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• Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies provides students with a critical understanding of the total system of justice and the society in which it functions. Faculty members are committed to preparing students to move successfully into legal studies careers or graduate work.

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About the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

The Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies (CJLS) is home to more than 600 undergraduate and more than 50 graduate students. CJLS includes faculty and instructors with a wide range of experience and expertise in legal studies and policing, courts, and corrections. We also have a deep scholarly interest in criminal justice, criminological theory, victimology, race and crime, homeland security (just to name a few).

The Department of CJLS provides students a critical understanding of the total system of justice and the society in which it functions. At the same time, as part of the School of Applied Sciences, the faculty members are committed to preparing students to move successfully into legal studies careers or graduate work.

In addition, the department is also home to the Center for Evidence-Based Policing & Reform (CEBPR), which was founded through a donation by actor Mr. Morgan Freeman and Dr. Linda Keena. 

The Mission of CJLS

Our mission is to educate students in a learning environment conducive to excellence in meeting the complex challenges present in justice-related services. Our faculty’s role is to expand the knowledge base and to integrate cutting-edge information into the learning experiences of students.

The Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies strives daily to extend service to our constituents in order to enhance learning, program development, research, and justice-related service in Mississippi, the region, the nation, and around the world.

Interested in Evidence-Based Policing?

• Learn more about CEBPR

Meet the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies faculty

Wes Jennings

• Chair and Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

Francis Boateng

• Associate Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

Brian Boutwell

Katharine Brown

• Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

Rachel Greenspan

• Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

• Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

Jeffery Johnson

• Lecturer in Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

Kimberly Kaiser

• Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and Graduate Program Director

Dave McElreath

• Professor of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

Roun McNeal

• Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

Justin Moody

• Instructional Assistant Professor in Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies

Abigail Novak

D'Andre Walker

Linda Keena

• Associate Professor Emerita of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies

What degrees does the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies offer?

Bachelor of science in law studies.

Law Studies creates firm foundation for those students who plan to attend law school.

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ)

Gain a rich understanding of criminal justice in the United States and abroad.

Master in Criminal Justice (Online)

Advance your career in law enforcement with our online Master in Criminal Justice.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Advance justice through immersive research with a focus on the application of high-level empirical knowledge on impactful policy and practice in the criminal justice system.

Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Policy Studies

An innovative PhD program in the field of criminal justice with an emphasis on applied criminal justice policy research.

Evidence-Based Policing and Reform Graduate Certificate

Deepen your background in criminal justice and prepare for law enforcement and related fields.

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Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Unveils Ph.D. Program

Um doctoral program in criminal justice policy studies offers opportunities to affect change.

The new doctoral program in criminal justice policy studies is housed in the School of Applied Sciences. Photo by Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

OXFORD, Miss. – After launching an online Master of Criminal Justice program this fall, the University of Mississippi School of Applied Sciences is preparing to roll out another new degree program for spring 2021, a doctorate in criminal justice policy studies.

The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Policy Studies is designed to prepare students to affect change within systems of law enforcement, corrections and homeland security at a policy level. The program aims to help students become competent and productive scholars in creating, studying and evaluating criminal justice policies while preparing for jobs in the industry, including careers as professors, researchers for public and private organizations, and policy analysts.

Wesley Jennings

“This is a unique program in that most doctoral programs across the country focus on criminology,” said Wesley Jennings, chair and professor of criminal justice and legal studies. “While students will get a thorough background in criminology in our program, they will get an even more in-depth understanding of the ways to create policy that can improve practices at an agency or systemwide level.

“We are the only doctoral program in the SEC West, one of only a handful in the region and one of only 44 nationally. Most are in very rural areas in the western half of the country.”

Students in the program will engage in 45 hours of coursework beyond the master’s degree, which is less than most programs of its kind require, Jennings said. Besides the 21 hours of core requirements – including a proseminar and advanced criminal justice policy studies, advanced criminal justice statistics, and advanced criminal justice theory and policy – students can further specialize with core-area electives in criminal justice system and issues; methods, data and analysis; or policy studies.

Master’s student Clay Taylor, of Dallas, said he is thrilled the department is launching the program in time for him to continue his studies at UM.

“I am looking forward to the mentorship from Dr. Jennings and other faculty,” Taylor said. “They teach at such a high level, and to be able to be a part of that is such a blessing and incredible opportunity.

“Secondly, I get to spend more time at Ole Miss and Oxford. I am so drawn in by the academic environment at Ole Miss, as well as the social environment, it makes getting my Ph.D. that much better. I would also say that getting to continue doing research and expand my knowledge on issues that are so important in today’s times is also just such a blessing and great experience.”

An assistant professor and the department’s graduate program director, Kimberly Kaiser serves as the primary point of contact for the doctoral program. She answers questions from prospective students, guides them through the application process and advises them on their academic progress throughout the program.

“From a research and teaching perspective, I bring knowledge on both policy-related and community-based research design,” Kaiser said. “In my graduate courses, I emphasize understanding the broad impacts of policy decisions, especially how those decisions can impact people and communities.

“I also focus on understanding what elements can impede the implementation of evidence-based policy at the program or community level.”

David McElreath

The department began the process of starting the program when Kaiser and fellow assistant professor Francis Boateng were hired in 2016, she said.

“We were recruited to help the department build towards this goal and to grow our focus on applied research in criminal justice,” Kaiser said. “At that time, we recognized the growing need for a Ph.D. program that had a clear application to real-world policy issues in criminal justice.

“Rather than having a more theoretical Ph.D. program, we wanted our program to focus on how research and knowledge can inform, reform and assess criminal justice policy and inform best practices. Over the past four years, we have worked hard to design a Ph.D. program that is unique, innovative and fills a need for policy-driven and applied research in the field of criminal justice.”

The success of a doctoral program largely depends on the department’s ability to attract qualified students from diverse background, including international students, Boateng said.

“As a minority and an international scholar, my presence will serve to attract highly qualified international students to our Ph.D. program,” he said. “Additionally, I will bring a wealth of international experience to the program that will enrich the learning experience of our Ph.D. students.

“Ph.D. programs create leaders and experts in the field, and by having a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Policy Studies, we are not only going to create leaders and experts but also ambassadors for the department. Currently, there is no university in the state of Mississippi that offers the Ph.D. in criminal justice, and this is a major issue, given the need for such a program.”

Much of the inspiration for the new program has been the recognition that Ole Miss is the state’s flagship university and should therefore be the institution that offers the top-tier programs, especially in the areas of social sciences, longtime professor David McElreath said.

“From my perspective, I believe I bring an applied element into the instructional pool, especially in the areas of homeland security and national security policy,” McElreath said. “I have in the past served as a consultant on the national level with the Department of State and currently instruct for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Regional Law Enforcement Command College.”

Abigail Novak

Abby Novak, a new assistant professor, brings experience to the department working with secondary data and a wide range of statistical methodologies that help students in the doctoral program design their own studies in the field.

“Often, criminologists work with secondary data, and that can require adopting and adjusting statistical approaches to the data, or being familiar with a wide range of data sources,” Novak said. “I believe my knowledge in these areas will be beneficial to doctoral students, and my interdisciplinary background, education, work in the field and research interests will be beneficial in helping students to contextualize and deepen their research interests and knowledge.”

For more information about the Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Policy Studies, email Kaiser at [email protected] or visit https://legalstudies.olemiss.edu/ .

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GradSHARK Launch PAAD – Criminal Justice, MCJ

Undergraduate students interested in graduate study in Criminal Justice can get a head start in earning a graduate degree through the GradSHARK Launch PAAD for Criminal Justice.

Requirements to qualify:

• Criminal Justice major
• Completed CJ 322: Criminal Justice Communications or WRIT 250: Advanced Composition (or equivalent writing intensive course) and achieved a “B” or above before applying
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• 90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate

Number of credit hours a student can earn towards the graduate degree while completing their undergraduate studies:

12 credit hours

Courses undergraduate students in the Launch PAAD can take to earn credit towards the graduate degree:

• CJ 600 Criminal Justice Administration
• CJ 601 Criminal Justice Statistics
• CJ 602 Criminal Justice Research Methods
• CJ 624 Theories of Criminal Behavior
• CJ 620 Criminal Justice in American Society: Policy & Practice
• CJ 621 Seminar in Law Enforcement
• CJ 622 Seminar in Courts and Sentencing
• CJ 623 Seminar in Corrections
• CJ 641 Transnational Crime

Students  must be  accepted into the Launch PAAD and complete the requisite  GradSHARK Launch PAAD Course Enrollment Form for this degree. The form must be received by the Graduate School (the form requires approval from your Undergraduate Advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator for Civil Engineering). During each subsequent term, the student must submit a new enrollment form for this program if they wish to take courses that can count towards a graduate degree (students will not officially be registered for graduate courses until this form is complete).

For more information about participation in the GradSHARK Launch PAAD, guidelines, financial aid and available areas of study, please see the GradSHARK Launch PAAD homepage .

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• CRIMINAL JUSTICE & LEGAL STUDIES

M.C.J. in Criminal Justice

Description.

The Master of Criminal Justice (M.C.J.) promotes evidence-based policy and practice and prepares future leaders in the fields of criminal justice, emergency management, and homeland security by conducting relevant, innovative research and offering cutting-edge courses.

Admission Requirements

1) Evidence of an awarded baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

2) Quality of the applicant’s academic record, as evidenced by cumulative grade- point average. At least a 3.0 or equivalent grade-point average on the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework is required.

3) Three (3) letters of professional recommendation, preferably from professors familiar with your academic qualifications or others familiar with your work ethic and ability to be successful in graduate school.

4) A 400- to 500-word statement of interest that describes your interest in pursuing the Master of Criminal Justice degree, your chosen emphasis in a) Policy and Practice (in-person), b) Homeland Security and Emergency Management (fully online), or c) Criminal Justice Leadership (fully online), your future career goals, and why you believe you will be successful in graduate school.

5) Submit a sample of your recent written work that best showcases your skills as a writer and critical thinker. Writing samples should be in English and no more than 10 double-spaced pages in length. There are no specific formatting requirements. This could be a term paper, professional report, policy brief, or any other document that demonstrates writing and analytic skills.

6) Curriculum vitae or resume.

7) International students must demonstrate compliance with the University of Mississippi's English Language Proficiency Score Requirements and Exemptions policy.

Prospective students that are interested in a graduate assistantship position (only applicable for the in-person emphasis in CJ policy and practice) should also submit:

• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Brief statement of interest of no more than 300 words in the assistantship position, including interest in research and/or teaching and skills that you will bring to the position.

Minimum Total Credit Hours: 30

Course requirements.

The M.C.J. is a 30-graduate-hour program. All students must complete the 12 hours of core courses.

• CJ 600 - Criminal Justice Administration
• CJ 601 - Criminal Justice Statistics
• CJ 602 - Criminal Justice Research Methods
• CJ 624 - Theories of Criminal Behavior

Students will select an emphasis in either Criminal Justice Policy and Practice, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, or Criminal Justice Leadership.

Other Academic Requirements

The minimum requirements to graduate are: An overall graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher; must complete a minimum of three (3) classes in their emphasis; and students must complete all core classes with a minimum grade of B-.

Completion option for the degree will vary by emphasis area.

Specializations

• Emphasis - Criminal Justice Leadership
• Emphasis - Homeland Sec & Emergency Mgmt