development training was an integral part of the resolution, and I am informed that both institutes deliver quality training and technical assistance to those agencies that make up our system of justice. While you didn’t ask me this, I was particularly pleased when I learned in 1994 that Dan Beto had been named the founding Director of the Correctional Management Institute of Texas. I know his father would have been proud of him.

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David Crews was presented the Defensor Pacem Award from the College in 2003.What do you think of the College today? DWC: While the Criminal Justice Center is providing a vital service, there is still tremendous potential for growth. With emerging technologies, and with growing global issues impacting various facets of the criminal justice system, the Center is well positioned to provide the education and training for the next generation of practitioners.

I continue to follow the progress of the Center. In 2003 I was honored when the Center presented me with the Defensor Pacem Award, a recognition I truly cherish.

What does it offer to the field of criminal justice overall?

DWC: It offers a world class facility for the continued growth in education and training for law enforcement, institutional and community corrections, and the administration of justice.

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In 2006, the Sam Houston State University community was significantly impacted by stalking when a 20-year old female student was shot to death by a fellow undergraduate who had stalked her with phone calls, texts and gifts following a brief dating relationship. The stalker, who attempted suicide twice, killed himself after shooting the young woman multiple times at her apartment.

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Clik here to view.One out of every five female students experience stalking victimization during their college career, which is higher than rates experienced by the general public, according to research. Like the tragic incident at SHSU, many of those cases are not reported to police because victims feel the situation was too minor, feared revenge, saw it as a private or personal matter or thought police would not believe their stories, according to “Stalking on College Campuses: Perceptions & Approaches of Campus Law Enforcement Officers.”

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Clik here to view.To help bridge the gap between victims and campus police, the Crime Victims’ Institute at the College of Criminal Justice investigated the issue of campus police response to stalking by surveying 56 officers from higher education institutions across Texas. It is the second part of a series examining stalking in Texas and responses to this crime. The first study, “Stalking in Texas – 2014,” provided an overview on data, policies, procedures and practices on stalking in the state.

“Given the prevalence of stalking on campus and also the complexities of complying with multiple federal regulations, it is important for campus administrators and police departments to consider how their policies and practices are operating and ways in which they could be improved,” said Nicole Wilkes, co-author of the report.

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Clik here to view.Several federal mandates regulate how campuses should respond to stalking and gender-based violence, including Title IX, the Clery Act and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act.

While the vast majority of officers agreed that stalking was a problem on college campuses, less than half believed it was an issue at their own institutions. Seven out of ten surveyed said their campuses did not have specific policies and procedures on investigating stalking cases, and few officers said they collaborated with outside agencies involved in assisting stalking victims. Less than half of the officers reported being involved with an on-campus group to improve response to stalking. However, the overwhelming majority of campus police surveyed said they want to be involved in improving the campuses’ responses to prevention and responding to stalking.

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Clik here to view.“More attention to this issue is needed to prevent these crimes from occurring and/or escalating,” the report said. Authors also recommend that college and university campuses in Texas and throughout the nation should capitalize on campus law enforcement officers’ desire to be involved with improving their campus’s response through building partnerships and effective strategies for responding to campus violence.

For more information on stalking, visit the National Stalking Resource Center, the Texas Attorney General’s Office and Not Alone.

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Clik here to view.Ron Turk, Assistant Director, ATF.

Alumnus Ron Turk is soaring in his positions with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and in the U.S. Air National Guard.

A 1988 graduate of the College of Criminal Justice, Turk is the Assistant Director of Operations in ATF in Washington, D.C., overseeing all field operations across the country for the federal law enforcement agency. In the U.S. Air National Guard, Col. Turk has been nominated as Brigadier General by the President and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and is actively seeking potential promotion positions. He previously led his troops in protecting the Baghdad Airport during the Iraq War.

“I have oversight and accountability for operations (in ATF) across the nation, both in its law enforcement and regulatory missions,” said Turk. “I am the executive tasked with command and control of investigations, and I monitor some of the more complex and detailed investigations. I am also in charge of tactical operations.”

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Ron Turk runs a press conference in New York as former head of the local office.For example, ATF was heavily involved in the 2013 bombing during the Boston Marathon, which took the lives of three people and injured more than 200 others. The agency sent both explosive experts and tactical teams to assist with the investigation of the terrorist attack.

On the regulatory side, Turk gets involved in high profile license inspections of gun retailers and works on developing intelligence on crime gun issues.

On the military front, Turk joined the active U.S. Air Force as an E-1, and later transferred to the Air National Guard in 1989 in New Jersey, helping to deploy troops throughout the Middle East and across the world. In 2007-2008, he served with his unit in Iraq -- the first time the entire leadership team of a an Air Guard Security Forces unit was sent to the country – to keep the Baghdad Airport safe from attack. While the airport did take on fire during the surge of enemy forces, the unit held its ground to maintain operations at the airport.

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Col. Ron Turk of the National Air Guard helps to defend the Baghdad Airport.Turk joined the ATF after graduating from SHSU, serving as a street agent in New Jersey for eight years where he was involved with violent crimes with firearms, arson cases, and on a tactical team as a sniper.

“I left the dirt roads in Texas for Jersey,” he recalled.

After his assignment in New Jersey, he served in Washington, D.C. for two years, learning asset forfeiture, which involved the disposition of evidence from crime. Then, he began his supervisory career in Bowling Green, KY; Nashville, TN, and New York, where he was Special Agent in Charge of the office which covered New York City and State. In Kentucky and Tennessee, he fought gun trafficking, the growth of meth labs and bombing by White Supremacists and anti-government organizations. In New York, he focused on crimes of violence and illegal gun trafficking.

When he got to Washington, D.C., he served as a Deputy Assistant Director of Operations for five months, overseeing agency offices in the central region of the country. He was promoted and his responsibilities expanded nationwide.

In addition to law enforcement and regulatory, Turk oversees special operations for ATF. That includes the agency’s tactical teams, enhanced undercover work, and technical equipment. ATF operations also leads a National Center for Explosives Training and Research, which maintains technical expertise, knowledge, experience and forensic capabilities for explosives. In addition, the center is used to train federal, state and local law enforcement officer to deal with explosives.

Turk said he plans to continue to pursue his careers in ATF and in the military.

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Col. Turk stands in his uniform in front of an America flag."“What I have learned in the military has benefitted ATF and what I have learned at ATF benefits the military,” said Turk.

Turk said that Sam Houston State University provided him with the foundation to pursue his career, particularly in understanding the legal and technical issues that are part of the job. He urged students interested in a federal career to make sure to learn the basics of their profession first before pursuing specialty jobs.

“You have to take the time to learn the basic skills of the job you want to do,” said Turk. “Most students want to be detectives, experts, managers and supervisors, but you need to learn the basics of the job.”

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Fri, Oct 31, 2014
10:00am - 12:00pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

The College of Criminal Justice will offer a chance to view a national webinar for law enforcement professionals and criminal justice students on how to meet the challenges posed by untested rape kits in police evidence rooms.

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Dr. Bill WellsAcross the nation, many departments are grappling with what to do with the large numbers of sexual assault kits that were never submitted to a crime lab for examination. Police departments and prosecutors’ officers also face the challenge of notifying victims and working on large numbers of cases after kit testing is complete. To help address the issue, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded two research projects nationwide – in Houston and Detroit -- to develop solutions to the problems.

Dr. Bill Wells, the lead researcher in Houston, will be among the panelists discussing the lessons learned – and steps taken – to improve sexual assault investigations in the fourth largest city in the country.

The free online webinar, “Taking on the Challenge of Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kits,” will be presented by the Ash Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Democratic Governance and Innovation. The webinar also can be viewed offsite by registering with the Ash Center . Dr. Wells will be available in the Courtroom following the presentation to answer audience questions.

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Clik here to view.The webinar will discuss the challenges facing police departments in these cases and innovative solutions to address the complex issues involved. Among the issues addressed are how to conduct an audit of cases, how to triage and process the testing of kits, when and how to notify victims, and how to make policy and practice changes that prevent backlogs and enhance justice for victims.
The Houston and Detroit projects used a multi-disciplinary approach, enlisting representatives from groups involved in the criminal justice process, including police, prosecutors, medical professionals, victim support agencies, and researchers.

