Governors State University has unveiled an advisory board for its master’s degree program in criminal justice, aiming to have this six-member team steer the school through a swiftly evolving focus.
Criminal justice reform is a constant topic of discussion in Illinois and across the nation, with lawmakers debating issues like cash bail, minor drug offense handling, capital punishment, and police accountability. Two professors at Governors State proposed the formation of a panel to provide educators and students with timely and thoughtful information on this subject.
In a recent news release, the university stated, “Criminal justice is a rapidly evolving, crosscutting field that spans a wide range of societal interests.”
The purpose of the board is to advise faculty and administration on matters related to graduate-level criminal justice education, ensuring that courses offer relevant skill sets, curriculum content, and practical education. Another mission is to ensure diverse perspectives contribute to the program.
The board includes two judges from the 21st Judicial Circuit Specialty Court, a mental health counselor, police chiefs from Matteson and University Park, and a program graduate with years of international criminal justice expertise.
Vincent R. Jones, the associate professor of criminal justice, who co-developed the program with Janet Brewer, an assistant professor of criminal justice and sociology, stated, “I believe that the advisory board will eventually advise us on courses that we should offer to help prepare our students for this changing world.”
During the first meeting, Matteson police Chief Michael Jones emphasized that his officers spend only 20% of their time enforcing the law and the other 80% engaging in a variety of community support activities. Jones said, “He would like for his officers to not be called law enforcement officers but to be called peace officers.”
In addition to advising the program, board members will serve as mentors to students in the master’s program who are interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice reform.
The impetus for the program stems from changes in Illinois law regarding criminal justice. Cash bail was eliminated in September, concluding a contentious debate over its constitutionality and bringing in various other criminal justice reforms. The state also legalized marijuana in January 2020 and, following a mass shooting in Highland Park in 2022, approved a law banning high-powered guns, which continues to be challenged in court.
“The landscape of criminal justice is changing, and we have an opportunity to interface with the community that we serve,” Brewer said. “The role that this board will have is to guide us in creating a new mission statement and in the curriculum revisions that we’re currently undergoing.”
