Purpose and Mission

The purpose of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is to be a leader in our field and the principal organizational asset of the University of Maryland for the interests and activities of the University, its faculty, and students in the general areas of crime, delinquency, prevention, juvenile/criminal justice, and terrorism.  

The department will lead in the development of criminological and criminal justice research and theory; the training of graduate students to conduct and understand basic and applied research; and the provision of undergraduate education of the highest quality including internships and international experiences.  Department members will guide the highest levels of government, nationally and internationally, on the development of research based policies to prevent and control delinquency, crime, and terrorism.  The department will serve the campus, the local community, and the state as consultants and advisors on issues of critical importance. 

These goals will be achieved with our commitment to excellence, diversity, and ethical behavior.

From this mission statement, three primary goals guide our future vision:

• The department will lead in the development of criminological and criminal justice research and theory.
• The department will foster the highest quality graduate and undergraduate education for our students.
• The department will consult with the highest level of government (nationally and internationally) regarding policy-based research and serve as a primary resource on crime and justice matters for the local community and state.