In Houston, the research has led to changes in the investigation of sexual assault cases. Among the programs adopted were a hotline for sexual assault victims to check on their cases, a justice advocate to serve as a bridge between sexual assault survivors and investigators, additional resources and training for law enforcement officers investigating cases, and support services through the Houston Area Women’s Center and by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

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Clik here to view.“When you talk about a response to this, you need to think holistically and think about what’s going to happen in terms of a system response,” said Dr. Wells. “This is what we were able to do in Houston.”
The webinar will be moderated by Bethany Backes, a Social Science Analyst with National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Among the other panelists will be:

• Rebecca Campbell, PhD, Michigan State University
• Noel Busch-Armendariz, PhD, University of Texas at Austin
• Mary Lentschke, Assistant Chief, Houston Police Department

The program is co-sponsored by the NIJ and the Government Innovators Network.

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Fri, Oct 24, 2014
9:30 - 11:00 A.M.
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

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Dr. Marv KrohnDr. Marv Krohn, a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida, is one of the leading life course criminologists in the country. He will discuss “Examining the Causes and Consequences of Late Onset Offending.”

Dr. Krohn has a long-standing interest in the study of causes of delinquency and drug use, focusing primarily on social processes and changes over the life course. For 26 years, he has been a Co-Principal Investigator on the Rochester Youth Development Study, a three generational longitudinal panel study targeting those at high risk for serious crime and delinquency. Among the issues he explores are childhood precursors of delinquency, intergenerational transmission, involvement in delinquent behavior and gangs during adolescence, and the consequences of such involvement for life chances as an adult.

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Clik here to view.Dr. Krohn is co-author of Gangs and Delinquency in Develop- mental Per- spective, which was the recipient of the 2003 Michael J. Hindelang Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the American Society of Criminology (ASC). The book focuses on the reasons why youth join gangs, the contemporary impact of gang joining on both criminal and non-criminal behaviors, and the longer term effects gang membership has on a successful transition to adulthood.

Dr. Krohn also co-authored Delinquent Behavior and Researching Theories of Crime and Delinquency as well as four compendiums on crime and delinquency. He also contributed to numerous research articles and book chapters. His areas of interest include juvenile delinquency, criminology, adolescent substance abuse, and life course criminology.

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Clik here to view.A former Vice President and Executive Counselor of the ASC, Dr. Krohn was named a Fellow in the organization in 2012. A Fellow is a member who has achieved distinction in criminology through scholarly contributions to the intellectual life of the discipline.

Dr. Krohn serves as associate editor of the Journal of Criminal Justice and on the editorial boards of Criminology, Journal of Crime and Justice, and American Journal of Criminal Justice. He previously served on editorial boards for the Journal of Criminology and Criminal Law, Sociological Inquiry, and Sociological Focus.

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Clik here to view.Before joining the University of Florida, where he served as Director of the Division of Sociology, Criminology and Law from 2008-11, Dr. Kohn was a member of the faculty and held leadership positions at the State University of New York at Albany. He also taught at the University of Iowa and Western Illinois University.

Dr. Krohn received his Ph.D. in Criminology from Florida State University, his Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Maryland and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the College of Wooster.

The presentation will be available live in Room 110 in The Woodlands Center or on the web at www.cjcenter.org/live.

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The Department of Forensic Science at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is launching a new institute to train professionals to meet the rigors of forensic certification programs and to advance practical research opportunities between academia and crime labs.

The Institute for Forensic Research, Training and Innovation (IFRTI) will train professionals to meet current and future standards in forensic science disciplines and to build partnerships between academia and crime labs to address issues or trends in the field. In addition to forensic scientists, the programs will serve a wide variety of criminal justice professionals, including educators, scientists, law enforcement, attorneys and the judiciary.

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Dr. David Gangitano works with student in lab under black light.“With forensic science reform pending in Congress, institutes of higher education are expected to play a major role in terms of research and training,” said Dr. Sarah Kerrigan, Chair of the Department of Forensic Science. “These improvements in the broad field of forensics present a unique opportunity to enhance our profile and national standing, while making a significant contribution to the advancement of efforts at the national level.”

