Crime and punishment, safety and security, deviance, social disorder, and civil rights—these are some of the most significant challenges facing our society. Addressing these complexities requires a multi-disciplinary understanding and a collaborative approach that crosses all social, political and economic boundaries. The faculty at Rutgers School of Criminal Justice is involved with a number of institutes, centers and initiatives, all of which support research, learning and outreach to the greater community.
Rutgers Center on Public Security
Dr. Leslie Kennedy, Director
Dr. Joel Caplan, Associate Director
Founded in 2002 and based at the School of Criminal Justice, the Rutgers Center on Public Security (RCPS) specializes in applying geospatial technologies to scholarly research. It offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the academic study and practical application of ways in which democratic societies can effectively address crime, terrorism and other threats to public security. This involves the prevention of, protection from, and response to natural or human-made events that could endanger the safety or security of people or property in a given area. In an unprecedented way, the RCPS engages all parts of the University and community agencies in exploring the needs and major consequences of heightened security.
The Evidence-Based Institute
Dr. Michael Ostermann, Director
Dr. Shenique Thomas, Associate Director
The Evidence-Based Institute (EBI) is a joint initiative of the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice and School of Law (Newark). The goal of the EBI is to serve the evidentiary and policy analysis needs of the New Jersey Criminal Justice System as well as to assess and improve the current practices and services that are provided to New Jersey’s criminal justice involved populations. These goals are pursued through a process of assessing how well current practices align with established evidence-based principles, providing training to increase the level to which these practices coincide with these principles, and conducting studies of the effectiveness of current justice system practices.
The Police Institute
Dr. Todd Clear, Director
The Police Institute at the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice was formed in 2001. Since that time, the Police Institute has successfully integrated research, problem solving, and criminal justice policy and practice. As part of its mission, the Police Institute works in collaboration with community and law enforcement partners. It serves as a neutral convener of criminal justice and community partners, assist agencies and communities analyze and solve problems, provide technical assistance to criminal justice and community agencies, and provide educational services to criminal justice and community agencies through its various collaborations including but not limited to; Newark Violence Reduction Initiative in partnership with John Jay College and the National Network for Safe Communities, Fugitive Safe Surrender and the Pathways to Productive Citizenship.