In 2003, Sam Houston State University inherited the Crime Victims’ Institute from the Texas Attorney General’s Office and turned it into a premiere research and advocacy agency for victims’ issue in Texas and beyond.

“The research and projects done by CVI have contributed to efforts by victim service providers and policymakers to bring more attention to victims and their needs,” said Dr. Leana Bouffard, Director of CVI. “Our goal is to provide the data and research to help determine the best practices in responding to victims within and beyond the criminal justice system. As the field continues to grow, we are seeing an increasing emphasis on evidence based practices for victim services, and we will continue to work with victim service agencies to research and implement those.”

Texas Senate ChambersThe Crime Victims’ Institute was originally created in 1995 to study the impact of crime on victims, their relatives and society as a whole. CVI also evaluates the effectiveness of criminal justice and juvenile justice policies in preventing the victimization of society by criminal acts and helps develop new policies to prevent the criminal victimization of society.

Dr. Janet Mullings, now Executive Director of SHSU-The Woodlands Center, and then SHSU Professor James Marquart were involved in the early days of the program at the College of Criminal Justice. The two enhanced research partnership with the Victim Services Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Youth Commission to capture data from victim impact statements. They also reached out to victims and conducted the Crime Victimization Poll to put their finger on the pulse of victim needs in the state.

Dr. Janet MullingsThe program also trained crime victim advocates and initiated a master’s program in Victim Services at the College of Criminal Justice. They joined local and state advocacy efforts, spreading the word about specific victim issues across the state.

“I consider having a role in bringing the Crime Victims’ Institute to SHSU to be among the best things I’ve ever done, and I am proud to have been a part of it”, Dr. Mullings said.

In addition to early advocacy work, CVI published reports on diverse topics, many which were included in peer-reviewed journals to expand the latest research in the field. Those diverse topics addressed such victimization issues as restitution, victim impact statements, identity theft, stalking, protective orders, hate crimes, victimization of immigrants, college students and crime, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, adolescent sexual behavior, community policing, drunk driving, how victims may become perpetrators, the choking game, crime victims’ rights, plea agreements, the Texas Crime Victim Compensation Fund, health aspects, sexual orientation and intimate partner violence, and human trafficking, to name a few.

Dr. Glenn Kercher (retired)“CVI supported research by faculty and students that led to publications in peer-reviewed journals” said Dr. Glen Kercher, former Director of CVI and a professor at the College (retired) . “ This not only advanced understanding of the issues addressed, but contributed to state and national discussions about ways improve the handling of these kinds of problems. In the process, the reputations of our faculty and College were enhanced.”
CVI publications were also shared with the Texas Legislature as well as victim service agencies to provide the latest scientific based information available in the field.

Dr. Leana Bouffard“CVI has had a number of accomplishments over the years and has contributed greatly to an understanding of victimization and its consequences,” said Dr. Bouffard. “The work that is done here on victimization and related issues is important and has implications for how victim service agencies and the criminal justice system respond to victims and for decision-making about appropriate and effective policies and programs. We have worked very hard to disseminate the results of our research both to academic outlets as well as to the service providers and policymakers who can use the information to help victims, and that is our ultimate goal.”

The Crime Victims’ Institute continues to conduct research and promotes advocacy on victim issues, adding a new lecture series called Voices to expose students to a variety of victim issues and career opportunities in the field. Its most recent projects delve deeply into emerging subjects, including human trafficking, sexual assaults, and stalking on college campuses. Its mission continues with the growth of the Victims Service Program at both the graduate and undergraduate levels at Sam Houston State University.

“From a very broad perspective, the victim of a crime is often in the background for academic criminal justice and for the system, which tend to focus more closely on the offender and how the system works,” said Dr. Bouffard. It’s been very gratifying to be part of a movement to bring more attention to victims and to the impact of that experience in their lives. The research that we do on understanding victimization is important in developing strategies to better help victims deal with that experience and to get justice. “

Many scholars from the College of Criminal Justice have risen to the top of their fields as educators, researchers, policy analysts and practitioners. One of the top pinnacles in academia is the Academy of Criminal Justice Science (ACJS), and 10 faculty or former students have served as President of this leading institution.

Since ACJS was founded in 1963, it has led the way in disseminating ideas on research, policing, education and practice within the field. Among those from the College who contributed to its success are:

• Former Dean Dr. Richard Ward (1977-78)
• Faculty Member Larry T. Hoover (1982-83)
• Ph.D. Graduate R. Paul McCauley (1985-86)
• Ph.D. Graduate Larry Gaines (1988-89)
• Former Dean Vincent Webb (1990-91)
• Ph.D. Graduate Laura J. Moriarty (2005-06)
• Ph.D. Graduate Jeffery T. Walker (2006-07)
• Former Associate Dean Wesley Johnson (2008-09)
• Ph.D. Graduate Craig Hemmens (2012-13)

SHSU Alumnus Dr. Craig Hemmens (center) led the ACJS during its 50th Anniversary celebration.“I think Sam has always had an outstanding reputation in the field as exemplified by the number of Sam people who have been elected to key ACJS positions,” said Dr. Gaines.

Each representative from Sam Houston State University has left their own unique, indelible mark on the organization.

Dr. Ward led ACJS as it evolved into a premiere scholarly association, emphasizing the importance of research and publications. During his tenure, Dr. Ward also served as Executive Director of the Joint Commission on Criminology and Criminal Justice, a federally funded project that brought together members from ACJS and the American Society of Criminology, the other leading academic association in the field, to establish guidelines for the future. Dr. Ward also focused on recruiting women and minority members.

Dr. Richard H. Ward, 1977-78“Over 40 years, I have missed only one or two ACJS meetings, and it is the organization that I look to for new faculty and new ideas,” said Dr. Ward, Doctoral Program Director and Assistant Vice President for Special Programs Sponsored Research at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. “Much satisfaction comes each year as I meet former students who are making significant contributions to the field.”

Dr. Ward also said that ACJS helped propel SHSU internationally.

“SHSU is now a globally recognized institution that draws students from all over the country and the world,” he said. “It has made important contributions in higher education, the education of practitioners, and in contributing to the development of the field of criminal justice as a discipline…A number of faculty and Ph.D. graduates have played key roles in fostering new programs and research areas.”

Faculty member Dr. Larry Hoover, 1982-83Faculty member Dr. Larry Hoover, 1982-83Dr. Hoover, a professor at Sam Houston State University, was a faculty member at the College of Criminal Justice during his ACJS presidency. He is credited with launching Justice Quarterly (JQ), one of the top-rated, peer-reviewed journals in the field. The publication is now in its 32nd year.

“ACJS contributes to the development of a knowledge base in criminal justice through its two respected journals, Justice Quarterly and Journal of Criminal Justice Education; through the wide and rich range of panels at the annual meeting; through programs to improve teaching; and through efforts to link academics and practitioners,” said Dr. Hoover.

R. Paul McCauley was the first student at the College of Criminal Justice to receive his Doctorate of Criminal Justice (which was later changed to a Ph.D.). That year, Dr. McCauley became an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville and joined ACJS.

Ph.D. Graduate R. Paul McCauley, 1985-86When he was installed as president, the dominant issue was the selection of an editor for Justice Quarterly. “This was a heated and an emotional issue with the membership--polarizing into political,” Dr. McCauley, a professor in the Criminology Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Dr. McCauley, too, sees a connection between ACJS and SHSU.

“From my perspective SHSU is a very reputable institution as is its doctoral degree and its graduates have made and continue to make substantial contributions to academe and to the professions,” said Dr. McCauley. “In many ways SHSU and ACJS are linked and they both continue to provide substantial contributions to academe and to the professions.”

Dr. Gaines had one primary objective while on the Executive Board of ACJS: to create sections, similar to the American Psychological Association, to increase membership and foster more research. The organization now boasts a dozen specialized sections, including Community College; Corrections; Critical Criminal Justice; International; Juvenile Justice; Law and Public Policy; Minorities and Women; Police; Restorative and Community Justice; Security and Crime Prevention; Teaching, Learning and Scholarship and Victimology.