The Department of Forensic Science, which is part of the College of Criminal Justice, is in a unique position to host this institute. It is one of a small number of accredited master’s programs in Forensic Science and soon will be the first to offer a multi-disciplinary Ph.D. in Forensic Science.

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Dr. Sarah KerriganIn addition to the outstanding reputation of its program through its accreditation by the Forensic Science Educational Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), its diverse faculty offer a wide variety of expertise in the field. Dr. Kerrigan also serves on the national Forensic Science Standards Board, which is a new federal initiative to develop consensus standards for the forensic science disciplines throughout the United States. In the past, the College of Criminal Justice operated a regional crime lab and it has collaborated with outside agencies on more than 28 projects and research initiatives at the state, local and national levels.

Other forensic research opportunities at Sam Houston State University include forensic anthropology, biological science, and chemistry studies at the College’s Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility, one of six willed body donation centers in the world for the study of forensic anthropology. STAFS also offers hands-on training programs in practical aspects of crime scene investigations, such as forensic entomology, digital forensics, blood spatter, pattern evidence, and recovery of human remains. Those courses are open to law enforcement officers, who can earn credits from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and educators, who can earn Continuing Education credits, for their participation.

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Dr. Joan Bytheway teaches forensic anthropology at STAFS."In 2009, the National Academy of Sciences(NAS) released a report that found serious deficiencies in the nation’s forensic science system and called for major reforms and new research in the field. The NAS recommended rigorous and mandatory certification programs and strong standards and protocols for analyzing evidence. A bill, the Criminal Justice and Forensic Science Reform Act, which would create national accreditation and certification standards and require forensic examiners to be certified to be eligible for direct or indirect federal funds, is currently pending in Congress.

The Texas Legislature introduced sweeping reforms to require accreditation of forensic labs 10 years ago, but certification rates remain extremely low among examiners. One of the biggest challenges in the forensic field is that most employees specialize in one discipline, but many certifications require a broad-based knowledge of the field.

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Clik here to view.“This knowledge gap can result in lower than expected success rates,” said Dr. Kerrigan. “Experienced and competent examiners might be tested on a body of information from another discipline that they rarely use, or were exposed to long ago during college education. “The Department of Forensic Science has been developing a training program specifically to address this need.”

The Department is embracing the challenge to education both current and future professionals in the field.

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Clik here to view.“Our diverse and experienced faculty are committed to teaching and research efforts not only in our graduate program and new undergraduate minor courses, but within the field,” said Dr. Kerrigan. “This new institute will not only create well-rounded professionals, but will open the door to collaborative efforts to improve practices and standards for current and future forensic scientists.”

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Dr. William King

Dr. William King, Associate Dean of Research and Program Development in the College of Criminal Justice, is featured on a National Institute of Justice online seminar on how law enforcement agencies can better use the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) in criminal investigations involving firearms.

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Clik here to view.The seminar, Research for the Real World, is based on Dr. King’s study, “Opening the Black Box of NIBIN,” which discusses how NIBIN has been used by law enforcement agencies, the challenges faced by law enforcement in using the technology, and how NIBIN can be more valuable as an investigation tool. The seminar also features ATF Special Agent John Risenhoover.

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Clik here to view.Examining tool marks left on firearm cartridge cases can help identify when the same firearm was used in other crimes. NIBIN allows police departments and laboratories to add high-quality images of tool marks to a central database in order to help create links between firearms and crimes and provide more information to ongoing investigations. Hits in NIBIN help identify when the same gun was used in other crimes, a process that may offer possible leads, including crimes involving gang ‘community’ guns.

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Dr. Nancy Rodriguez, NIJ Director. Photo Courtesy of Arizona State University.

Dr. Nancy Rodriguez, a Distinguished Alumna from Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice, was appointed by President Barack Obama as the new Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

Dr. Rodriguez is a professor at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University who specializes in the study of sentencing policies, juvenile court processes, and substance abuse. She received a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University in 1992 and was named the College’s Outstanding Alumna in 2009.

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Dr. Rodriguez spoke at a White House conference on children of incarcerated parents. Photo courtesy of Arizona State University.“It is with tremendous pride and great pleasure that I inform you that our 2009 COCJ Outstanding Alumnus, Dr. Nancy Rodriguez, has been appointed by President Obama to head the National Institute of Justice,” said Dr. Phillip Lyons, Interim Dean of the College of Criminal Justice. “I am sure you will join me in congratulating her on this remarkable accomplishment.”

Dr. Rodriguez will lead the prestigious federal agency that serves as the research, development and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Justice. Its mission is to improve knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues, and has funded several major projects at the College, including a study of untested sexual assault kits at the Houston Police Department; tests for bath salts in toxicological samples; a study of the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network and its use in criminal investigations; a study to create a quantitative standard for human decomposition at the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility and an analytical tool to trace the geographical origins of marijuana.

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Clik here to view.After graduating from Sam Houston State University, Dr. Rodriquez received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Washington State University. She joined the faculty at Arizona State University, where she has conducted research on program evaluations of drug courts, restorative justice programs, and three strikes laws. She also conducted studies on the role of race, ethnicity and gender on juvenile court processes and prosecution and sentencing practices of imprisoned drug offenders before and after Arizona’s mandatory treatment laws. She recently completed her tenure as Associate Dean for Student Engagement at the College.

“Dr. Rodriguez has a rare combination of scholarly, professional and personal acumen,” said Dr. Todd Armstrong. “I know her to be an outstanding researcher and a good human being. We here in the College of Criminal Justice can be very proud of the manner in which Dr. Rodriguez represents us to both the field of criminology and criminal justice, and to the larger community.”

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Dr. Rodriguez, pictured with Dr. Todd Armstrong, was named Distinguish Alumni from SHSU in 2009. Dr. Rodriguez is the co-author of Just Cause or Just Because? Prosecution and Plea-bargaining Result in Prison Sentences of Low-level Drug Charges in California and Arizona, and she is co-editor of Iages of Color, Images of Crime: Reading. Her recent work has appeared in Crime & Delinquency, Justice Quarterly, and Criminology Public Policy.

Dr. Rodriguez is the Executive Counselor of the American Society of Criminology (ASC) and recently earned awards for her research, including the W.E.B. Dubois Award from the Western Society of Criminology, and the Coramae Richey Mann Award from the ASC Division on People of Color and Crime.

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Bearkats in Afghanistan include (l-r) Lt. Comm. Eric Pedersen, Lt. Morgan Luttrell, and Lt. Col. Dan Monsiveas.

As a Judge Advocate in the Navy, Alumnus Lt. Commander Eric Pedersen was embedded with Navy SEAL Team TEN in the waining days of American involvement in Afghanistan as the Team's sole legal advisor.

“It was a challenging environment, to say the least,” said Pedersen. “I was providing training for the SEAL Team and supporting them with and legal advice on the Rules of Engagement, Law of Armed Conflict, and detainee and evidence handling. Plenty of times during operations, it was on-the-spot legal advice.”

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Pedersen was assigned to SEAL Team TEN in Afghanistan.“I also met with Afghan judges and prosecutors to learn the Afghan legal system, and I worked with local Afghan prosecutors to help them with their cases against captured Taliban insurgents,” he added. “We wanted to make sure that justice was served.”

During his deployment from April 2013 – January 2014, Pedersen worked with the executive leadership for SEAL Team TEN, which oversaw a 1,500 person task force covering 10 provinces in Afghanistan. SEAL Team TEN became famous in 2005 when Marcus Luttrell, another SHSU graduate, became the lone survivor when his unit of four Navy SEALs was gunned down during Operation Red Wing. Ironically, Luttrell’s brother Morgan, served with Pedersen during his tour of duty and the two became fast friends.

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Pedersen practiced at the range in Afghanistan.
“We went to school at the same time, ran in the same circles and belonged to rival fraternities, but our paths never crossed at Sam Houston State University,” said Pedersen. “Now we are good friends.”

For his outstanding efforts in Afghanistan, Pedersen recently was presented the Award of Merit by the Washington State Bar Association, the highest honor bestowed by the statewide legal organization. Following his deployment, Pedersen returned to his job as Assistant Chief Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security in Seattle, where he is the National Security-designated Trial Attorney handling immigration cases, criminal cases, customs and import/export issues. He remains an active member of the Naval Reserves.

