South University hosts Crime Stopper expert for guest lecture
Thursday, March 12, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. - March 12, 2009 - On Wednesday, 15 Criminal Justice and Legal Studies students at South University learned first-hand about crime prevention and crime solving from Tom Lucas, President of the Spartanburg Crime Stoppers. He was the guest lecturer for the 10:30 a.m. Criminal Law course, which provides an introduction to the fundamental nature of law, with an overview of legal principles to develop and understanding of the historical development of criminal law in its contemporary form.
Lucas is responsible for spearheading a new and creative crime-solving initiative in South Carolina last Fall. He noticed that incarcerated men and women in the state prison system play cards often, and now they do so with decks of cards adorned with photographs of victims of unsolved crime and details about the crime. Inmates are known for talking about their criminal actions, and the playing cards can encourage inmates to report, anonymously, new information about unsolved crimes. The revenues generated from the sale of the playing cards will be used to produce new decks with new unsolved crimes.
“Our students were impressed with Mr. Lucas’s knowledge and perspective on the criminal justice system,” said Denny C. Powers, MFS, EdS., South University’s program director for the Criminal Justice Department. “The Lucas family’s son is the subject of a five-year old unsolved murder, so his empathy for the victims and his commitment to make a difference engages our students and increases their comprehension.”
About the Criminal Justice Program
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program is for criminal justice practitioners who want to advance their education and careers, for those in other occupations looking to make a change and for high school graduates preparing for a future in the criminal justice field. The program curriculum offers a comprehensive, relevant, practitioner-oriented preparation for this dynamic, rapidly growing profession. Students may choose one of five areas of emphasis: juvenile justice, corrections, law enforcement, crime scene investigation and cyber crime, or students may design a degree specialization in consultation with academic advisors. Coursework focuses on the development of real-world knowledge of the criminal justice system in all its complexities, and explores the social, legal, and technological challenges of the field. Graduates will be prepared to pursue entry-level positions or to apply their understanding of law enforcement, criminology, the judicial process, juvenile justice, corrections and criminal law to their current occupation or to graduate-level studies.
About South University
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels with campuses located in Columbia, S.C., Montgomery, Ala., Savannah, Ga., Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla. Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu