consistently at the local (jail) level. Lycoming is one of the few counties in Pennsylvania that is consistently tracking these rates. The work we have done on this project has given the county a greater understanding of its jail population and has helped to highlight and address certain trends. For example, we are currently examining the reasons why individuals return to prison on a probation violation, as this makes up a large percentage of those who are in the county prison. This project has provided a great opportunity for students to understand how data can be tracked and utilized to inform policies and practices in the criminal justice system. One of the projects that was particularly meaningful to me is the data that Riley Groder ’17 and I compiled on the women housed at the State Industrial Home for Women at Muncy (now SCI-Muncy). While Muncy was a prominent women’s reformatory during the early half of the 20th century, there is little written about it. Through our work, we sought to understand in greater depth why women were sent to Muncy and what steps the institution took to try to “reform” them. The interdisciplinary nature of our work was meaningful in helping to make connections between the treatment of women during the reformatory movement and today. Are there aspects of learning about the criminal justice system that you think are beneficial to all to have a greater understanding about our society? The most important thing that I hope students gain from my classes is a more humanized perspective on crime and the criminal justice system. I want them to view what they hear in the news about crime and criminal justice issues with a more critical perspective, to have a deeper understanding of why these issues are occurring, and what needs to be done to promote change. I believe education and awareness about these issues are the first steps toward reform. Even if students are not interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice, this knowledge is valuable. What career paths have some of your former students taken, and what would you tell prospective students and their families about pursuing a degree in criminal justice? Students in our program have gone into many different areas of criminal justice at the local, state, and federal level. Some have pursued graduate and law degrees, and many have been successful in careers outside of criminal justice, which is a credit to their liberal arts education. While the type of work students pursue is important, I find the impact they are having within their chosen fields and how they are applying the skills they have learned to be most impressive. I always tell prospective students and their families that our program is broad in scope, and that we will provide students with the educational foundation and experience to pursue a career in whatever they want to do in criminal justice. However, because we are also a social science program and a liberal arts college, students are also gaining strong writing and critical thinking skills, as well as oral communication skills, that will prepare them for a wide variety of careers beyond criminal justice. The most important thing that I hope students gain from my classes is a more humanized perspective on crime and the criminal justice system. 19 www.lycoming.edu
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