[Pedersen] has always been one of those officers you meet and just know will succeed in whatever challenge he faces,” said Capt. Daniel Jones, JAG Corps, U.S. Navy, Staff Judge Advocate, RCC Northwest. “He is an excellent attorney and naval officer, and the NW JAG community and I couldn’t be more proud of Eric and all he has accomplished.”
Pedersen credits Navy SEAL Team TEN with winning that award.

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Pedersen received the Award of Merit from the Washington State Bar Association.“It is, of course, an honor to be recognized along with the inspirational people who have received this award before me,” said Pedersen. “The award itself, though, was the result of a bigger team effort. It belongs to everyone at SEAL Team TEN and the Naval Special Warfare community as well.”

Pedersen graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1996 with a degree in criminal justice, and a strong minor in speech communications. His sights were always on law school and, after graduating from Gonzaga University School of Law, he joined the Navy JAG Corps During his active duty service from 2001-2009, he was involved in a wide variety of assignments, including as atrainer instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynnco, GA., as a prosecutor of criminal cases, as an lawyer for Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), as a Legal Advisor for the Department of Defense Criminal Investigation Task Force, investigating suspected Al Qaeda detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting crimes committed by civilians on military bases.

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Clik here to view.At FLETC, Pedersen provide legal courses for new agents on such issues as search and seizure, interrogation techniques, and international investigations. As a prosecutor, he handled criminal cases in the military ranging from attempted murder, , theft, fraud, drug use and sexual assault

Pedersen obtained his Masters in Law (LLM) from Georgetown University, with an emphasis on National Security Law.

Pedersen said that SHSU gave him a good foundation for his career, particularly by offering real world experience. He served at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office for his internship and was on the SHSU Debate team for two years. He was also the co-founder of Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law student organization at the College of Criminal Justice and a proud member of Alpha Tau
Omega.

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Pedersen with wife Heather (Nyman), who he met at SHSU.“The College of Criminal Justice gave me the opportunity to learn from the premier-criminal justice faculty in the world,” Pedersen said.
Pedersen also credits SHSU with introducing him to his wife of 16 years, Heather (Nyman) Pedersen, who earned a degree in Bilingual Elementary Education from SHSU.

“Sam Houston State is also where I met my wife of 16 years. “(She) and I met at an ATO party during college. We graduated, got married and moved across the country so I could start law school.” Pedersen and his wife reside in the Seattle area, with their two children, Gregory and Abigail.

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Mike McDaniel (foreground) and Bryan Smith lead Houston HIDTA.

When Mike McDaniel started as a DEA Agent in 1987, it would take him two months to gather data and call his contacts at local, state and federal agencies to get a narcotics investigation underway.

Now, as Director of the Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), McDaniel and the investigators of the HIDTA task forces have 36 law enforcement agencies in 18 counties at their disposal to accomplish the same task in about 30 minutes. As part of a unique partnership with Sam Houston State University, the program also trains and employs 24 intelligence analysts to gather information to guide the coordinated attack against drug trafficking organizations.

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X-ray of a truck carrying drugs.“The agencies are all co-located and co-mingled in task forces to target cartels around the world,” said McDaniel. “We identify strategies that augment the efforts of each agency. We have been extremely successful, and the program has greatly exceeded our expectations.”

In 2013, Houston HIDTA is credited with dismantling 75 international, 41 interstate and 29 local drug trafficking organizations and seizing more than $231 million in drugs, cash and assets. As a result of its success, it was named “2013 HIDTA of the Year” among 33 similar programs nationwide, and earned accolades for Outstanding IT for its use of technology and Outstanding Investigative Initiative for its Texas Coastal Corridor Initiative (TCCI), a multi-agency task force that targets drug trafficking organizations in and around Corpus Christi through intelligence developed by arrests by Border Patrol and investigative information from money seizures in the area.

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Houston HIDTA teams seize cash, guns and drugs.Houston HIDTA, funded through a $10 million grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is one of the successful partnerships that the College of Criminal Justice has developed over the last five decades. It allows the College to assist outside agencies with resources and provides opportunities for graduates to get experience in the field. For the last 10 years, SHSU graduates who began with the Houston HIDTA program have often gone on to become valued analysts for federal agencies.

