University hosts annual criminology conference
Missouri State University will host the 5th annual Criminology and Criminal Justice Conference, “Exploring the Public Affairs in Criminology and Criminal Justice,” Feb. 26-27 in Plaster Student Union (PSU).
The conference will host a variety of community member panels, faculty presentations, student papers addressing topics in criminal justice and various speakers, including Dr. Cindy Smith, senior coordinator for international programs at the U.S. Department of State. Smith will participate in the panel discussion “The Globalization of Crime and its Impact on the Ozarks: The Case of Human Trafficking” at 10:45 a.m. Feb. 27 in the PSU, Room 313.
Feb. 26
Sigma Mu Sigma will host the Opportunities Fair 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the third floor of the PSU. The fair will include representatives from nearly 30 criminal justice organizations.
Dr. O. Gilbert Brown, provost fellow of public affairs at Missouri State, will present “Intersection of Inclusive Excellence and Criminology: Opportunities and Challenges” at 9 a.m. in the PSU West Ballroom.
The conference will hold a series of panel discussions and presentations beginning at 10:45 a.m., including:
- “Who is BACA? And How They Can Be a Tool for Our Community” in the PSU West Ballroom
- “The FBI: An Overview” in PSU, Room 314
- “No Holdups: The Bridge between Homeless Youth and Juvenile Offenders” in PSU, Room 315
- “On Patrol with Missouri State Highway Patrol” in PSU, Room 317
Barney Brown, motivational speaker and owner of the Brown Justice Project, will present “Searching for Ethics: The Fuel for Justice” at 12:30 p.m. in the PSU West Ballroom.
A second series of panels and presentations will begin at 1:35 p.m., including:
- “Behind the Crime Scenes: A Look into the Missouri State Highway Patrol Lab” in PSU, Room 313
- “Student Presentations” in PSU, Room 314
- “Child Abuse and Long Range Consequences” in PSU, Room 315
- “The American Bar Association Study of the Death Penalty in Missouri” in PSU, Room 317
Sigma Mu Sigma will host a screening of the eight COPS scenes from Springfield, summer 2011, at 6 p.m. in the PSU Theater. A Q-and-A session with a COPS producer and Springfield police officers will follow the screening.
Feb. 27
Dr. Charlene Berquist, director of the Center for Dispute Resolution (CDR) at MSU, and Heather Blades, associate director of the CDR, will present “Engage: The Role of Community in Restorative Justice” at 9 a.m. in the PSU West Ballroom.
A series of panel discussions and presentations will begin at 10:45 a.m., including:
- “Globalization of Crime and its Impact on the Ozarks: The Case of Human Trafficking” in PSU, Room 313
- “Dying to Move Forward: Advancing Forensic Science in Greene County” in PSU, Room 314
- “Restorative Justice: The Voice of the Community” in PSU, Room 315
- “Exploring Male and Female Domestic Violence Victimization” in PSU, Room 317
Tracie McClendon-Cole, Aim4Piece violence prevention project director, and Jomella Watson-Thompson, applied behavioral science professor at the University of Kansas, will discuss “Aim4Peace: Transforming Individuals and Communities Through a Culturally Appropriate Violence Prevention Initiative in Kansas City, Mo.” at 12:30 p.m. in the PSU West Ballroom.
The final series of panel discussions and presentations for the conference will begin at 1:45 p.m., including:
- “Felon Residential Re-entry, an Educational Process” in PSU, Room 313
- “Sexual Assault and the Victim’s Center Services” in PSU, Room 314
- “What Everyone Should Know About Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect” in PSU, Room 315
- “The Missouri State Penitentiary: 170 Years Inside the Walls” in PSU, Room 317
The Criminology and Criminal Justice Conference is sponsored by Sigma Mu Sigma, the MSU Chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma and the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, with funding from the College Humanities and Public Affairs and the department of criminology and criminal justice.
The conference is free and open to the public. Parking for the conference is free in the Missouri State parking lots 22, 28, 44, 51, 52, Bear Park North and Bear Park South. Conference programs can be downloaded online at the Missouri State criminology website.
For more information, contact Ivy Brown at (417) 836-5502.
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About Missouri State UniversityMissouri State University is a public, comprehensive metropolitan system with a statewide mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons. The university’s identity is distinguished by its public affairs mission, which entails a campus-wide commitment to foster expertise and responsibility in ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement. College of Humanities and Public Affairs
The College of Humanities and Public Affairs offers 16 undergraduate, eight graduate and six certificate programs. Departments in the college include criminology and criminal justice, defense and strategic studies, economics, history, military science, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology and anthropology. The department of defense and strategic studies is housed in the Washington, D.C. area. The college helps students understand social, political and legal structures, ethical principles, religious systems, and economic institutions and practices within a global, historical, and contemporary context.