SHSU Ph.D. Graduate Dr. Larry Gaines, 1988-89“I believe ACJS began as a policy-oriented organization, although there was a significant amount of theory testing published in JQ,” said Dr. Gaines, Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University – San Bernardino. “I believe ACJS has had a positive and significant effect on its members and institutions. It created a network that facilitated the exchange of information about the field and research. The organization helped to mature criminal justice curriculum, a process that continues today. And, the organization helped to provide leadership and direction in the academic field.”

Dr. Walker tackled three critical issues in the discipline and ACJS during his presidency: recruiting doctoral students, inviting international participation and collaboration and improving the quality of the ACJS conference.

“I think my biggest accomplishment while I was President was helping doctoral students become more engaged in ACJS through lower membership fees and participation on committees,” said Dr. Walker, Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

SHSU Ph.D. Graduate Dr. Jeffery T. Walker, 2006-07 Dr. Walker said SHSU continues to be among the top criminal justice college in the country.

“SHSU is my academic home,” Dr. Walker said. “It where I learned how to think, where I learned how to do research, where I learned how to write, and where I learned how to be an academic.”
As President, Dr. Johnson established the ACJS program certification process and professionalized the office and operations by hiring the first Executive Director, establishing a national office, and staffing the organization.

Former Associate Dean Wesley Johnson, 2008-09“It was an honor to serve as both a faculty member and an administrator at SHSU’s CCJ and as President of the ACJS,” said Dr. Johnson, Doctoral Coordinator for the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Southern Mississippi. “My election to the ACJS presidency was made possible via the support of the extensive SHSU CCJ alumni network. Certainly becoming the President of ACJS was a hallmark of my career and was important in enhancing perceptions of the CCJ and SHSU both nationally and internationally."

Dr. Hemmens joined ACJS as a graduate student at SHSU. Ironically, as president, he ushered in the agency’s 50th anniversary celebration and documented its history. He said that the organization has had a huge impact on the field and on him personally.

“(It’s) significant to the field in that it brings academics together to discuss research and teaching and provides tremendous career development opportunities for faculty, from junior to senior level,” said Dr. Hemmens. “It’s) effect on me incalculable -- (I) met people whose work I admired, met people I did research with, was involved in the sections that introduced me to like-minded scholars -- and serving on the executive board gave me a chance to give back to the organization and discipline.”

Ph.D. Graduate Craig Hemmens, 2012-13Dr. Johnson said SHSU and ACJS have opened many doors for him.

“I traveled the globe representing ACJS, SHSU and the CCJ. I met prime ministers, police officers, judges, students, and justice officials in over 10 countries,” said Dr. Johnson. “I will never know how my life might have been different had I not been chosen to work at SHSU. I do know that my experiences allowed me and so many others bloom and prosperous….and for that I am humbled and will be forever grateful. SHSU and the CCJ will always hold a special place in my life and in my heart.”

Dr. Jim Dozier did an internship as a community service officer as a student at SHSU.

Internship Coordinator Dr. Jim Dozier began as a student at Sam Houston State University. Although he was already a patrol officer with the Houston Police Department when he attended the College, he completed an internship as a community service officer, teaching school children about the department.

Intern Stephany Cornejo served at the U.S. Mission to International Organization in ViennaFor the College of Criminal Justice, internships provide the real life experience that gives students a leg-up in the beginning their careers. Over the years, many interns have been hired by agencies and companies in the field and risen through the ranks. Some even turn back to their alma mater to help educate the next generation through internship of their own.
Just like Dr. Dozier. After a career as a police officer, federal agent, prosecutor, and head of the state agency, he return to SHSU to guide students into future careers.

Nicole Aquais got a job at American Air Liquide following her internship. About one-third of our students get jobs where they did their internships,” said Dr. Dozier. “Another one-third make contacts or get leads to jobs in their field. Many come back home to mentor other people in the field and provide a strong alumni base.”

Unlike other programs, the College of Criminal Justice offers full-time internship during the senior year, allowing students to earn nine credit hours toward their degree. The credits are “writing enhanced,” to prepare student for report writing which is a part of many jobs. In addition, the internship was the first program to be certified as an Academic Community Engagement (ACE) course at Sam Houston State University in 2011 and, since then, students have contributed nearly 250,000 hours of service to their communities.

Adam Dockery did his internship at Diplomatic Security Services.The program continues to grow, nearly doubling in size between 2001-2006, with 200 choices in local, county, state, federal and international criminal justice agencies and private companies. Among the opportunities available are the FBI, US Marshal Service, U.S. Secret Service, ATF, DEA; Texas state agencies, such as the Departments of Public Safety and Criminal Justice as well Attorney General Child Support Unit; district attorney and sheriff offices; local police departments, forensic science centers, probation and parole offices, victim service agencies, and private companies, such as Chevron Phillip, Varco, and Mustang Engineering, to name a few.

Lauren Hagood did an internship with Texas Parks and Wildlife.Internships are beneficial not only for the student, but for the companies they serve. By working full-time, the student has a real chance to make an impact at the agency and be considered for full-time work. For the companies, it is a chance to vet future workers. Dr. Dozier makes sure to spend the time to find the right match, and works closely with advising and career services to prepare students for the opportunity.

Steven Flueriet did an internship with STP Nuclear Operating Company.“Internships are like a marriage – matching managers with students for a positive experience,” said Dr. Dozier.

To make the program a success, Dr. Dozier makes sure the student is a right fit for the company and closely monitors their progress.

Tasha Arevalo did her internship at MADD.For Dr. Dozier, the internship assisted him in launching into a career at the federal level.

“You get to see new things and do different things,” said Dr. Dozier. “The more you know, the more you see and the more you do will help in your careers.”

Many former interns make the full circle back to SHSU during their careers.

“Everything that goes around, comes around,” said Dr. Dozier.

The Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Alumnus Eric Pedersen remembers watching parts of the “Uncle Hilty” trial in the CJ Courtroom while a student at Sam Houston State University. Little did he know at that time that the prosecutor in the case would inspire his future career.

Inside the Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom, Uncle Hilty, a.k.a. Hilton Lewis Crawford, was tried and convicted of killing a 12-year old boy during the course of a kidnapping and given the death penalty. The case was sent to Huntsville on a change of venue because of the pretrial publicity. The prosecution was led by Nancy Neff, an Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County who would later mentor Pedersen during his internship. Lieutenant Commander Pedersen went on to become a Justice Advocate General in the Navy.

Hilton Lewis Crawford, a.k.a. Uncle Hilty“I was in and out of the courtroom sporadically during the trial,” Pedersen recalled. “While the evidence seemed rather overwhelming against Crawford, I did not observe enough of the trial to get the full picture. I do remember watching Assistant Montgomery County District Attorney Nancy Neff in action though. That was impressive!...She was absolutely stunning to observe in court. Neff was as smart, polished, prepared and aggressive as a prosecutor could be. There is only one Nancy Neff and she is one of the best I have ever seen in the courtroom.”

The dedication of the courtroom including (l-r)Judge/District Attorney Ernie Ernst of Walker County, Judge Max Rogers of Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, and Dr. Dan Beto and Dean Victor Strecher of the College.The Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom, named in honor of a professor of criminal law at Sam Houston State University, was originally set up for moot trials, but has served as an official courtroom for criminal and civil cases and appeals throughout its history. It provides an easy opportunity for cases requiring a change of venue, a central locale for handling local appeals, and a profound educational opportunity for students interested in the legal system.

Shortly after the Criminal Justice Center opened its doors in 1976, it hosted State v. Nacol, a change of venue theft case out of Wichita Falls. The defendant, Adam Nacol, was the owner of an upscale jewelry store and conspired with thieves to burglarize rich homes in the area. It was the first trial on a U.S. college campus other than in a law school, according to Dr. Mitchel Roth, professor and author of Fulfilling a Mandate: A History of the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University.

