Seattle University Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics

🎉Join us in congratulating Mingxi Tong!

Mingxi, a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice student at Seattle University's Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics program, has been named the recipient of the College of Arts & Sciences Wallace Loh Academic Excellence Award — one of the most prestigious academic honors at Seattle University. 🏆

Mingxi, your dedication, passion, and academic excellence inspire all of us. We are incredibly proud to have you represent the CRJS program. Congratulations and best of luck in everything ahead! ✨

🎉 Congratulations to our 2025 CRJS Student Award Winners!

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding students from our Criminal Justice, Criminology & Forensics program at Seattle University who were honored at this year's Annual Student Awards Ceremony on June 10, 2025.

A huge congratulations to all our recipients — your hard work, dedication, and passion for justice inspire us every day. Here's to your bright futures! ✨🏆

👏 Kelliher Awards: Alison Davis & Grayson Walden

👏 Eugene Corr Service & Ethics Award: Cleo McBride

👏 Steve Jenkins Academic Achievement Award: Alonda Martinez-Villalobos

👏 Blume CJ Scholar UG: Benjamin Whiteaker | Grad: Tess Harbert

👏 Graduate Corr Award: Brea Martinez

👏 Norm Maleng Excellence Award: Mingxi Tong

👏 24-25 Grad Corr Awardee: Ella Vermiere

The Seattle University Criminal Justice, Criminology, & Forensics department is excited to announce the 20th Anniversary of our MACJ program! 🦅

We invite our students, alumni, faculty, and staff to join us for an Anniversary Celebration and Networking Event. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, share stories, and celebrate the impact our program has made over the last two decades.

Event Details:

When: Thursday, October 22 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Casey Commons, 5th Floor of the Casey Building
Registration: https://events.seattleu.edu/event/macj-20

We look forward to an evening of conversation and community. We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with you!

How can dialogue bridge the gap between incarcerated and non-incarcerated communities? 🤝 On May 8, the Seattle University Crime and Justice Research Center invites you to a transformative day of training and connection.

This year’s event features Lori P***a, the Executive Director of the International Headquarters of The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. This is a rare opportunity for students, alumni, and justice professionals to engage in interactive sessions led by formerly incarcerated coaches.

Event Details:
-Keynote: Insights from Lori P***a on the mission of the Inside-Out Center.
-Interactive Sessions: Direct engagement focused on connecting communities.
-Certification: Participants who complete the full 8-hour program will receive a certificate of completion.

📍 Where: Online via Zoom
⏰ When: May 8, 9 AM – 5 PM
🔗 Register now: https://www.seattleu.edu/crime-and-justice-research-center/continuing-education-and-professional-training/

Don't wait—space is limited for this special session!

Seattle University community: Don't miss this rare look at how storytelling from behind prison walls can spark dialogue between those inside and outside the criminal justice system.

On April 28, we are thrilled to host the creators of the acclaimed Concrete Mama Podcast in Wyckoff Auditorium. This event explores the launch of Season 2 and is a required experience for our new practicum, Concrete Conversations: A Journey into Prison Life.

Event Highlights:

Meet the Creators: Conversation with the producers behind the groundbreaking series.

The Mission: Understanding the intersection of media, mental health, and incarceration.

Behind the Scenes: A look at the making of a podcast inside the Washington State Penitentiary.

📍 Where: Wyckoff Auditorium
⏰ When: April 28, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Please share widely and join us for this exciting, transformative event!

How can Seattle University further its mission of justice and leadership within the prison system? 🦅

On April 27, we are hosting a keynote and luncheon to discuss our role in the Jesuit Prison Education Network (JPEN). We are honored to welcome Fr. Tom Curran, S.J. to lead a discussion on the impact of prison education at Jesuit institutions across the country.

Why attend?

Learn: Discover the national landscape of the Jesuit Prison Education Network.

Engage: Join the conversation on how SU can become more involved in prison education.

Act: Find out how you can support the Raskob Foundation feasibility study to launch a degree program at the Monroe Correctional Complex–Twin Rivers.

📍 Where: Student Center 130
⏰ When: Keynote at 11:30 AM | Luncheon at 12:30 PM

We look forward to seeing you there! For more information on the SU-PERR initiative, visit our department page.

Seattle University faculty and staff: Are you looking for a way to align your teaching with our Jesuit mission of justice and leadership? 🦅

The Crime & Justice Research Center has received a planning grant from the Raskob Foundation to develop a BA/BS degree program at the Monroe Correctional Complex – Twin Rivers Unit. This is a powerful opportunity to make a lasting impact on a vulnerable population and foster true rehabilitation.

We are hosting online information sessions this Winter Quarter to brainstorm and answer your questions:

April 20

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM via Zoom

Check out the full schedule and join the conversation here: https://seattleu.zoom.us/j/98872190602

For our final "Student Work Spotlight," we turn our focus to rehabilitation. Mental health is often overlooked in the courtroom, yet 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health condition. Students in Dr. Joyner-Carpanini’s class have highlighted a critical path forward: shifting from punishment to care.

The research shows that prisoners with untreated mental illness are significantly more likely to return to prison. However, the data also offers hope. A report by the Washington State Department of Corrections found that providing mental health treatment reduced recidivism rates by 28% compared to a control group. By prioritizing cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling over blind imprisonment, we can break the cycle of re-offense.

Thank you for following along with this series of exceptional student work. These infographics represent the kind of evidence-based advocacy we champion here at Seattle U.

This past Tuesday, the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology, & Forensics was honored to host Professor Jacqueline B. Helfgott for a powerful Winter Red Talk.

Representing our Crime & Justice Research Center, Professor Helfgott shared compelling insights on how prison education programs reshape identities and restore justice within our communities.

A heartfelt thank you to all the students and faculty who joined us at the Pigott Auditorium for this important dialogue. We are proud to foster a community dedicated to restorative justice and academic excellence.

Did you attend the talk? Share your biggest takeaway in the comments below! 👇

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