The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice is to prepare students to become leaders, outstanding practitioners, scholars, and advocates for social justice in a diverse and global society. Students are required to select one of the following concentrations on the undergraduate level, i.e. law enforcement, homeland security, corrections and juvenile justice, and law enforcement, corrections and juvenile justice on the graduate level. An emphasis is placed on experiential learning and community building. The Department counts among its major approximately 600 undergraduate and 50 graduate students. The Department of Criminal Justice has a modern computer lab and several active student organizations. Additionally, students are able to engage in projects connected to one of the following institutes/center: Juvenile Justice Institute, Institute for Homeland Security and Workforce Development, and the Center for the Advancement of Justice Studies & Policy.  The engine that drives all that we do is --- student success.

North Carolina Central University and the Department of Criminal Justice are dedicated to instilling in our students the highest principles of integrity and responsibility. Students are expected to demonstrate respect for these principles in the performance of their academic

activities. The Department of Criminal Justice believes that students must always act in a manner that is honest and respectful of the dignity and individuality of all humans. Each of us is expected to exhibit a strong commitment to professionalism and a sense of caring for the needs of others. We understand that criminal justice professionals must comply with codes of ethics, and we strongly endorse high ethical standards for personal and professional actions.

The criminal justice student body adopted the following Code of Ethics (5/2009):

• I will abide by the requirements of the NCCU Student Code of Conduct.
• I will not lie to faculty or fellow criminal justice students.
• I will not cheat in my academic or personal life.
• I will not steal.
• I will not engage in illegal activities.
• I will not tolerate lying, cheating, stealing or illegal activities by any other criminal justice student.
• I will report to the appropriate authority any illegal, corrupt or unethical behavior of fellow students in the Department of Criminal Justice where there is sufficient cause to initiate a review.
• I will not stand by idly while a fellow student subjects another individual to harsh or inappropriate treatment.
• I will strive to conduct myself in a manner that avoids harassment toward fellow students or the general public.
• I will strive to conduct my personal life in a manner that exemplifies the high standards with which I will be required to comply as a criminal justice professional.

In addition to these standards, the Department of Criminal Justice has taken the further step of adopting the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences' Code of Ethics.  For more information please visit www.ACJS.org or www.nccu.edu/criminaljustice.  

Contact Information:

North Carolina Central University
Department of Criminal Justice
301 Whiting Criminal Justice Building
PO Box 19772
Durham , NC 27707
919-530-6280 (office)
919-530-5195 (fax)