The 10th Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the courtroom.Most recently, the courtroom has been used by the 10th Court of Appeals. The three judge panel, which includes Chief Justice Tom Gray (BBA ’78) and Justices Rex D. Davis and Al Scoggins, hears appeals in criminal and civil cases from an 18 county region in Southeast Texas. Over the last three years, those cases have included everything from civil cases to capital murder appeals. With the support of Professor Mike Yawn of the Department of Political Science, more than 400 students a year attend the sessions.

“Justices Scoggins and Davis stated that they were always impressed with the level of attention and interest that the Sam Houston students showed in the oral arguments as well as the facilities and hospitality shown by the University, the faculty and the student organizations involved,” said a statement from the 10th Court of Appeals.
Chief Justice Gray, who graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1978 and never set foot in the Criminal Justice Center until 2012, was in awe of the facility during his first visit.

The 10th Court of Appeals poses with staff in the CJ Courtroom.“I was so overawed by what I saw,” said Justice Gray. “As I stood there at the public entrance to the courtroom I was overwhelmed by the quality and functionality of the design. It was a perfect teaching courtroom. You do not see courtrooms like this on TV. But the closest thing my mind can compare it to is the operating room in a teaching surgical hospital where there are seats above the operating table to allow students to observe a real surgery. That is what this is except it is to observe a real trial or, in our case, real oral arguments.”

“As a graduate of Sam Houston I was honored to be able to be part of holding oral arguments in the College of Criminal Justice Courtroom when the Tenth Court of Appeals first appeared there in 2012,” Justice Gray added. “It has become an annual tradition. As long as Walker County is in our district, I will continue to support the annual tradition of holding oral arguments in this exceptional facility.”

The Courtroom hosted a meeting for Second Administrative Judicial Region of TexasEspecially in the early years, the courtroom was abuzz with cases from all over the state. To be recognized as a legitimate legal venue, it was declared an extension of the Walker County courts, Roth said.

In 1977, Victoria Rancher Hampton C. Robinson III was accused of killing Thomas Bauer, a member of another prominent ranching family from the community. The case was moved to Huntsville because of the amount of pre-trial publicity. Ironically, Dr. Wayne Pilcher, an attorney and professor at the College, served on the jury. A verdict of criminally negligent homicide was returned in just 18 minutes. Robinson served out his time in the Walker County Jail at his own request, Dr. Roth said in his book.

Sketches from the trials of Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando.Also in 1977, the College was the site of the trial of two Houston police officers –Terry Denson and Stephen Orlando – who were charged in the death of a young prisoner found drown in Buffalo Bayou three days after he was arrested in a tavern disturbance. The two defendants were convicted of criminally negligent homicide and also prosecuted by the federal government for civil rights violations. Sketches from that trial still hang outside the judge’s chambers near the Dean’s suite.

In 1978, the courtroom was the scene for a Corpus Christi murder trial, where Rose Marie Montelongo faced two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the beating death of her four-year-old stepdaughter. Her husband, Vicente Montelongo, had already been convicted of the crime, Dr. Roth said in his book.

In 1980, the courtroom was the site of a jail break case, where Michael Clyde Jones of Border was charged with the death of jailer Jack Thompson. Jones was convicted of capital murder for killing the jailer during an escape attempt with cellmate and accomplice George Marshall Hall. Jones had been in jail on parole revocation from an earlier guilty plea to arson and had been indicted for a previous attempt to escape the jail. Hall was in on contempt of court charges for failure to pay child support. Both were caught the day after the shooting walking along a highway in Borger. Jones had taken the victim .357 magnum from the jail office to Hall, the triggerman, Dr. Roth said.

Jones did not take the stand in his own defense, and his defense did not call a psychologist or psychiatrist to testify. The jury deliberated five hours. While Jones was eligible for death, the jury returned verdict of life after 10 hours of deliberation. Because he used a gun in commission of crime, Texas law required him to serve 20 years, Dr. Roth said.

In 1983, Daniel Lee Culverhouse was convicted of the attempted murder of a Safeway Supermarket employee, a second trial following his conviction for killing his girlfriend in the same shooting spree. During the first trial, which occurred in Boston, Texas, Culverhouse attacked his court-appointed attorney in court with a water pitcher, breaking his cheekbone. Culverhouse asked to represent himself at trial, but by the end case, the attorney was back at his side. He was convicted of the attempted murder of the Safeway employee and sentenced to 20 years in prison, which he would serve after the life sentence he was given for killing his girlfriend, Dr. Roth said.

These are just some of the fascinating cases that have been heard in the College’s Courtroom, where real life cases continue to intrigue students from Sam Houston State University.

Director George Killinger

Dr. George Killinger was the first director of the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and Behavioral Sciences, building a strong foundation for the College that would influence programs for decades to come

Following the legislation that created the Institute, Dr. Killinger, a former Chairman of the U.S. Board of Parole for the Army Clemency and Parole Board, Director of Treatment for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and Professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, was hand-picked to lead the new enterprise and create undergraduate and graduate programs, according to Fulfilling a Mandate: A History of the Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University by Dr. Mitchel Roth.

The Interagency Workshop attracted professionals from the field.Originally located in the Woods Building and part of the Department of Sociology, the new program took off quickly, attracting students from across the country. Within the first year, Dr. Killinger established an annual Interagency Workshop, which gathered professionals from all aspect of the criminal justice system to discuss crime in the state and establish one of the key cornerstones of the College: “putting theory into practice.”

Over the next three decades, the Interagency Workshop would thrive and grow, attracting some of the biggest names in the field to share research, ideas and trends during the two week sessions. During the early sessions, Dr. Killinger offered undergraduate or graduate credits for working professionals who attended and wrote papers about it. The reputation of the program helped spread the word about the outstanding opportunities available at Sam Houston State University, Dr. Roth said.

Practitioners came to SHSU from all over the country and world.“He was a great promoter,” said Dr. Charles Friel, former Dean and Distinguished Professor Emeritus from the College. “He loved to get people to come here. He was very good at getting great and near great people to come here from all of the country. He was also a good manager of faculty and staff and hired good people."

Dr. Killinger pursued grants to begin important research in the field and received continuing funding from the Texas Legislature to support the fledgling program. By 1970, the Institute led the nation’s colleges and universities in total grants for law enforcement studies, Dr. Roth said

Dr. Killinger established the first master's program in criminal justice at SHSU in 1966.By 1966, Dr. Killinger established the first master’s program in Criminal Justice. Because of the growing demand for the program, he established “branch campuses” for correctional officers in such cities as Dallas, Houston, Beaumont, Austin, Temple, Waco, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. As federal funds became available through the Law Enforcement Education Program, that concept was extended to police, where faculty offered back to back sessions in major cities throughout the state, according to Dr. Roth’s book.

"Dr. Dowling meets with Director Killinger in the early days of the program.“It was a good example of how we were able to adapt the delivery of education to the needs of our clients,” Dr. Dowling said. “We were building relationships and our reputation in the field.”

Dr. Killinger also launched the first internship program with correctional institutions across the state, with students serving as athletic coaches, warden understudies, and test administrators for three months over the summer. Those programs would later extend to the Jefferson County Probation Department to help train students as correctional officers, and many were hired after graduation, Dr. Roth said. Today there are more than 200 internship opportunities offered at the College.

With his connection to the military, Dr. Killinger created a master’s program for the Army, which later trained military police to manage military disciplinary barracks after the Vietnam War. It established a close connection between Sam Houston State University and the Army that continues to this day through the ROTC program. Many of the students in that program are criminal justice majors.

The College hosted the 2nd Administrative District Court meetings.Dr. Killinger also reached out to the courts, hosting the 1970 State Criminal Justice Conference, which brought together judges, educators and correctional officials to focus on uniform plans for statistical reporting on criminal cases, docket management and sentencing problems as they related to rehabilitation offenders, Dr. Roth said.

