Student and faculty interaction. Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty and staff.

Students meet at a table during Spring 2013 Prisoner Debate Project.

Criminal Justice and Criminology faculty.

Professor David Makin discussing research with a student.

Undergraduate Students from Washington State University and University of Idaho.

Visit from Governor Jay Inslee to the Complex Social Interactions Lab

Undergraduate class experience. Salam Witch Trials. Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Graduate Student Association Speaker Series, David Garlock, Luncheon.

Criminal Justice and Criminology students wearing reflective vests.

Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology

Investigate. Innovate. Impact.

Since 1935, WSU’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology has been a pioneer in the field. Originally founded with guidance from FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to train law enforcement officers, the program quickly expanded under Dr. Vivian Anderson Leonard to become one of the nation’s first academic departments dedicated to the study of policing, law, and justice. Today, we continue that legacy—blending history, research, and real-world application to prepare students for careers that shape the future of criminal justice.

Our faculty are renowned scholars and practitioners, leading cutting-edge research on pressing issues like policing, corrections, cybercrime, and policy reform. With flexible degree options, including on-campus and online programs, students gain critical thinking skills, hands-on experience, and ethical foundation needed to lead in law enforcement, public policy, legal studies, and beyond. Shaping the Future of Criminal Justice

Our department is a nationally recognized leader in research, education, and policy innovation. Ranked #2 as the best criminal justice programs in Washington State, we are a hub for students, faculty, and community partners dedicated to addressing the most pressing issues in crime, justice, and public safety.

Undergraduate

Undergraduates benefit from a policy-focused curriculum that prepares them both for careers and future study, learning from leaders in the field.

Graduate

Graduate students work closely with faculty, pursuing a more comprehensive understanding of the field of criminal justice and developing as scholars and researchers.

Meet our Faculty

Department faculty have a wide range of research and teaching interests, and the department is nationally and internationally recognized for its scholarship.

Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology

AI app guides officers through domestic violence incidents in real time

Researchers at Washington State University’s Complex Social Interactions (CSI) Lab in the College of Arts and Sciences have built an AI-powered system intended to help.

WSU SURCA undergraduate researchers earn 65 awards

Seventy-three students at the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) 2026 were the recipients of 65 awards totaling $14,000.

As Florida restricted abortion, state’s maternal mortality committee went dark

Melanie-Angela Neuilly, associate professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, was interviewed by the Florida Trib about the State of Florida’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee’s potential conflict with Florida’s public access and transparency laws.

Study finds college women face greater risk of sexual violence than others

Young women attending college face a dramatically higher risk of sexual violence than those who don’t, especially if they live on campus, according to a new analysis of national crime data by Washington State University researchers.