“It is a symbiotic relationship,” said Bryan Smith, Deputy Director of Houston HIDTA. “We get eager motivated candidates for intelligence analyst positions, and SHSU knows they have employment opportunities here. It really helps to build the image of SHSU among the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and helps strengthen law enforcement connections.”

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A marijuana seized along the roadways.Houston HIDTA covers the Texas Gulf Coast areas around Houston and Corpus Christi and includes 431 miles of coastline. The area includes the fourth largest city in the country, home to six million people; four of the top 10 ranked ports in the U.S.; the sixth largest airport in the country, and sophisticated rail and highways systems. It also includes long-standing, international business relationships, making it a prime target for drug trafficking.

Houston HIDTA operates through task forces and programs through Southeast Texas, which target cartels using 500 representatives from local, county, state and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices; the U.S. Marshals Services; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston, Pasadena and Corpus Christi Police Departments; Harris County, Fort Bend County, Jefferson County, and Montgomery County Sheriffs’ Offices, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

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Houston was recently recognized for being the outstanding HIDTA agency, investigative initiative and IT.“The goals and objectives of the Houston HIDTA are established by a 19 member board of directors, consisting of agency heads from the participating federal, state and local law enforcement agencies,” McDaniel said.

In addition to the award-winning TCCI task force in the Corpus Christi area, the initiatives include:

• The Fort Bend Enforcement Team, which handles drug enforcement in the suburban and rural county
• Gangs and Non-Traditional Gang Squads (GANGS), which identify, monitor, disrupt and displace activities and membership of traditional and non-traditional gangs in the Houston area using the Gang Tracker software program
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• Houston Investigative Support Center, which provides timely strategic, operational and tactical intelligence to direct drug control activities
• Houston Money Laundering Initiative, a multi-jurisdictional task force that focuses on money laundering and their organizations, especially new trends and methods, which are shared through major federal databases
• Major Drug Squads, which conduct complex investigations to bring down drug cartels at the local, regional and international levels by targeting high-level operatives
• The Methamphetamine Initiative Group, which targets local clandestine labs and the import of products from Mexico
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• Narcotics Operation Control Center, which coordinates narcotics operations for all agencies involved in drug enforcement to prevent overlap or conflict and promote officer safety.
• Targeted Narcotics Enforcement Team, addresses mid-level drug trafficking groups, stash houses and informant development using state and federal prosecutions, building code violations and varied enforcement opportunities
• The Texas Narcotic Information System, which provides intelligence, databases, tactical and case support for all agencies.
• Truck, Air, Rail and Port, which interdicts drugs at transportation hubs, including airports, seaports, rail stations, bus station, and express mail couriers.

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Smith (foreground)and McDaniel in the classrom where analysts and officers are trained.Key to many of the operations are the intelligence analysts, who track activities in reports and through the internet. The analysts and law enforcement are trained by Houston HIDTA to identify and document leads and links between cartels and their various members.

“The analysts add so much value to the work that one good analyst can be worth several officers,” said Smith. “They are turning data into actionable information that is useful and relevant. A database is useless; you need a trained mind to glean data for it to make a difference.”

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Wed, Nov 5, 2014
8:30am - 3:30pm
Estill Building, Room 105

Enjoy free refreshments. Drop by anytime.

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Wed, Nov 12, 2014
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Charmin White, a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, will discuss the role of SANE nurses and the Sexual Assault Response Team at hospitals in cases of rape.

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Wed, Nov 20, 2015
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

The National Organization of Hispanics in Criminal Justice (NOHCJ) will debut its first undergraduate student organization at Sam Houston State University. Created in 2003, the national organization is dedicated to promoting high professional standards for criminal justice agencies and criminal justice personnel through the interchange of information and training between professionals in law enforcement, the courts, corrections and interested citizens. The college will be hosting the inaugural to welcome students who are interested in joining NOHCJ.

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Mon, Nov 24, 2014
2:30pm - 4:30pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Professor Almir Maljevic, Associate Dean for International Relations, Faculty of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Security Studies, University of Sarajevo, will discuss Crime and Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), including crime statistics, the reform of criminal legislation and the challenges faced in the criminal justice system following the war.