After the Criminal Justice Center opened, Dr. Killinger also made the courtroom available for real-life criminal trials, offering a glimpse into future careers in law and criminal justice. Over the years, the courtroom has served not only as a centerpiece for College events, but also for change of venue and appellate cases in Texas.

A portrait honoring Dr. Killinger hangs outside the auditorium that bears his name.Dr. Killinger also created the first doctoral program in the nation in 1970 right here at SHSU, which has graduated more than 300 Ph.D. students who serve as academics and practitioners across the globe.

Early on, Dr. Killinger knew the important of preserving history. He was responsible for the beginning of the Criminal Justice Collection in the Thomason Room in Gresham Library, leaving lesson from the past for the future to discover.

The creation of the Criminal Justice Center is marked by the culmination of an era in which the idea of "theory into practice" was vigorously pursued. This idea was the defining credo of Dr. Killinger, and the foundation upon which the Center has built its curriculum and reputation as a leader in the field of criminal justice.

by Christopher Young

For 25 years, the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Institute of Texas, at Sam Houston State University, has provided cutting-edge training and research for Texas law enforcement officials.

In 1989, the 70th Texas Legislature created LEMIT to accomplish one common goal—to develop the administrative, analytical, and executive skills of current and future leaders law enforcement leaders to meet an ever-changing demand.

LEMIT was established in 1989.That year, LEMIT established its Leadership Command College (LCC), a three-module program designed to boost and sharpen the skills of law enforcement leaders. The LCC has become LEMIT’s cornerstone training program and will graduate its 72nd class this year.

The nine-week program helps up-and-coming law enforcement supervisors with training in general business administration; social, political and judicial issues; and budgeting, leadership and operational matters, according to LEMIT Executive Director Dr. Rita Watkins, an SHSU alumna who has been working with LEMIT for the past 18 years.

“LCC is LEMIT’s flagship program and more than 1,600 law enforcement practitioners have graduated from this prestigious program,” Watkins said. “The curriculum has provided them with knowledge and skills preparing them for future roles at the executive level.”

One of the most recent Leadership Command College classes.An optional fourth module recently was added as a refresher course for those who are already LCC “alumni.”

“Those who complete the Leadership Command College almost immanently notice the results of the intensive training in their daily work,” said Watkins. “Chiefs have said that LCC graduates come back changed individuals, both in the way they think and communicate with others; they are better critical thinkers using a vast array of knowledge and resources that they have learned. They are servant leaders.”

While the Leadership Command College has been extremely successful, it is only one of the many programs offered by LEMIT. Every Police chiefs and constables in Texas attends mandatory training when they are elevated to the job as a top cop and every two years thereafter.

LEMIT offers training in emergency management. As LEMIT has grown, so too has the number of programs it offers to accomplish its goal of giving law enforcement in our state the leadership skills that are demanded in today’s ever-changing world. With technological advances, as well as new methods and practices in law enforcement, the institute has taken special care to make sure programs offered reflect the current demands of the public these officers are serving.

One of the most recent studies was with the Houston Police Department, involving the processing of sexual assault kits.

Dr. Bill Wells participated in a national webinar on lesson learned from research on untested sexual assault kits. />Dr. Bill Wells, Research Director at LEMIT, is working with the department to improve the investigation of sexual assault cases and to develop guidelines for other departments across the nation to reduce the backlog of sexual assault kits in police evidence room. The holistic approach includes victims, police, prosecutors, victim advocates and health care providers as well as the use of a victim advocate to usher the case through the process.

As a woman who has spent an extended amount of time working in law enforcement, Watkins was eager to provide details about another of the newer courses now offered. The Leadership Initiative for Female Executives (LIFE) program was launched in 2010 as a professional development opportunity for women looking to advance their careers by moving into a leadership position.

The program was created because of the marked difference in female representation in law enforcement nationally. In 2010, women comprised 10 to 15 percent of law enforcement officers, but only 1 to 5 percent served as executives. In municipal policing in Texas, only 2 percent of women occupied the highest position—that of chief of police.

Women seeking leadership positions in law enforcement support each other through the LIFE program. “LIFE is a program that was designed to empower females in their own way, understanding that there is substantial level of support for what and how female executives in law enforcement lead,” Watkins said. “In spite of the fact that we have witnessed over four decades of equal rights and have made progress in recruiting females into policing careers, the representation of women in executive leadership roles in law enforcement remains alarmingly low.”

LIFE is opening up a whole world of possibilities for many women in law enforcement; a world that without the encouragement of those working at LEMIT would have been much more difficult to access.

In addition to professional support, LEMIT is also offering emotional support for officers in the field. Its newest program, the Post-Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS), was created to assist law enforcement and their spouses in alleviating the effect of any critical incident an officer is involved in.

In the increasingly dangerous situations officers deal with, coping with the aftermath of tragedies on the job can result in trauma that the program addresses in educating officers on trauma, patterns of resolution, field-tested coping strategies.

The PCIS, then, promotes recovery and resilience for officers in need of assistance.

“The program allows for peer support,” Watkins has said. “They come out feeling that they are not alone, that someone in their group knows what’s going on and what they are feeling is normal.”

“The participants that have experienced PCIS recognize that they have had some challenges dealing with their specific critical incident; however, the beauty of the program is that sends a strong message—‘you are not alone’—and this is what the program is all about,” Watkins said. “It helps the officer, their family, the agency, and ultimately the community they serve.”

As the needs of officers and law enforcement agencies continue to grow and change, LEMIT will continue its dedication to establishing new trainings for officers in the future. Upcoming projects that are already in the works include creating a speakers series on hot topics for those working in law enforcement, as well as researching the use of drones.

by Dr. Charles Friel

During the week of April 19th, 2015, Sam Houston State University's Criminal Justice Center will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

An historic component of this celebration will be the placement of letters from our former students in the Time Capsule we created at our 25th Anniversary Celebration in 1990.

We therefore wish to invite all our former students to submit a letter commemorating the one memory that they have retained lo these many years from their studies at the University. These letters will be held in the Time Capsule until the year 2040 when they will be displayed for the benefit of our future students celebrating our 75th Anniversary.

We have several ways to share your stories! Leave your comments on our Facebook page at wwww.facebook.com/shsucj or write us a letter. You can send letters to:

50th Anniversary Celebration Committee
College of Criminal Justice
Box 2296, SHSU
Huntsville, Texas
77341-2296.

Please limit your essays to 400 words or one page in length.
Don’t miss out, share a memory with a colleague in the future!

This year, the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University celebrates 50 years of service. As one of the oldest and largest criminal justice programs in the country, the College sets the stage for education, research and practice in such diverse fields as law enforcement, corrections, victim services, forensics and security. It offers the longest running Ph.D. program in the discipline, producing nearly 300 scholars around the globe, and continues to educate and train leaders in the field through its academic programs and affiliated professional institutes. The College has been at the forefront of change in criminal justice throughout its history by researching best practices, training professionals in the field, and educating undergraduate and graduate students.

Here is a list of event planned to celebrate the milestone!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Leadership Luncheon
11 a.m.
Flag Room - by invitation
Recognizing student leaders and student organizations

Sundial Ceremony
1:30 p.m.
Flagpole - all invited
Honoring criminal justice alumni who lost their lives in the line of duty

Honors Convocation
7:00 p.m.
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom - all invited
Scholarship awards will be presented to academically gifted criminal justice students

Friday, April 24, 2015

Building a Criminal Justice Knowledge Base
Seminars and Presentations
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
George G. Killinger Auditorium - all invited
Panel discussions featuring past Beto Chair speakers and current faculty

50th Anniversary Gala
6:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour
George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center Lobby - all invited
7:00 p.m. Dinner
Lowman Student Center Ballroom - all invited with ticket (Reserve Online)
A formal event highlighting five decades of success
Saturday, April 25, 2014

Scholarship Golf Tournament
7:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start
Raven Nest Golf Club - all invited, registration required (Register Online)

CJ Barbecue
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Raven Nest Golf Club - all invited

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

*Campbell, B. A., **Menaker, T. A., &King, W. R. (2015). The determination of victim credibility by adult and juvenile sexual assault investigators. Journal of Criminal Justice, 43(1), 29-39.

