Department of Criminal Justice

Students and Alumni Comments on Teaching

Fall 2004 l Capital University Journal
CULTIVATING LEADERS
Sac State grads fill region's leadership ranks
By Laurie Hall
Photos: Steve McKay

Sacramento County Sheriff Lou Blanas (left), Sacramento City Fire Chief Julius “Joe” Cherry (center), and City of Sacramento Chief of Police Albert Najera.

“(Sac State's) criminal justice department is the lifeblood of my department,” says Police Chief Albert Najera (‘78, criminal justice.) “My entire management team is primarily a product of Sac State.” It's not surprising that criminal justice is stocking the law enforcement pond. Sac State's criminal justice division is the largest such program west of the Mississippi. Students come for the expertise of the faculty, who not only have a strong grasp of academics but can relate their experiences as former and current police, corrections and parole officers, as military police, and as an ex-ATF agent. Criminal justice is also the first stop for many students pursuing law degrees. Several superior court judges now hearing cases in courtrooms all over the region made some of their first arguments in the confines of Alpine Hall when it was known as the Criminal Justice Building.

"I am a criminal Justice student at California State University of Sacramento which I am vrey proud of. My school is the second best in the nation for my major and I am very happy to be going here. The first best school for Criminal Justice is over on the east coast in New York and I was not willing to move all the way out there. What makes our program here so great is that almost all of the professors have first hand experience in what they are teaching. Most of them have been either in law enforcement in some way or a lawyer. They actually are passionate about what they are teaching because they know how much we really need to learn. The fraternity that I am in, LAE, is the National Criminal Justice Society, Lambda Alpha Epsilon. My chapter's name is Sigma Chi. It is so great to be a part of this program because of what it offers to all of the criminal justice students. Some of its benifits include: job opportunities, shooting competitions, crime scene investigations, many guest speakers, and much much more incluing a great network of people who always will support you with your goals. " Heather Snyder from her web page found at http://webpages.csus.edu/~sac89432/

From a Student on CRJ faculty's teaching:

“Extremely energetic, teaches with great enthusiasm, is very excited about the topic. Completely enjoyable.”