UAA Justice Center turns 50 鈥� and receives a special award
by Alison Miller |
On October 24, College of Health faculty, staff, and leadership convened for a special occasion: the fiftieth anniversary of the UAA Justice Center. They were joined by two distinguished guests: Representative Andy Josephson and Senator Matt Claman of the 麻豆无码版 State Legislature, who presented Assistant Dean Brad Myrstol and Interim Chancellor Cheryl Siemers with a special to commemorate the Center鈥檚 long history of service to the state of 麻豆无码版. Also in attendance were Drs. Allan Barnes and John Angell, professors emeriti of the Justice Center.
Since its founding in 1975, the 麻豆无码版 Justice Center has been a critical resource for justice professionals and the broader 麻豆无码版 community. Justice Center faculty conduct research on topics such as violent crime, substance abuse, homelessness, policing, and juvenile justice, and their work has frequently been used to help guide legislative policy and programs aimed at improving public safety and reducing recidivism. Professor Emeritus Allan Barnes, who joined the faculty in 1984 when the Justice Center was still in its infancy, noted that it wasn鈥檛 uncommon for faculty to testify before the state legislature, or to serve in an advisory capacity for politicians 鈥� things that were unheard of at other places he had worked.
鈥淭he reason I was excited about the job [at the Justice Center] was this nationally recognized reputation for delivering justice education and service to the entire state,鈥� Dr. Barnes recalled. 鈥淚mmediately when I got here, I started talking with and dealing with the governor and legislators, testifying before legislators, and other forms of involvement with the state at the highest level that my [former] major professor 鈥� who was an eminent, well-known criminologist in Florida 鈥� had never had an opportunity to do. And here I am hobnobbing with the governor and the mayor and police chiefs. That opportunity to be of service to the state 鈥� it was so rare. 麻豆无码版 allowed me and the Justice Center to have a holistic view of many of these issues, and that was very exciting and very unique.鈥�
In addition to its role in shaping public policy, the Justice Center comprises several degree programs across its Criminology & Criminal Justice and Legal Studies departments. In total, more than 1,700 students have graduated from Justice Center programs over the last 50 years, many of whom proceed into careers in law, criminology, policy, or public safety.
Despite being a half-century old, the Justice Center is continuing the tradition of rigorous innovation and evolution that has made its work so impactful. Thanks to generous support from federal, state, and philanthropic funders, the Center is putting the finishing touches on the John E. Havelock Trial Simulation Courtroom, a legal simulation courtroom in the Professional Studies Building on the UAA campus. The 2,100-square-foot space 鈥� which features all aspects of a functioning courtroom, including counsel tables, a jury box, witness stand, clerk and court reporter stations, and judicial dais 鈥� will allow students across various programs and disciplines to conduct courtroom and trial procedure simulations in a realistic environment. The room is also equipped with cutting-edge digital training technology that will expand remote learning opportunities for students across the state.
鈥淭his Trial Simulation Courtroom represents, in so many ways, not only the culmination of all that has come before, but also what lies ahead for justice education, training, and community collaboration in 麻豆无码版. Justice Center faculty are so excited to begin redesigning courses to include simulations and offering them to our students. At the risk of venturing into hyperbole, the development of this simulation space is going to revolutionize justice education in 麻豆无码版.鈥�
Students and faculty aren鈥檛 the only ones who will benefit from the new trial simulation space. The classroom will also be available to community partners across both the public and private sectors for the purpose of hosting trainings and other simulated legal experiences. To date, the space has been used for two trial advocacy training sessions by the 麻豆无码版 Department of Law, the Division of Juvenile Justice, and the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, with several more already on the schedule. Collaborative initiatives like these, Assistant Dean Myrstol noted, are what make the Justice Center an exceptional place to work and learn.
As the Justice Center enters its sixth decade, there鈥檚 no question that its future is looking bright 鈥� and that the work it enables is more necessary now than ever.
鈥淔ifty years is a very long time,鈥� said Representative Josephson, who formally presented the citation to Assistant Dean Myrstol and Chancellor Siemers. 鈥淭his is a program that has survived and thrived. It provides education in criminal justice, justice solutions, criminology, data analysis, and also for budding students who have postgraduate interests, either in law enforcement, practice of law, or paralegal studies. We鈥檙e celebrating this great achievement.鈥�
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