Department of Criminal Justice
Department of
Criminal Justice
Overview
The Department of Criminal Justice degree programs, minors, and immersions emphasize the social scientific study of crime, criminal justice, and legal studies. RIT’s approach combines theoretical perspectives with hands-on experience, emphasizing areas of crime, criminal behavior, social control mechanisms, administration, planning, and management, as well as problem-solving techniques based on current research in the field. Students are encouraged to be active participants in the process of creating this knowledge through undergraduate research projects. A variety of opportunities exist to engage in active research and to present the results of these projects at professional conferences.
Criminal Justice at RIT
MS Criminal Justice at RIT
$1.9M
Sponsored research funding (2017-2018)
Top 50
Ranked among top 50 criminal justice programs nationwide by College Factual
44
Criminal Justice courses offered
Latest News
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May 17, 2023
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Graduate Sophia Williams wins Fulbright award to pursue graduate education in the UK
The earliest written record of hearing loss is believed to date from 1550 BC in ancient Egypt, and written evidence for early sign language and changing attitudes toward deaf individuals comes from Plato in 350 BC—but, according to Sophia Williams ’23, there isn’t much that reflects the significance of these findings in archaeological scholarship. Williams received a Fulbright U.S. Student Award to fund her graduate education at University of York so she can help fill this gap of knowledge.
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May 15, 2023
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Rochester to partner with RIT on study of gang-related shootings
WXXI reports on a potential partnership between the city of Rochester and RIT to study data related to shootings.
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May 8, 2023
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Student's photo project addresses gun violence issues and solutions
Vincent Alban, a fourth-year photojournalism student, coupled human connection and visual storytelling to craft an emotional capstone project about families and community organizations celebrating fallen loved ones and advocating for change.
Featured Work
Spatial Data Analytics three-course electives sequence — entirely online
Offered entirely online, a new Spatial Data Analytics three-course electives sequence helps MS students build a critical skill set for today's criminal justice researchers.
Featured Profiles
“There is nothing more invigorating than using my research to brainstorm solutions to problems that have plagued my community.”
’23
— Libnah Rodriguez, criminal justice BS and MS, Research Associate at the RIT Center for Public Safety Initiatives
Shakierah Shayonna Smith
“My greatest accomplishment is becoming a licensed attorney in New York State. As a first-generation student, I was naïve about the process of becoming an attorney…But I did all of this on my first...
“I am so lucky to have the greatest mentors and peers.”
— Venita D’Angelo, criminal justice BS '23, Center for Public Safety Initiatives Research Assistant
Internship Examples
The internship program is designed to give students the opportunity to interact with criminal justice professionals in a work environment. Students will be closely supervised at the selected agency, developing their professional skills while learning the agency’s organization, programs, and methods.
Examples of recent internship placements:
Degree Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Students complete criminal justice core courses along with program electives that can be customized according to personal interests and goals. The wide variety of courses available prepares you for a variety of careers in local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies, as well as the private sector. You are also well-prepared to continue your education in a graduate or professional program in criminal justice, public policy, business, or law. A BS/MS 4+1 option in criminal justice is also available.
Graduate Programs
The graduate program emphasizes training in policy analysis and practice, particularly as it is relevant to community and urban issues. You’ll gain a strong foundation in criminal justice theory and social scientific research skills, and you’ll graduate ready for a career in criminal justice policy analysis or well-prepared to continue your studies in a doctoral program.
Center for Public Safety Initiatives
The Center for Public Safety Initiatives is a unique collaboration between RIT's Department of Criminal Justice, the City of Rochester, and the criminal justice agencies of Greater Rochester including the Rochester Police Department and Monroe County Crime Lab. Its purpose is to contribute to criminal justice strategy through research, policy analysis and evaluation. Its educational goals include training graduate and undergraduate students in strategic planning and policy analysis.