Welcome All New and Returning Students!

Associate Professor Patricia Warren Hightower
Director of the Undergraduate Program

The fall semester is underway and Dean Blomberg along with the faculty and staff in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice would like to welcome you to a new and exciting school year. There are some outstanding opportunities for you in the College this year and we hope you utilize them for both your academic and professional development. Members of our Student Services team, is looking forward to working with each of you and we hope you take advantage of the services they provide. They are here to assist you with your academic concerns, including registration and scheduling of classes, withdrawals, major and University requirements, professional and graduate school preparation, and other academic concerns. In addition to these services there will be a variety of events hosted by student services throughout the fall semester. The first is the New Student Social which is intended to provide you with an opportunity to meet and greet with our academic advising staff along with learning more about the College along with its academic and professional offerings. The social will be held on September 6th from 4-6pm in Hecht House. There will also be two scholarship/internship workshops held one on September 10th at 3pm and September 11th at 11am. These workshops are being held to provide you with invaluable information about the scholarships offered through the college along with numerous internship opportunities available. Please make every effort to attend these workshops. In addition, there will be other workshops held throughout the semester so please read your email and visit the college website for more information www.criminology.fsu.edu.
As your new Director of Undergraduate Student Services, I would like to take this time to thank Dr. William Bales for his excellent service while serving in this capacity for the past 5 years. He worked tirelessly with Dean Blomberg and the academic advising team to ensure you received the support you needed to be a successful Seminole. When you see Dr. Bales please thank him for the excellent service he has provided to the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Please have a wonderful school year!
Dr. Patricia Warren Hightower

New Student Welcome Reception - NO RSVP Needed!

Join fellow students and College faculty and staff to kick-off your FSU studies in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Enjoy food, give-aways, and the opportunity to learn about opportunities on campus in student and university organizations, and meet faculty and other criminology students. When: Thursday, September 6, 2012, 4:00-6:00p.m. at the Hecht House.

Need help creating and refining your resume?

The Career Center is teaming up with the College of Criminology to offer a resume building workshop on Thursday, September 13 at 3:00p.m. This is the week before Seminole Futures so you will have this opportunity to create and perfect your resume with professional help before meeting potential employers. All students are welcome to attend. To learn more about Seminole Futures, visit http://www.career.fsu.edu/expos/futures/.

Important Registration Updates!

Update # 1 - Make sure you are taking approved Criminology courses! To ensure this, filter your search by department (Criminology and Criminal Justice). Do not search by course prefix. All approved Criminology courses are indicated with a “CR” before the course title and include “Approved for Criminology and CJ Majors” in the comment line.
Update # 2 - As a Criminology student, you are not permitted to take any Criminology courses online. These online courses will be indicated with a “DL” before the course title and will not include the dates, times, and locations for classes.

Are your parents coming for FSU's Parents Weekend?

The College of Criminology welcomes parents and students to the Hecht House during Parent's Weekend. On Friday, October 12th, we will have refreshments in the Czajkoski Conference Room for students and parents. This is also an opportunity for parents to meet your undergraduate advisors and learn more about our College and Undergraduate Student Services. We look forward to seeing you and your parents during Parent's Weekend!

College Scholarship Opportunities

The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers numerous scholarships for our undergraduate students. Below is a list of all scholarships available and their individual requirements. Each scholarship has listed preferences; however, all students are encouraged to apply. Please see your advisor for further information. The deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2013-2013 school year is September 15, 2012. Visit http://criminology.fsu.edu/p/scholarships-scholarships for additional information and to apply.

Eugene and Rosalind Czajkoski Scholarship Fund
Frank A. and Lynn W. Baker Scholarship Award
Jerry A. and Carolyn S. Glass Scholarship Award
James C. Sweat Annual Student Aid Award
Robert Williams Endowed Scholarship
Cory D. Dahlem Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Frederick Simon Family Memorial Scholarship
Doyle E. and Janet T. Young Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Kelly Ivey Memorial Scholarship
Ernest K. Ponce de Leon Memorial Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship
The Florida Sheriffs Association Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship
Sgt. Daniel “Dale” Green Memorial Law Enforcement Academy Program Scholarship
Relgalf Scholarship

Looking to get involved? Take look at Lambda Alpha Epsilon!

Florida State University's Lambda chapter of Lambda Alpha Epsilon, the largest professional criminology organization in the nation, will begin their pledge process this fall, as they look forward to growing their 100+ membership organization. Throughout the year, LAE engages with various law enforcement agencies both locally and across the state and nation. Membership in LAE will strengthen your resume, build confidence and expand your interests into areas of Criminology you didn't even know existed. Offering firearms training to their members, LAE also works closely with the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and various other agencies in the field. But the fun doesn't stop there! LAE also boasts involvement in most intramural sports on campus, hosts regular social events and is active in supporting the Tallahassee community through various service projects. If you are interested in learning more about membership with Lambda Alpha Epsilon, please contact Recruitment Officer, Kristina Griffin, at kag08h@my.fsu.edu or check out www.fsulae.webs.com.

Introducing the Criminology Leadership Council!

Composed of both undergraduate and graduate criminology students, the CLC sponsors professional, networking and social events to help make your experience at FSU as well-rounded as possible. We look forward to offering you opportunities to meet with top professionals from a variety of fields, to network with alumni, and to get to know the faculty and your fellow students outside of the classroom. The CLC looks forward to seeing you this semester so be on the lookout for news and updates about upcoming events! Have a great semester and GO NOLES!

-written by Jennifer Brown, Leadership Council Chair

For other ways to get involved on campus, check out http://union.fsu.edu/get-involved.

Featured Student Intern: Rachel Kay, Senior Criminology Major

Describe your experience interning at the Public Defender's Office.
My experience at the Public Defender's Office was unforgettable. The work I did on a daily basis was challenging and rewarding and it reminded me why I chose to major in criminology. I am a pre-law student so the opportunity to work in a law office was impossible to pass up, and I have benefited so much from this experience.

What were some of the typically duties of the interns at this agency?
As an intern, you have the possibility of being assigned to the misdemeanor, felony, or capital division. I worked in the felony division so my duties included intakes and investigations. As the semester progressed, I was able to work on investigations. I spoke with witnesses, victims, and organized statements for attorneys. I also was brought out into the field often, which meant I drove around Tallahassee with my supervisor as we tracked down potential witnesses.

Describe the most exciting experience of your internship.
My most exciting experience at the Public Defender's Office was the many times I successfully investigated and closed a case. Working in the busiest division of Tallahassee felonies, I was able to witness and participate in exciting and intense life-changing cases.

What skills did you learn interning at the Public Defender's Office?
Growing up in suburbia, I was never exposed to poverty or crime. I have learned so much about the world and the many facets of society that I would never have seen without this internship. The skills I have learned from working with people less fortunate than me is something that will always stick with me.

Do you feel this internship will help you with finding a job upon graduation?
I feel that this internship has matured me so when I enter the job market, I can confidently enter job interviews with experience. I can speak about cases I have worked on, and reference legal knowledge that I otherwise would have only learned in a textbook. The tangible work I did is irreplaceable, and something every possible employer wants to see on a resume.

Do you have any tips or advice for future interns interested in interning at the Public Defender's Office?
If you want to work on rewarding and high profile cases, prove to your bosses early on that you are motivated and efficient. Every case that lands on your desk should be treated the same way. Whether I was speaking with an accused rapist or a crying victim, I did my best to adapt to the situation.

In Other College News.....

Three FSU criminologists rank among 'hit parade' of scholarly productivity

Three faculty members of Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice - Kevin Beaver, Abigail Fagan and Brian Stults - are among the nation's most productive criminology and criminal justice scholars, according to a study that uses academic rank to reveal both rising academic stars and the top stars overall. The study, “Criminology and Criminal Justice Hit Parade: Measuring Academic Productivity in the Discipline,” conducted by Heith Copes, David N. Khey and Richard Tewksbury, was published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.

