Middlesex Community College: MCC Re-Focuses Criminal Justice Program To Emphasize Social Justice

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

7/29/2021

When the Criminal Justice program came up for a curriculum review in the Spring 2021 semester, Middlesex Community College took the opportunity to make the program more representative of current times. MCC’s Criminal and Social Justice program will debut in the Fall 2021 semester to provide students in the field with a more equitable and culturally conscious curriculum.

Having been with the college for over 30 years, Middlesex Criminal and Social Justice Chair Lynda Pintrich wants to continue developing and updating the program to best fit students’ needs. The updated program now offers one tract with a focus on helping students transfer to four-year colleges and universities – particularly in Massachusetts – as well as preparing them to enter or progress in the workforce.

“Because of everything that is happening in the country and worldwide, we’ve been putting a lot more focus on certain issues in our classrooms,” Pintrich said. “I think any person going into this field right now really needs to have good critical thinking skills and be aware of issues around social justice and diversity.”

In addition to focusing on core classes recommended by the state – Criminal Justice, Police Operations, Criminal Law, Criminology and Corrections – students in the program are now required to take three Humanities courses with at least one in Communications. The program is hoping to prepare students with broader opportunities for a future career in the field as they also provide them with courses that will give them a more well-rounded education.

“We built in much more opportunity to have open discussions about some very serious criminal and social justice issues,” Pintrich said. “The better students can think critically and problem solve, it increases their chances of getting a job and being able to do that job well. It’s also giving students the ability to see the bigger picture and to understand that just as in life, most things in the criminal justice system are not clear cut.”

With four full-time faculty members working in the program, Pintrich appreciates that they share a progressive outlook but different thought processes to keep the curriculum up-to-date and relevant. When developing the updated program, Criminal and Social Justice faculty researched how to better educate and reach a diverse population of students in order to meet the needs of all students.

“We realized there are certain things we need to do to better engage people of different races, genders and incomes,” Pintrich said. “We are going to focus more on direct recruiting, engagement opportunities and service projects. We’re firm believers that everyone learns differently so it’s important to provide different ways to be evaluated and to learn.”

Before the pandemic, the department provided service-learning opportunities. Students worked with the Bedford Police Department to analyze a location where there was a high accident rate. They also volunteered at MCC’s campus food pantries where they had a chance to run a personal hygiene drive and conduct a survey about housing insecurity.

Heloisa DaCunha, MCC Assistant Professor of Criminal and Social Justice, also puts together a weekend-long event – including a virtual version during the pandemic – where local professionals in various Criminal Justice fields talk to Middlesex students about their careers, backgrounds and experiences.

Students entering the program in the Fall 2021 semester can expect to follow the Criminal and Social Justice program, while those already taking classes can finish out the previous curriculum. Classes will include a hybrid format of both on campus and online work. While students come into class one day a week, they will also complete work and have access to resources online.

MCC’s Criminal and Social Justice program can also be completed fully online for students who prefer the flexibility of working at their own pace, on their own time online with no class meeting times. This includes the required Forensic Science course that students previously had to take a lab component in person, and now offers an online lab option.

Pintrich is excited to debut the updated program and continue offering students opportunities inside and outside of the classroom to help them succeed in their academic, professional and personal paths.

“The Criminal and Social Justice program is in position to better educate our students to go out and work in the changing system,” Pintrich said. “I like to see the way they grow in our program as people.”

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.