Caudill, J. W., **Trulson, C. R., Marquart, J. W., Patten, R. Thomas, M.O., & Anderson, S. (2014). Correctional destabilization and jail violence: The consequences of prison depopulation legislation. Journal of Criminal Justice, 42(2), 500-506.

Decker, S. H., Pyrooz, D. C., & Moule, R. K. (2014). Disengagement from gangs as role transitions. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24(2), 268-283.

Finn, M. A., Muftić, L.R., & Marsh, E.I. (2015). Exploring the overlap between victimization and offending among women in sex work. Victims & Offenders (10)1, 74-94.

Franklin, C. A., & **Menaker, T. A. (2014). The impact of observer characteristics on blame assessments of prostituted female youth. Feminist Criminology, Advance online publication.

Franklin, T. W. (2015). Sentencing outcomes in U.S. District Courts: Can offenders’ educational attainment guard against prevalent criminal stereotypes? Crime & Delinquency. Advance online publication.

**Koeppel, M. D., &Bouffard, L. (2014). Sexual orientation, child abuse, and intimate partner violence victimization. Violence and Victims, 29(3), 436-450

**Kuo, S. Y., Cuvelier, S. J., & Huang, Y. S. (2014). Identifying risk factors for victimization among male prisoners in Taiwan. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 58(2), 231-257.

**Lee, H., Vaughn, M. S., & **Lim, H. (2014). The impact of neighborhood crime levels on police use of force: An examination at micro and meso levels. Journal of Criminal Justice, 42(6), 491-499.

Maljević, A., &Muftić, L. R. (2014). Attitudes toward electronic monitoring: An exploratory analysis among criminal justice students in Bosnia and Herzegovina. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 20(2), 243-258.

Marion, N.E., Cronin, K.A., &Oliver, W. M.(2015). omeland Security Policy and Politics. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press.

Marion, N. &Oliver, W.M. (2014). Drugs in American society: An encyclopedia of history, politics, culture, and the law. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Marion, N., &Oliver, W. M. (2014). Federal law enforcement agencies in America. Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands: Wolters Kluwer.

**Matusiak, M. C., Vaughn, M. S., &del Carmen, R. V. (2014). The progression of "Evolving Standards of Decency" in US Supreme Court decisions. Criminal Justice Review 39(3), 253-271. 0734016814531779.

Menard, S., & **Johnson, M. C. (2015). An intergenerational test of Integrated Theory. Deviant Behavior, 36(2), 87-100.

Miller, H. A. (2015). Protective strengths, risk, and recidivism in a sample of known sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 27(1), 34-50.

**Morris, R. G. (2015) Exploring the effect of exposure to short-term solitary confinement among violent prison inmates. Journal of Quantitative Criminology. Advance online publication.

Pacula, R. L., &Lundberg, R. (2015). Why changes in price matter when thinking about marijuana policy: A review of the literature on the elasticity of demand. Public Health Reviews, 35(2), 1-18.

**Pollock, W. (2014). Things change: An intergenerational examination of the correlates of police contact. Crime & Delinquency, 60(8), 1183-1208.

Pollock, W., Menard, S., Elliott, D.S., & Huizinga, D. H. (2015). It's official: Predictors of self-reported vs. officially recorded arrests. Journal of Criminal Justice, 43(1), 69-79.

Reyns, B. W., Henson, B., Fisher, B. S., Fox, K. A., &Nobles, M. R. (2015). A gendered lifestyle-routine activity approach to explaining stalking victimization in Canada. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication.

**Sorensen, J. R., Vigen, M. P., Woods, S. O., & Williams, B. D.(2014). Assaults on inmates and staff by perpetrators of intimate partner homicide: An examination of competing hypotheses. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication.

*Spooner, K., &Vaughn, M. (2014). Youth Sexting: A legislative and constitutional analysis. Journal of School Violence, Advance online publication.
**Steinmetz, K. F., & Gerber, J. (2014). "The greatest crime syndicate since the Gambinos": A hacker critique of government, law, and law enforcement. Deviant Behavior, 35(3), 243-261.

Stewart, D. M., &Oliver, W. M. (2014). The adoption of homeland security initiatives in texas police departments a contextual perspective. Criminal Justice Review. Advance online publication.

Vaske, J. C., Newsome, J., Boisvert, D. L., Piquero, A. R., Paradis, A. D., & Buka, S. L. (2015). The impact of low birth weight and maternal age on adulthood offending. Journal of Criminal Justice, 43(1), 49-56.

Ward, J. T., Nobles, M. R., & Fox, K. A. (2015). Disentangling Self-Control from Its Elements: A Bifactor Analysis. Journal of Quantitative Criminology. Advance online publication.

Wolfe, S. E., &Pyrooz, D. C. (2014). Rolling back prices and raising crime rates? The Walmart effect on crime in the United States. British Journal of Criminology, 2, 199-221.

Zhao, J. S., & Ren, L. (2014). Exploring the dimensions of public attitudes toward the police. Police Quarterly. Advance online publication.
Key
Bold: Faculty
*: Doctoral Students
**: Alumni

In 1994, the Correctional Management Institute of Texas (CMIT) opened its doors to officials from prisons, jails, and community corrections throughout the state to offer training and professional development based on the latest scientific studies available.

Doug Dretke, Executive Director of CMIT.“CMIT has substantially increased the amount of training, professional development, and technical assistance opportunities over the past number of years providing comprehensive leadership programs and specifically tailored leadership programs to correctional professionals serving in senior and executive leadership positions in probation, jails, and prisons,” said Doug Dretke, Executive Director of CMIT. “The Institute serves correctional professionals across Texas, but also has developed a number of significant national programs which has caused us to be recognized across the United States as an important and incredible resource for professional development.“

For years, the College of Criminal Justice and its predecessor, the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and the Behavior Sciences, had received funding to provide some training opportunities for those in the correctional field. With the creation of CMIT, those efforts were expanded under one roof with a mission to make improvements in both the adult and juvenile criminal justice system. It targeted the leadership and management of institutions and agencies, as well as support personnel, to implement change.

CMIT provided training for crime scene investigations inside prisons.“The mission was to deliver meaningful training and technical assistance to those in the correctional system and to seek out windows of opportunity,” said Dan Beto, the founding director of CMIT and son of Dr. George Beto, who was one of the key leaders responsible for the creation of the College of Criminal Justice. “I don’t care how much planning you do, it’s those windows of opportunity that can make the difference.”
Since then, CMIT has grown into a premiere program in corrections that attracts officials from all over the nation and world.

“I am in California, and we don’t have the luxury of a place like CMIT for jail trainings, and it’s nice to have a ‘home base’ for correctional training,” said Jaime Clayton, Correctional Chief for Imperial County CA and current president of the American Jail Association. “CMIT provides the best of the best for curriculum and professors. The NJLCA (National Jail Leadership Command Academy) is current, effective and desperately needed for training our leaders today and tomorrow. “

In addition to offering ongoing programs for the state correctional field through county corrections, senior and mid-management leadership, and the Texas Probation Training Academy, CMIT sponsors conferences on evolving topics, such as drugs, gangs, women working in criminal justice, and mental health issues.

CMIT recently hosted its first mental health conference for those who work in the criminal justice system.“I believe CMIT’s biggest achievement is becoming a first option for correctional leaders in Texas and other states that are looking to develop leaders, move a vision forward, and establish sound policy,” said Charles Robinson, Director of Travis County Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) in Austin. “CMIT has affected the field by providing training that is relevant and transferrable. Staff who attend CMIT trainings know they will receive training they can take from the classroom and apply on the job.”
Tobin Lefler, Director of the Cameron/Willacy County CSCD, said CMIT has made a significant impact in the corrections field.

Among the trainings are for chief deputies in Texas.“They are able to provide technical assistance to agencies at little or no cost in addition to their popular conferences,” said Lefler. “During the annual Chief’s conference, CMIT makes it possible for all of the Texas Chiefs to come together and exchange ideas in order to make our Departments more proficient.”

