Juvenile Probation Officer Patricia Cantu-Barrios specializes in offenders with mental health issues.
SHSU Alumnus Patricia Cantu-Barrios has a caseload of 15 juveniles from ages 10 to 17 with mental health issues. She works with Tropical Texas Behavioral Health on medication management and on assessing and stabilizing the youth as well as protecting the public. She is only one out of 36 juvenile probation officers that specializes in mental health cases.
A new degree is now available at the College of Criminal Justice. Approved by the Texas State University System Board of Regents, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Victim Studies will prepare graduates for careers in victim service agencies, police departments and correctional facilities, child protective services, programs for at-risk youth, and legal advocacy for victims.
Two SHSU Alumni are among the top staff at two military prisons at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Peter Grande and Major Andrew Deaton lead the only maximum security correctional facility for all branches of the U.S. armed forces and a minimum/medium custody prison. Their experience and knowledge gained while attending SHSU continue to influence new correction practices.
A research project, funded by The National Institute of Justice, will determine why many sexual assault kits go untested by crime labs. Researchers at Sam Houston State and the University of Texas at Austin will team up with other representatives from the criminal justice system in Houston to tackle the issue that affects rape cases across the country.
LEMIT was charged by the Texas Legislature to develop policies, procedures, and training for eyewitness identification. Several high profile criminal cases have been overturned based on faulty eyewitness identification, and LEMIT is hoping to provide a way to minimize this issue.
Faculty, graduate students, and alumni from Sam Houston State University, College of Criminal Justice, continue to lead research in the field of criminal justice. Their articles and books on emerging issues can be found in prominent publishing houses and journals, including the Journal of Criminal Justice, Justice Quarterly, Crime & Delinquency, Criminal Justice Policy Review, and Criminal Justice and Behavior, to name a few.
Support SHSU and the College of Criminal Justice with your time, talents and donations! Visit the Alumni Association or the Friends of CJ to find out how you can help!
