Welcome to Criminal Justice News!
Dear Criminal Justice Cougs,
Greetings from WSU at the end of what has been a most unusual semester. We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and well.
As you know, WSU, along with other universities, moved its classes online in the middle of spring semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a disruption for both our students and our faculty. Our instructors worked hard to shift from face-to-face to a virtual environment. And our students worked hard to learn in a new and, for many, unfamiliar learning environment. We recognize the challenges that many students face and applaud their efforts. Our instructors are working to prepare for the fall so that we will be ready to meet whatever challenges may arise.
Some of our research activities had to shut down temporarily, but most projects were able to continue. For example, faculty wrapped up a large multi-year study on the effects of marijuana legalization. Some faculty also pivoted their work to address issues related to the pandemic. For example, Dr. Melanie-Angela Neuilly is partnering with the National Association of Medical Examiners and the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners in order to survey medicolegal professionals on their COVID-related needs.
Our graduate students have persevered through multiple ups and downs, and this semester we have a significant number graduating and moving on to jobs in academia and the criminal justice system. We’re proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish, particularly in the last few months. Our undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty received a number of awards and scholarships this spring, evidence of their excellence in learning and teaching. We greatly appreciate those who have donated funds to make it possible for the department to offer scholarships and other opportunities to our students.
Finally, this fall, Dr. Melanie-Angela Neuilly will become chair of the department. Dr. Neuilly has broad leadership experience, stepping down this summer as interim associate vice provost in order to lead the department. She brings a range of strengths to the position and will help move the department forward in positive ways. I will miss the people in criminal justice and appreciate everything I have learned from them. I look forward to seeing the department rise to new heights under Dr. Neuilly’s leadership.
I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer.
Christine Horne
Interim Chair
June 1, 2020
In light of the most recent in a heartbreakingly long series of events involving police violence on communities of color, especially black women and men, the Washington State University Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology reaffirms our faculty’s commitment to principles of social justice, including that of anti-racism. As we train the next generations of criminal justice professionals, we are keenly aware of the importance of helping them develop the knowledge and skills that will enable them to be the agents of positive change the field so desperately needs. We dedicate ourselves to addressing issues of systemic racial bias through not only our teaching but also our research, with which we aim to guide reform. We, as a faculty, vow to continue the pursuit and promotion of a more just society through education, research, service.