CMIT also teams up with the North American Association of Wardens & Supervisors (NAAWS) to provide a nationwide Warden Peer Interaction Program to allow top prison officials to share innovative ideas along with the American Jail Association and the National Association of Counties to offer the National Jail Leadership Command Academy to train managers to develop the skills needed to transition to senior leadership within jails.

CMIT offered a webinar to provide information for probation officers.
“The biggest achievement in my opinion: CMIT’s ability to give the individuals in our chosen profession the tools necessary to succeed,” said Lt. Wynnie Testamark-Samuels, Accreditation Manager and PREA Coordinator for Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Programs. “It has affected the profession in a positive light by providing professional development for the corrections professions. Additionally, networking opportunities, which allows continuous opportunities to learn best practices throughout the industry without having to travel or be in a formal setting.

A Polish delegation tours a jail facility in Texas. CMIT’s expertise has been recognized internationally, and it frequently hosts foreign officials and students in the criminal justice field, including representatives from Japan, Korea, Poland, Mexico and the Czech Republic, to name a few. Its programs cover all aspects of the system, including probation, parole, prisons and jails.

In addition to serving the agencies that supervise the offender population, CMIT also supports professional associations – in Texas and across the nation – that promote the discipline. CMIT serves as the secretariat for eight organizations in the field and operates their conferences, trainings and communications. They include the National Association of Probation Executives, Texas Probation Association, Association for Paroling Authorities International, National Juvenile Court Services Association, Texas Jail Association, Texas Association for Court Administration, Texas Association of Drug Court Professionals, and Texas Chief Deputies Association.

CMIT held national meeting for paroling authorities.CMIT also serves as the host site for conferences, training initiatives, and meetings of many organizations, including the National Institute of Corrections, Texas Center for the Judiciary, Texas Association for Court Administration, Texas District and County Attorney’s Association, Texas Probation Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association, area probation departments, and various divisions of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

To provide cutting-edge information to the field, CMIT also conducts research on emerging issues, often within the very agencies they serve. It also coordinates with the College of Criminal Justice on important research topics that affect the agenda, including such recent issues as specialty courts, education, and employee issues.

Dr. Jeff Bouffard.“We have the capacity in CMIT to serve our constituents needs,” said Dr. Jeff Bouffard, Director of Research for CMIT. “A lot of the research at CMIT is a cousin to our technical assistance mission. We are giving people information on state-of-the-art practices and doing research on how to develop or evaluate it for their specific agencies.”

Dretke said the Institute and the College make good partners.

“The Institute continues to further develop its capacity as it works closely with the College of Criminal Justice to ensure our programs incorporate the latest research and evidence based practices helping to provide correctional professionals the ability to maximize their leadership potential as they serve to make our communities safer,” Dretke said.

The Sexual Assault Awareness Committee at Sam Houston State University is hosting a series of event in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year's national theme, It's On Us, is designed to recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault, to identify situations in which sexual assault may occur, to intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given and to create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported.

Local events include:

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Wed, Apr 1, 2015
3:00pm
Johnson Coliseum

This fundraising effort will encourage men and women to walk in women's high heeled shoes

Special Presentation by Tim Mousseau
Mon Apr 13, 2015
6:00pm
Lowman Student Center Theater

Tim Mousseau, a male survivor of sexual assault, will discuss what individuals and communities can do to prevent sexual violence.

Docmentary "It Happened Here"
Thu Apr 16, 2015
6:00pm
Lowman Student Center Theater

This documentary presents the complex issues surrounding campus sexual assasult presented through the eyes of the victims. It will be followed by a panel discussion of community and campus leaders.

Ignite the Night
Wed Apr 22, 2015
6:00pm
Old Main Pit

This annual march and rally raised awareness about the issue of sexual violence on campus and in the community.

The events are sponsored by the Sexual Assault Awareness Committee, which includes representatives from the Dean of Students Office4r, Campus Health Center, Counseling Center, University Police Department, SAAFE House, Crime Victim Services Alliance, Graduate Student Organization, Crime Victims' Institute, Resident Life, Student Legal, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative and Information Technology

Arkansas State Police Director William J. Bryant

William J. Bryant (’74) is Arkansas’ newly appointed State Police Director. He recited his oath and assumed the rank of Colonel in the Arkansas State Police on January 12, 2015.

In announcing his selection to lead the state’s largest law enforcement agency, Governor Asa Hutchinson commended Bryant for his, “integrity and dedication recognized by law enforcement professionals across the country.”

Bryant’s lifelong career as a law enforcement officer began in 1976 as an officer of the Sam Houston State University Police Department. Today he commands a department of 531 commissioned Arkansas State Troopers and a civilian support staff of 419 personnel.

While working as a SHSU police officer he was under the tutelage of then-University Police Chief Charles Tackett, who passed away in September after a 51 year career in law enforcement. Chief Tackett is credited with mentoring many criminal justice students who went on to distinguished and successful careers in local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Former University Police Chief Charles Tackett was Bryant's mentor.“Chief Tackett was a great mentor who really took interest in the men and women who wanted to go into law enforcement,” Bryant said. “He taught us integrity and report writing, and I could always call him for advice as I progressed through my law enforcement career.”

Later as a student attending SHSU Bryant joined the Huntsville Police Department and rose to the rank of lieutenant within the department’s Criminal Investigation Division.

“I learned how to deal with people on an interpersonal scale,” said Bryant. “I also learned to investigate homicides, robberies and sexual assaults.”

While holding his position as a Huntsville Police Officer, Bryant completed his education at SHSU earning his BS in Law Enforcement & Police Science and MA in Police Science and Administration.

Director Bryant is sworn in with wife Patti at his side.It was as a student at SHSU that Bryant met his future wife, Patti Inskeep also a student and graduate. Bill and Patti Bryant have been married 35 years.

In 1984 Bryant joined the ranks of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). His initial assignment was Dallas and later Little Rock where he was credited in leading a targeted attack on methamphetamine trafficking, both in small operations set up in backyard sheds and large operation run by the Mexican drug cartels.

After rising to the rank of Resident Agent in Charge of the Office, he was transferred to DEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he served in diverse capacities, including in the Office of Inspections, as detailee to U.S. House of Representative Judiciary Committee, as Special Assistant to the Chief of Domestic Operations and, finally, as the Chief of the Office of Congressional Affairs. In Washington, he served under DEA Administrators Donnie Marshall and Asa Hutchinson (now Arkansas governor).

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson stands next to Director Bryant. “The Arkansas State Police is a hard-working, great organization,” said Bryant during a recent interview. “I hope to bring in some new ideas and learn how to make it more effective and efficient.”

The department is comprised of five divisions, Highway Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Crimes Against Children Division, Administrative Services Division and Regulatory Division. The primary duty of the department is to patrol the state’s highways ensuring the safety and protection of motorists as well as assist local law enforcement agencies with available State Police resources.

Bryant credits his time in Washington, D.C. with learning the intricacies of working with legislators and providing expert opinion on crime and justice issues necessary in the development of new laws.

Bryant was part of the DEA New Orleans Division. Following his assignment in Washington, Colonel Bryant returned to Little Rock as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Little Rock Office. It was there he completed his 30 year career, retiring in January 2014.

Before answering the call from Governor Hutchinson seeking a State Police Director, Bryant was working as the State Director for the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee.

“I love the state and when the governor offered me the job, I felt a sense of duty to take it,” said Bryant. “It is a great organization and they treat me as family.”

Bryant served with the DEA and Gulf Coast HIDTA.Bryant said that Sam Houston State University provided a good foundation for his career, especially faculty members like Drs. George Beto and Raymond Teske, who is the godfather to his daughter.

Today Bryant urges students to get their education and find a field in which they are interested. If they would like to pursue a job in a federal agency, he suggests learning the ropes at a local police department.

“My work with the DEA was demanding,” Bryant said. “Traveling the world, doing things most people never get the chance to do, but the job was also rewarding knowing I was doing something good for our nation, but now it’s time for the next chapter in my life and help take the Arkansas State Police to the next level in professionalism and service.”

Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo, Houston Police Department

Sam Houston State University Alumna Martha Montalvo rose through the ranks of the Houston Police Department to become Chief of Staff to Chief Charles McClelland. She is the first of four Executive Assistant Chiefs tapped to fill his shoes when he is out of town.

Montalvo, who was born in Ecuador, serves as a role model for women and minorities in criminal justice.

“Anything is possible with hard work and by making sure to fit education in your career,” said Montalvo.
As a young, Hispanic woman growing up in the Canal/Navigation area of Houston, Montalvo saw the opportunity to get a good paying, exciting, and meaningful job at the Houston Police Department. “I had the opportunity to make a difference,” she recalls.

Montalvo addresses the Youth Advisory Police Council.Montalvo began her career as a street officer, and learned the art of negotiations, how to speak and listen to people, and how to resolve a wide variety of issues. Montalvo later joined investigations, where she mastered techniques to put a case together.

“Like all officers I began in the field as a patrol officer,” said Montalvo. “First responders have the authority and the responsibility to provide service to our community and are the first contacts the public has with law enforcement. This period was the foundation for my career and is the core for all police officers.”
Throughout her career, Montalvo has served in Communications, the Training Academy, Homicide, Tactical Command, Field Training and Crime Analysis/Planning and Research.

Montalvo leads a press conference to thank the Harris County District Attorney for the donation of body camera for officers.“The things I learned at the beginning of my career included listening and problem solving. These skill sets came under the philosophy of community policing, which was as relevant then as it is today.” said Montalvo.

After joining the force, Montalvo received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston Downtown. She was then offered a scholarship from the 100 Club to continue graduate studies at Sam Houston State University.

“It gave me the foundation,” said Montalvo of SHSU. “When I was there, I was a very young Lieutenant. It gave me the theories on police management and practices, and the foundation from which to further my career. Education is always valuable, and I looked upon it as a tool to improve my leadership and management skills. ”

Montalvo also valued the relationships she built with other officers from across the state at SHSU. In class, they exposed her to different ways of thinking, and an opportunity to network with professionals who shared their experiences.

Montalvo continues to work with SHSU on research projects, including the recent award winning eyewitness identification study.In 1988, Montalvo was promoted to Assistant Chief by then Chief C.O. Bradford, and in 1995 promoted to Executive Assistant under Chief Harold L. Hurt. She now serves under Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr., as the Chief of Staff, where she confers with city officials, community leaders, and various units throughout the department addressing a variety of issues.

The Houston Police Department maintains a strong research relationship with College of Criminal Justice, and Montalvo recently worked with SHSU on a study on eyewitness identification. The study was recognized to the International Association of Chiefs of Police as the top research project of the year.

“We are always going to have a relationship and partnership with Sam Houston University because it is one of the best criminal justice colleges with a long history of research. ” Montalvo said. “As a professional law enforcement agency we want to make sure we are at the forefront of best practices and that we remain one of the best police departments in the country.

The Texas Police Chiefs Leadership Series Focus Group

With controversial suspect deaths and public protests in Ferguson, MO. and New York fresh in their minds, Texas Police Chiefs representing municipal, school, and campus law enforcement set a biennial training agenda for the top law enforcement officers for Texas agencies.

About 1,000 police chiefs from across Texas will attend the Texas Police Chief Leadership Series (TPCLS) at the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) every two years. Beginning in September, the program will touch on several emerging issues in law enforcement, such as credibility with the community, body cameras, data management, riots and demonstrations, department image, public relations and human resources.

Houston Independent School District Police are issued body cameras.“I feel that with the recent events nationally, policing is at a real crossroads, similar to the way policing changed after 9/11,” said Chief Eric Buske of the Bryan Police Department. “The topics we covered and the agenda we developed in the focus group are going to help prepare Texas chiefs for this upcoming change. It is my belief that community credibility, preparation for demonstrations or disorder, department image, and public relations are going to be key issues that chiefs will need to be on top of in order to successfully lead their departments and provide quality service to their communities.”

Police in riot gear.“Twenty-three chiefs from across the state helped build the agenda for the weeklong training program, which will be provided to chiefs from small and medium-sized law enforcement agencies in Texas between Sept. 1, 2015 – Aug. 31, 2017” says Donna Garcia, Program Coordinator.

Chief Robert MacDonald of the Jasper Police Department said the recommended training will lead chief throughout the state to provide “transparency, accountability and professionalism” in their departments.

The chiefs identified six key issues, including:

• Building credibility and reputations of police departments through policies, supervision and accountability
• Examining the use of body cameras, including the pros and cons of these systems
• Managing data and sharing information from new technology, particularly body cameras, including the hardware and software needs, open records requests, and transparency
• Developing public relations for departments to improve image, such as disseminating messages from the department to provide factual information and utilizing Facebook to present a positive image.
• Handling demonstrations and riots, including the use of de-escalation techniques and reducing militarization
• Addressing human resources matters, such as retaining chiefs and recruiting, hiring, retaining, disciplining.

Tue Mar 17, 2015
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Hazel B. Kerper Courtroom

Alumnus Steven Jeter is a proud member of the Texas Rangers, an elite division of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) charged with investigating major incidents, unsolved and serial crimes, public corruption, officer-involved shootings, border security and much, much more.

Texas Ranger Steven Jeter“It’s humbling to be a member of the Texas Rangers,” said Jeter, a graduate of Sam Houston State University with a bachelor (’93) and master’s degree (’95) in Kinesiology. “I am doing the same thing that guys and gals have been doing for the last 200 years. It’s a neat organization to be a part of. The bar has been set high.”

Jeter, who is an adjunct instructor in Kinesiology at SHSU, joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1997 and served in highway patrol for 10 years. The unit is mainly responsible for traffic enforcement on the state highways and interstates and the investigation of traffic-related crashes. During his tenure, Jeter was recognized as being one of the leaders in the state for DWI enforcement.

“DWI is a senseless crash, and the one that is most preventable,” he said.
As a trooper, Jeter has seen more than his share of death and destruction. “You will see some of the worst things you will ever see in car crashes,” he said. “I’ve seen people beaten up, stabbed and shot, but it doesn’t compare to what happens to the body in a car crash.”

As a trooper,Jeter was recognized for his efforts in catching drunk drivers.Jeter was appointed as a Texas Ranger in 2007, where he oversees protection of the border and protection of citizens – the same mission mandated when the agency was created in 1832. The division is the investigative arm of Texas DPS, and he works all kinds of cases, from homicides, to sexual assaults to police officer investigations, to name just a few.

Jeter serves as the Coordinator of the Crisis Negotiation Team, which accompanies troopers and other law enforcement agencies executing high-risk search or arrest warrants, and as a member of the Crime Scene Investigation team, which investigates the aftermath of a crime. As a Ranger in a rural area, he is responsible for all aspects of the crime scene, including interviews and crime scene investigation.

“We do everything a lab can do, except for the analysis,” Jeter said.

Jeter has been involved in some high profile cases.Over the last seven years, Jeter has been involved in several high profile cases in the state, including the shootings at Fort Hood; the killing of a Klein Forest student by the MS-13 gang who dumped his body in the Sam Houston National Forest; and the 2012 murder of a Huntsville teen who was stabbed to death in her home.

The Texas Rangers have had a long and proud history in Texas and represent the best of the best in their department. Since the 1980s, women have joined the formally all-male division, and a female Ranger was recently promoted to Lieutenant. To become a Texas Ranger, you first must serve as a trooper.

Jeter said while other Bearkats are or have been Texas Rangers, he is the first from the Bearkat football team.

The Texas Ranger have a long and proud tradition in Texas.In 1991, he was a defensive end for the championship team and went on to be the first assistant strength coach hired by Sam Houston State University.

