Dr. BJ Houslon, ossodole professor of criminol juslice, holds up a ruler for junior Blake Reed to measure a butterffy knife Sept. 16 in Introduction to the Criminal Justice System. Houston brought the knife to show her students as they learned about illegal weapons . ·Russell Ke<k Nh IIr criminal justice students visit Arkansas prison system 111111111111111111111111\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\j\WI\\lllllIi'lllwmmllllllllllllllll11.... 1 _-" • r:r:! academics It was said that seeing was believing. Students in the criminal justice program were given the opportunity to prove this theory tcue. The Introduction to the Criminal Justice System and Crimi– nology classes incorporated field trips to state prison facilities. StudentS were given the opponunity towatch classroom theories and lessons put into action as well as seeing the workings of the Arkansas prison system. TIle program was created in 2004 for the criminal justice major with the Introduction to the Criminal Justice System class visiting the Wrightsville Prison Unit and Boot Camp Program, both in Wrightsville, Ark. Dr. BJ Houston, director ofthe criminal justice program, said that the opportunity that . students were given to tour rhe facilities and listen to an inmate panel was worthwhile. "They went last year, and it was really successful," Houston said. "It was the first time we had done it and actually my nrst time to be there as well. "So I asked the students ifthey thought it was a worthwhile activity, and they said, 'most definitely.'" Houston continued the program this yea r after getting feedback from students. "I wanted to get student feedback and the value to them as a ctiminal justice majot, and they were very much pro - 'Yes, this is something we need to do,'" Houston said. Two ofthe inmates who served on the panel were convicted murderers who were willing to share theit stories. The inmates on the panel discussed the crimes they com– mitted, their experiences in the prison life and the survival skills they had learned. While on the same trip, the class visited the Boot Camp Program. The Boot Camp Program was an alternative to prison fat non-violent criminals. According to Houston, the conditions at the facility were harsh. "It's really pretty bad," Houston said. "They're up early; they're to bed early. It's regimented. They tell them when to get up, when to go to bed, when to talk. They can't even talk unless they're given permission to speak." The Criminology class visited the Cummins Correctional Facility, 20 miles south of Pine Bluff, Ark. "They have an inmate panel and also a tour of the entire facility;:' Houston said. "So you get to see all aspects of the pnson. Senior Pattick DeliaPace said the experience ofbeing inside such a large prison facility was surreal. "What I recall at Cummins was that the prison was the most heavily guarded place I have ever seen," OellaPace said. "You will never be able to escape this place - it's a fortress." In both prisons and the boor camp, students were given insight into the culture and food chain within the prisons through panel groups and discussions with inmates. "Inside the prison you see the different wards, the differ– ent divisions," Houston said. "For example, sex offenders and pedophiles are often segregated from the general population. Even in prison, they have values." According to DeliaPace, this experience was inAuential in his perception of the prison system. "You get inside, and they bring you through the differenr cell rooms - where they pat you down, and they check you for weapons and th ings of that nature," DellaPace said. "You're basically in a trance because you can't believe this actually happens." As the criminal justice department continued (Q grow, H ouston said she was striving toward offering her students real-life experiences that would prove to be beneficial in their careers. ·Jillion Hicks Zer:;:: $ SSE %% & ESS!££
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