TDCJ Hero Funds Criminal Justice Scholarship

After spending four years at the Holliday and Wynne Units, Correctional Officer Melanie Smith decided she would like to become a lawyer to provide a voice for victims or to defend the innocent.

“I want to be an attorney,” said Smith. “That’s where you get a say so and the justification to speak up for the innocent. If someone is being victimized, you get to speak for them too.”

Susan L. Canfield (center) stands among the field force at the Wynne Unit about two weeks before her death.Smith is pursuing her dream at Sam Houston State University’s College of Criminal Justice thanks to a scholarship endowment fund that was set up by fellow correctional officers and friends to honor one of their own killed in the line of duty. Correctional Officer Susan L. Canfield was supervising inmates outside the Wynne Unit in 2007 when she and her horse were struck and killed by two of the inmates who escaped in a stolen vehicle. . . . read more

Warden Billy Hirsch and Melanie Smith work at the Wynne Unit, where TDCJ Hero Susan L. Canfield was killed during an escape.

Fighting Gangs, One Hot Spot at a Time

Officer Eric Vento has worked with prison and street gangs in Houston.

Officer Eric Vento has dedicated his short career to fighting gangs on the street as part of the Houston Police Department, and he would like to share his knowledge with prospective law enforcement officers in the future.

Webinar Expands Learning in the Corrections Field

The Correctional Management Institute of Texas hosted its first live broadcast on the Internet for adult probation officers to discuss ways to implement research-based practices in the field.

The Webinar, “Finding the Point with Evidence-Based Practices,” was attended by criminal justice agency personnel from 95 sites across Texas and was a cost-effective way to reach more professionals in the corrections field with nationally-known experts and a broad range of officials in Texas in the community correction process. This live, interactive program featured Dr. Christopher Lowenkamp, former Director of the Center for Criminal Justice Research and Associate Director of the Corrections Institute at the University of Cincinnati, as well as a panel of officials from Community Supervision and Corrections, probation supervisors, and judges from across the state. . . . read more

CMIT Internet Broadcast now avaiable for viewing!

In September 2012, the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, in collaboration with the Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD) of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice conducted a live internet broadcast. During this live internet broadcast titled Finding the Point with Evidence Based Practices, Dr. Christopher Lowenkamp addressed the implementation of evidence based practices in CSCDs by making practices and programs such as Motivational Interviewing, EPICS, etc. a part of the department’s overall organizational culture. Carey Welebob, director of CJAD was the moderator of the panel which included Mike Wolfe, CSCD Director from Taylor, Callahan, and Coleman Counties; Caroline Rickaway, CSCD Director from Brazoria County; Leighton Iles, CSCD Director from Tarrant County; Judge John Creuzot, Criminal District Court No. 4, Dallas County, and Judge Rose Guerra Reyna, 260th District Court, Hidalgo County.  To read more and view the broadcast, just click HERE!

College Offers Internship in Criminal Justice Agencies

The College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University offers more than 200 internships in local, state and federal agencies in law enforcement, corrections, forensic science and victim services as well as the private security industry.

Unlike many other Colleges, the internship offers full-time work experience for a semester in a future career field and provides up to nine credit hours of writing enhanced courses toward a degree. The internship, reserved for criminal justice majors, is taken in the senior year and has led to jobs for about one-quarter to one-third of the students that participate. Another one-third report making good networking contacts for future employment. . . .read more

A team of researchers at Sam Houston State University are studying the effects of genes and environmental adversity on criminal behavior among inmates incarcerated in a correctional facility located in a large city in the Southern United States.

In the first study of its kind in North America, Dr. Todd Armstrong—along with Drs. David Gangitano and Brian Boutwell—at the College of Criminal Justice are studying the link between specific genetic markers and self-reported childhood adversity in an incarcerated sample. The study is based on data that includes DNA samples, surveys, and criminal records of approximately 100 inmates incarcerated on a variety of charges, including violent crimes, drug offenses, property crimes, disorderly conduct and weapons offenses.. . . read more

Discover Careers in Corrections at New Web Site

A new web site was launched earlier this year to help the public discover the wide variety of careers available in corrections.

A collaborative effort among The Council of State Governments/American Probation and Parole Association, the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association and the Center for Innovative Public Policies, provides in-depth information about careers in corrections and provides job listing from 187 agencies across the country. The project was funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.. . . read more