After graduating from SHSU, he was a teacher and coach before joining the Department of Public Safety.
Jeter said the DPS currently has 300 openings, but there is one key element that keeps many candidates from being hired: integrity. He said it is important for future troopers to live their lives correctly both on and off the job.

“You have to make the right decision whether big Daddy is watching or not,” said Jeter. “You have to stand up and not be afraid to say you are different – in the right way.”

Tue Mar 31, 2015
6:00pm
CJ Courtroom

Panel discussion by parents whose children have been murdered and their experiences as victims and with the criminal justice system.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the College of Criminal Justice and its prestigious Beto Chair Lecture Series, the College will offer a daylong symposia featuring Dr. Michael G. Maxfield, professor at John Jay College of Criminal, along with panels of world-renown faculty form the College to discuss the past, present and future of research in the field of criminal justice.

9:00 a.m. Beto Chair: “Evidence Generation: Evaluation Partnerships with Community-based Justice Organizations in New York City”
Dr. Maxfield, a respected leader in the field, is the author of numerous articles and books on a wide variety of topics, including victimization, policing, homicide, community corrections, auto theft, and long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect. He is the coauthor of the popular textbook, Research Methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology, now in its sixth edition, and currently serves as the editor of the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency. Formerly a professor at Rutgers University, Professor Maxfield received his Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University.

Symposia

Following Dr. Maxfield’s keynote speech, faculty from the College of Criminal Justice from all disciplines, including police, courts, corrections, security, victimology and forensic science will share their thoughts on the evolution of the field over the last five decades, including a historical perspective on the development of the knowledge base in criminal justice; what experts know with reasonable certainty; what the field still needs to know and the critical issues criminal justice faces in the future.

The symposia is free and open to the public. Following is a schedule of topics and speakers:

10:45 am Symposia One: Historical Perspectives on Development of a Knowledge Base
Criminology Brittany Hayes
Police Jim Dozier
Corrections Jeff Bouffard
Security: John Payne
Victimology Victoria Titterington
Forensic Science Jorn Yu; Joan Bytheway
Discussant Dr. Mike Maxfield, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

1:00 pm Symposia Two: What We Know with Reasonable Confidence
Criminology Dennis Longmire
Police Yan Zhang
Corrections Gaylene Armstrong
Security Magdalena Denham
Victimology Mary Breaux
Forensic Science Sarah Kerrigan

2:15 pm Symposia Three: What We Most Need to Know
Criminology Todd Armstrong and Danielle Boisvert
Police Bill Wells
Corrections Melinda Tasca
Security Nathan Jones
Victimology Leana Bouffard; Cortney Franklin
Forensic Science Sheree Hughes-Stamm; David Gangitano

3:45 pm Symposia Four: The Most Critical of What We Need to Know—Explaining the Crime Drop
Criminology Erin Orrick
Police Solomon Zhao
Corrections Doug Dretke
Security Russell Lundberg
Victimology Ryan Randa
Forensic Science Jasmine M. Drake

The full day of events will be available live at www.cjcenter.org/live

As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration, the College of Criminal Justice will continue its traditions of honoring outstanding students, alumni and supporters, as well as those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Leadership Luncheon pays tribute to the executive boards of criminal justice student organizations as well as distinguished scholars in the graduate program. In addition, the College will bestow awards for Outstanding Alumnus to Ronald B. Turk (’88), Acting Deputy Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Washington, D.C, as well as the Defensor Pacem to Professor Emeritus Dr. Jerry Dowling for his outstanding contributions to the field of criminal justice.

The College will highlight the achievements of eight criminal justice organizations on campus, including Alpha Phi Sigma, Lambda Alpha Epsilon, National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, Society of Forensic Science, Phi Alpha Delta, Crime Victim Services Alliance, Graduate Student Organization and National Organization of Hispanics in Criminal Justice.

Distinguished Alumnus Turk oversees all field operations for the ATF in Washington, D.C. and was nominated to become a Brigadier General in the U.S. Air National Guard. He was recognized for leading troops in protecting the Bagdad Airport during the Iraq War. Turk also was involved in the investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing, is involved in high profile inspections of gun retailers, and works on developing intelligence on gun crime issues.

Dr. Dowling, who retired as a professor at the College of Criminal Justice in 2014, is a former FBI agent who joined the faculty in 1972. In addition to educating generations of law enforcement professionals, Dr. Dowling was instrumental in developing licensing and professional exams for police officers across the country. Along with Dr. Larry Hoover, Dr. Dowling wrote the first licensing exam for peace officers in Texas and Illinois and developed curriculum for basic police training in Texas, Illinois, New York and Maine. He also is responsible for the training used for jailers at the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and for school resource officers in Kentucky. Finally, he worked at the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas as an instructor, providing classes on legal liability and labor relations for professionals in the field.

In addition to the awards, the College also will posthumously recognize David W. Crews, a Texas legislator who sponsored the bill that created the Institute of Contemporary Corrections and the Behavioral Sciences, the predecessor to the College, more than five decades ago.

Following the Leadership Luncheon, the College will honor the field's fallen heroes at the Sundial Ceremony, an annual event where faculty, staff, students and visitors participate in a ceremony recognizing the ultimate sacrifice in the service of criminal justice.

The evening Honors Convocation recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students at the College. The College will award 43 scholarships to 76 students, which includes nine 100 Club Awards and five Deans’ Scholarships. This year, there were five new scholarships, including the Chief Charles W. Tackett Memorial Scholarship in honor of the former SHSU University Police Chief; the Texas Ranger Law Enforcement Association Scholarship recognizing the contribution of SHSU alumni to the elite state law enforcement division; athe Richard and Michelle Ward CJ Endowment Scholarship in honor of former Dean Ward; the Professor Jerry L. Dowling Scholarship for Exemplary Achievement in Criminal Law in honor of SHSU Professor Emeritus Dowling; and the Logan Bennett-Lyons Criminal Justice Scholarship established by Eric Bennett and Interim Dean Phillip Lyons.

During the Honors Convocation, the College also will recognize 253 student for their academic achievements this year at the College of Criminal Justice.

For the last 10 years, a program at the College of Criminal Justice has been keeping the roads safer in Texas by training professionals to recognize the signs of impaired driving.

Called Impaired Driving Initiatives, the program funded by the Texas Department of Transportation offers training to law enforcement, school officials, employers, and probation and parole officers to identify the signs and symptoms of drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.

"It’s a huge problem that the public doesn’t know exists," said Senior Trooper Chuck Carlile of the Texas Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. "It’s rewarding when you get someone who is impaired off the road."

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 initiative operates two training programs to enhance law enforcement officers’ abilities to identify and evaluate impaired drivers. The programs are offered free of charge to municipal, county and state law enforcement personnel at locations throughout the state.

The Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement program provides officers with general knowledge about drug impairment and stresses the importance of collecting biological samples. The Drug Recognition Expert Course is a certification program which trains officers to detect and identify individuals under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and to pinpoint the substances that may be causing the impairment.

With teen deaths and injuries continuing to rise from alcohol and drug related crashes, the Impaired Driving Initiatives program also offers a training curriculum for school employees, including teachers, counselors, nurses, custodians, superintendents, coaches, driver education instructors, school bus drivers and board members, to help recognize the issue in their schools through the Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals Program.

To promote safe driving in the workplace, Drug Impairment Training for Texas Employers was introduced to help employers identify the problems in businesses. They train supervisors and managers for public and private companies on how to identify drug and alcohol abuse among workers and to address those issues with policies and procedures.

“You know this stuff is out there, but you don’t know the extent they will go to hide it,” said James Ray Nicker and Danny Kuykendall of Walker County Precinct 4. “It is definitely usable information.”
Finally, the Impaired Driving Initiative recently added Drug Impairment for Texas Community Supervision and Parole Officers to its roster to help probation and parole officers identify impairments not only among their clientele, but in families as well.

“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.

Together, these initiatives are making Texas a safer place by reducing the number of traffic crashes and fatalities on Texas roadways.