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“WE’re PROVIDING Better
administrators, Better Police Officers and better intelligence analysts Who can deal with more complex problems and situations.”
New Jersey State Police Officer Michael Garvey ’08
Other concentrations include law and justice for future attorneys, corrections, computer science and crime forensics, investigative sciences and police administration, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of the major’s enrollment.
The program’s origins The Saint Peter’s criminal justice program began in the late 1990s as part of the sociology department, but quickly branched off into its own department in 2000. That first year, 17 students enrolled in the department; today the program boasts enrollment of more than 200. Raymond R. Rainville, Ph.D., chairperson of the Department of Criminal Justice, attributes the department’s fast growth to a national trend stemming from 9/11 and the popularity of television dramas such as Law & Order and Criminal Minds. “We’re seen as an exciting career,” said Dr. Rainville. “The federal government has put more money and resources into developing highly educated personnel.” The Saint Peter’s program combines courses in criminal justice with the liberal arts core curriculum completed by all students at the College, as well as internships providing hands-on education, overseas travel to study law enforcement systems throughout the world and research opportunities. “We’re a traditional liberal arts college, not a cop shop,” explained Dr. Rainville,
a former probation administrator, who developed New Jersey’s Deadbeat Dad law. “The education is broad. Our students are critical thinkers who can write, and this is important since about one half of a career in criminal justice is spent writing reports.” State Police Trooper Michael Garvey ’08 can attest to that. “Everything in law enforcement needs to be documented and you have to articulate what happened accurately and appropriately. It involves a lot of writing and having those core classes at Saint Peter’s definitely helps me in my current position.” Garvey, who wanted to be a police officer since childhood, credits the program for allowing him to attend the Ocean County Police Academy as an undergraduate. “I don’t know if there are many colleges that would let you get that kind of experience,” he added. Prior to his acceptance to the New Jersey State Police Academy, the alumnus worked as a Seaside Park seasonal patrol officer. In August 2008, Garvey received a commendation from the town for helping to rescue four swimmers caught in a riptide.
can deal with more complex problems and situations.” Employers also seek out Saint Peter’s graduates because of the College’s emphasis on diversity and developing a world view in every student. The College enrolls students representing 70 nationalities and speaking nearly 40 languages, with criminal justice majors hailing from Nepal, Bulgaria, and Nigeria, in addition to the United States. Through the program’s comparative criminal justice component, students have the opportunity to travel overseas with faculty members to study other law enforcement systems and issues such as illegal immigration to make comparisons with U.S. policy. The 10-day trips, which also include classes and a research paper, have included Athens/Rome and Lisbon/Barcelona/Madrid. This year the program will travel to London and Paris. “It was a good experience,” said Jonathan Matamoros ’10 who participated in three of
Jesuit Influence Crucial Infused throughout the academic program is a heavy emphasis on remedying problems rather than just locking up criminals, an approach that sets graduates of this Jesuit program apart from others in their fields. “The Jesuit ideal is to make the world better,” Dr. Rainville added. “We’re providing better administrators, better police officers and better intelligence analysts who Meghan Ellerman ’08 works in the counterfeit squad for the U.S. Secret Service.
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Saint Peter’s College • Fall 2010