Activities

Professional Lectures

The Criminal Justice Association (CJA) invites working professionals to present lectures and to answer questions on their respective careers.  Some of the recent speakers include representatives from:

• ATF
• DEA
• Community Corrections
• Juvenile Mentor Program
• FBI
• Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force
• Federal Probation and Parole

Firearms Training

During early fall and late spring, Dr. Carl Kinnison supervises students at a local firearms range. All participants must complete a firearms training course before they are allowed to use the range. Weapons are provided, but students are required to purchase ammunition.

Ride Alongs

CJA has coordinated a ride along program with the Cape Girardeau Police Department for several years.  Students can ride Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 until 10:00 p.m.  All participants must complete an application form and students under 21 years of age must secure a parental signature.

Community Service

CJA makes a professional commitment to contribute back to the local community.  The organization selects at least one community service project each semester.  Some of the past projects included a literature drop for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, collecting paper goods for the area safe house, helping clean up low-income neighborhoods, assist in the construction of homes for Habitat for Humanity, participating in the University’s Plunge Day, and sponsoring blood drives.

Participation in Regional and National Meetings

Faculty members and CJA members regularly attend the annual meetings of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the Midwest Criminal Justice Association.  Some of our students have cooperated with faculty members to present research papers at these meetings.

Criminal Justice Day

CJA coordinates and hosts the department’s annual Criminal Justice Day.  CJ Day activities include a career fair and a keynote address.  Representatives from a wide range of criminal justice careers come to campus to provide prospective employees with valuable information about their particular organization and to recruit students for employment.  The CJ Day committee, on the basis of his or her national reputation and contributions to the field, selects the keynote speaker.  Last year’s speaker, Southeast graduate and Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Michael Braun, spoke on his experiences with the DEA.