Associate Professor Kevin Beaver ranked as the No. 1 most productive criminologist in the nation when measured by the number of articles published each year.  Since he earned his Ph.D. in 2006, Beaver has published 99 articles - an average of more than 16 articles each year.  “Kevin Beaver's research in bio-social criminology has led to an empirical and theoretical resurgence in criminological inquiry,&dquo; Blomberg said. “His research findings have provided compelling evidence that various forms of criminal and violent behavior reflect both nurture, or social environment, and nature, or individual biology.” Among the top 15 assistant professors in the nation, Assistant Professor Abigail Fagan tied for No. 3. “Abigail Fagan is an expert on various deviant-behavior prevention efforts,” Blomberg said. “Her work is distinguished by careful empirical inquiry that is simultaneously aimed at informing public policy and related prevention program practices.” In addition, Assistant Professor Brian Stults was ranked at No. 15. “Brian Stults' research has focused on demography and crime in urban areas,” Blomberg said. “His work is characterized by the use of major data sets to analyze urban crime and evaluate the impact of racial attitudes on issues of crime and justice.” For more information about our criminologist's ranking, visit http://news.fsu.edu/Top-Stories/Three-criminologists-rank-among-hit-parade-of-scholarly-productivity.

Professors Bales, Stults, and Warren promoted!

Associate Professor Bill Bales has been promoted to professor and Assistant Professors Brian Stults and Patricia Warren have been promoted to associate professor with tenure in the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Bales joined the faculty in 2003 from the Florida Department of Corrections where he was Bureau Chief of Research and Data Analysis. He received his Ph.D. from Florida State University. Bales' main research interests are sentencing, assessing the effectiveness and consequences of punishment strategies, evaluation of correctional practices and programs, and community re-entry.
Stults joined the faculty in 2006 from the criminology, law and society department at the University of Florida. He received his Ph.D. from the University at Albany (SUNY). Stults' main research interests are race and crime, neighborhoods and crime, and residential segregation. Warren joined the faculty in 2006 from the department of sociology at the University of Massachusetts. She received her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. Warren's main research interests are racial profiling, race and class inequalities, disparities in criminal justice processing, and crime and social control.
Dr. Warren has also been promoted as Director of Undergraduate Student Services for the College of Criminology.

Criminology doctoral students Joshua Cochran and Ryan Shields receive University Awards

Joshua and Ryan have both received distinguished university awards.  Joshua Cochran received the 2012 Graduate Student Research and Creativity Award.  This award recognizes the superior contributions of graduate students to research and creative endeavors.  Additional information about the award can be found at http://www.gradschool.fsu.edu/Funding-Awards/Graduate-School-Awards/Student-Awards-and-Grants. Ryan Shields was one of six graduate students university-wide to receive the 2012 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.  This award recognizes outstanding graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) for their distinguished contributions to student learning through excellence in instruction.  You may find additional information about this award at http://pie.fsu.edu/Teaching-Assistant-Award/Award-Recipients
Congratulations to both Joshua and Ryan!

American Jails publication features recent research conducted by the College's Center for Criminology and Public Policy on Broward County's Jail Population Management

The journal, American Jails, an official publication of the American Jail Association, featured recent research conducted by the Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research in the January/February 2012 issue, Volume XXV/ Number 6.  In August 2009, the Broward Sheriff's Office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, partnered with the College to conduct research that would assist the sheriff's office in planning and preparing for the future. Project results are detailed in the article “Broward County's Jail Population Management&rdqou;, authored by: Karen Mann, Kristina Gulick, Tom Blomberg, William Bales, and Alex Piquero.

The research scope of work included three key elements:

• A 10-year jail population forecast for the county's jail population;
• A cost-benefit analysis for jail alternatives compared to jail; and
• A validation identifying the level of predictive accuracy of the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) risk assessment tool used to inform the pretrial release decision-making process.

Also involved in the research project were FSU Crimicalendarnology graduate assistant, Joseph Nedelec and FSU Criminology graduate, Dr. Ryan Meldrum.
For more information about the research conducted, visit https://www.criminology.fsu.edu/p/news-college.php#news102

Mark Your Calendar

The start of a new year means there is plenty going on around FSU and The College of Criminology! For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Registrar's Fall 2012 Academic Calendar at http://registrar.fsu.edu/dir_class/fall/acad_cal.htm

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