Criminology, Law and Society

The Department of Criminology, Law and Society is a dynamic, multidisciplinary unit. The faculty includes some of the nation’s top researchers in the field. Graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to work closely with these outstanding faculty in courses and on research projects. As they graduate, students go on to work in the area’s top federal agencies, law schools, and doctoral programs.

Students at the graduate and undergraduate level develop strong foundations in research, methods, theories and systems of justice, criminology and crime policy, and law and society. They graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the causes and consequences of crime and injustice, the responses by criminal and civil justice institutions, and what works to improve social conditions among affected individuals, communities, organizations, and countries.

Willis' Ideas in American Policing Lecture Published

The Police Foundation has released the newest "Ideas in American Policing" lecture, given by Professor James Willis of the Department of Criminology, Law and Society. Dr. Willis discusses the role of science and craft in efforts to reform and improve policing.

CLS Doctoral Student Publishes on Knowledge Transfer in Correctional Settings

Doctoral student Stephanie Maass from the Department of Criminology, Law and Society has published an article discussing how knowledge is transferred into practice in correctional settings. It appears in Perspectives, the journal of the American Probation and Parole Association.

Cochrane at Mason Contributes to Recent Pew Gun Violence Study

Cochrane at Mason staff members have contributed to a recent Pew Research report which examines trends in firearm homicide, non-fatal violent gun crime victimization and non-fatal violent crime victimization over the last two decades.