Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice
WELCOME!
About Us
The Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice at Shepherd University has a long and rich tradition of preparing students for employment in academic, governmental, non-profit, and law-enforcement organizations. The department is made up of four full-time faculty who are dedicated to undergraduate teaching excellence and preparing students for success in careers and personal endeavors. Our diverse, experienced adjunct faculty also support the department’s majors, concentrations, and minors. We offer two majors (both with two concentrations), as well as three minors.
B.A. in Criminal Justice
Concentrations
Law Enforcement and Administration
Forensics
B.S. in Sociology
Concentrations
Culture and Society
Criminology
Interested in one of our degrees? Click here to apply!
Complete information about our degree programs, as well as information about careers, can be found in the SCCJ Reference Guide.
Looking for the Criminal Justice Lecture Series?
SCCJ YouTube Channel! Criminal Justice Lecture Series Zoom Link
Criminal Justice Lecture Series Home Page | Archives
Upcoming Criminal Justice Lecture Series Speaker
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023 | 1:10-2 p.m. (On Zoom- Click the Yellow Box Above)
Juvenile Justice Through the Looking Glass
Derek Getic, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Region 4, Regional Director
Abstract: Juvenile Justice is an evolving field that involves intake, pre-court services, probation, detention, and committed placement. The juvenile justice system is often the entry point into the adult criminal justice system. There is a shift to change the narrative of how the “system” handles these young people and the professionals assigned to work with them. For the lecture, Derek will address: How can we staff juvenile justice roles effectively? How can we provide front-end services to prevent long-term criminal justice involvement? How can we evolve from equal justice to equitable justice?
Bio: Derek Getic is the Regional Director for Region 4 for the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. Derek has worked over 25 years in the human service field, most of those years in direct service provision to youth and families. He worked in Family Preservation programs, Child Protective Services Investigations, Juvenile Probation, Juvenile Drug Court, Juvenile Detention facilities, and Juvenile Committed Programs. Derek is a Certified Auditor with the American Correctional Association, specifically working to forward reform and best practices within juvenile detention facilities. Derek has served as a speaker/panelist for: the Maryland Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force; the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services; the American Correctional Association; and the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention.
Derek is dedicated to change and strives towards equity in all decisions especially at the “front door” of the juvenile justice system; changing the narrative for youth at their point of entry into the system. He is passionate about creating an understanding, and providing a “level playing field” for communities of color, the LGTBQ community, the socio-economically disadvantaged, and the marginalized. Derek has an opportunity to choose every day to: do something, say something, act in some way that would move our work in a positive direction.
The department is part of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS).