In light of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, understanding security within one’s workplace has been on the minds of millions across the country. Every year, more than 572,000 Americans fall victim to Workplace Violence. Defined by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) as any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting, Workplace Violence is one of the leading causes of job-related deaths. For the past few years, SPS’s Criminal Justice and Security Management Program has hosted an annual event to bring together a panel of experts in their field to discuss prevalent topics faced by those in the security field and other related industries. This year’s panel of workplace violence and threat management experts will discuss the key elements of Boeing’s innovative Threat Management Program, the true impact of Workplace Violence, and how to prepare yourself and your company to handle it. This year’s panel members include two members of Boeing’s Enterprise Threat Management Team, Christina Holbrook and Dave Bixler, Bill Naughton, Boeing’s Senior Manager of Security and Fire Protection for the Midwest/East Region, and Major Donovan Kenton, Deputy Chief of Operations for the St. Charles Police Department.

The Criminal Justice and Security Management Program (CJSM) at SPS provides a unique Bachelor’s degree in that it devotes time to both the public and private sides of these two areas. No other degree offers this type of combination to its students. Within the program, students can choose one of three areas to specialize in: Criminal Justice, Security Management, or Security Management Technology. The latter combines both investigative security courses and computer science topics. By providing a variety of topics, students within the program are able to cater their course choices to benefiting their career goals. For example, I see a lot of students with retail backgrounds, but they are tired of being assistant managers or salespeople, and want a change. I like to see these people take courses such as CJST 335, which focuses on Risk Management and an instructor who worked with retail stores. Making a change from your current career to one within the Criminal Justice or Security field can be done if you are dedicated to the coursework and are open to making connections with the course instructors. Another excellent asset within the program is the instructors who are currently in the field. By reaching out to an instructor who has made a career in a specific area of the Criminal Justice or Security field, you may be able to begin making the connections you need to further your knowledge about your area of interest. One of the best places to network with many of these industry leaders is at our annual panel discussion event.

Each year the program chooses a topic that is not only relevant to the industry, but also can appeal to those in other fields. Workplace Violence was the most common topic mentioned by last year’s attendees as the topic they would like to see featured at the event. This event will take place on March 7^th, 2013 in the Wool Ballrooms of Busch Student Center. A small reception will be held at 5:30 p.m., and the event begins at 6:00, and will feature a presentation from our panelists, a directed Q & A session, and then attendees will have a chance to ask their own questions. If you have ever wondered how a hypothetical situation could be handled in your workplace, or you would like to learn how another company creates a threat management system, than this is a great event to attend. In addition, it is a great opportunity to learn more about how the two areas of Criminal Justice and Security Management can intertwine and work together to achieve goals.

To RSVP, please visit: alumni.slu.edu/spspanel13.

To learn more about the online Criminal Justice Bachelor’s program at SLU, visit busyadults.slu.edu.

Students with criminal justice interests often wonder whether they should obtain a degree in Criminal Justice or a degree in Criminology. In fact, some students believe the two fields are the same, but they are not.

Criminology is the study of theory and behavior, just as other “-ology” subjects do. Similar to Sociology and Psychology, Criminology students will find a lot of their work based in science, theory, and the analysis of criminal behavior. Examples of courses to take are Theories of Crime, Crime Analysis, Psychology of the Criminal Mind, Children and Violence, Criminal Profiling, Decision Making and Problem Solving in Criminology, and Research Methodology.

Criminal Justice, on the other hand, is more of a study of procedures, processes, and structures of the criminal justice system. Examples of courses are Introduction to the Criminal Justice System, Constitutional Criminal Procedures and Issues, Criminal Law and Evidence, Criminal Investigations, Computer Crimes, and Introductions to Corrections, Courts, and Juvenile Justice System.

A BIG difference exists between the two degrees; know what you’re getting yourself into.

Which degree should you obtain? That depends on your proclivity. Do you want to be a researcher, college professor, correctional planner, or social worker (to name just a few options)? If so, go for the criminology degree. Do you want to work within the criminal justice system, social services, or private sector security? If so, go for the criminal justice degree. Decide what your initial career goals are, decide on a program that fits those needs, and pursue a program with an accredited university.

Some good questions to ask a university’s admissions team include: What courses are offered? Where have graduates found jobs after completing their degrees? Ask the right questions to ensure your degree matches your desired career!

Several online blogs allow for students to discuss their career questions and what programs are the best for what they wish to do. One of these, the Criminal Justice Online blog, gives students a place to ask questions. The author, a graduate of Boston University’s Masters in Criminal Justice, offers his opinions and tries to direct students with links to additional resources. He also offers a thread regarding the Criminal Justice or Criminology question.

When choosing Saint Louis University’s (SLU) School for Professional Studies (SPS) Criminal Justice and Security Management program, you are receiving not only a unique criminal justice/security education, but a degree from a university with a reputation for excellence. One of our professors notably stated that, in his business, “having a degree from SLU will get you noticed.” The faculty and staff at SPS work with students to learn about the students’ goals are, and they try to assist in creating connections to get students involved in the work they wish to be doing.

If you have questions regarding more differences as well as the styles of instruction, please visit the blog link in the previous paragraph or feel free to contact the Criminal Justice and Security Management program at mmalon27@slu.edu.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/-wit-/63985029/

Hello from the School for Professional Studies’ Criminal Justice and Security Management Program! We’re halfway through Spring 1, and we’re excited about our upcoming Panel Discussion on “Cyber Attacks: Advanced Persistent Threats.” It is being held Thursday, March 10th, 2011 in the Busch Student Center, Rooms 172-173. It will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and complimentary cocktails and hors d’ouerves will be served.

Is 2011 the year of the cyber attack? Globally, numerous government entities and companies have already been attacked by Advanced Persistent Threats (APT). These threats are not simple one-time hacker attempts, but sophisticated ongoing cyber attacks that steal and change sensitive data and information over a long-term period.

These attacks cannot be easily removed from computer networks. The first step, though, is to understand what separates these threats from traditional, human-hacker attacks. With APT, prevention is ideal, but detection is a must. The panel will discuss these differences and the fundamentals of detection.

We have a fantastic panel of speakers for this panel, including Larry Cockell (Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer for Time Warner, Inc., and former Deputy Director of the United States Secret Service), Jeff Pricher (Technical Director, Information Security at Savvis, Inc., and Cyber Operations Officer at Missouri Air National Guard), Joseph Malec (Security Analyst, and President of Information Systems Security Association-St. Louis Chapter), Dr. Ed Wassall (Director, Precon Systems Engineering, Guarantee Electrical, and former Senior Vice President Integration Services, SBC Communications), and Brad Breier (Unit Chief, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cyber Division).

Interested? Register for this free event. We’re excited to beable to also offer complimentary parking across the street at the

Laclede Garage: 3642 Laclede Ave., St. Louis Mo 63108.

For more information or questions regarding this event, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@slu.edu or 314-977-2250, or contact Dr. Marita Malone, Criminal Justice and Security Management, School for Professional Studies, 314-977-3204.

Photo Credit: http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-2830319467

I decided for this blog posting that I would provide some insight regarding jobs in the field of Criminal Justice and Security Management.

If you’re interested in highly coveted government job, check the Internet under “Office of Inspector General” and see how many hits you receive. MANY jobs are in the federal system, some requiring no degree, some a baccalaureate, and others an advanced degree. If you are interested in being a Special Agent (you can not apply until you’re 35 years old and older if you have military experience), agencies such as the Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Post Office require advanced degrees.

However, the Drug Enforcement Administration and almost all of the Offices of the Inspector General require a bachelor’s degree and might hire you with limited professional experience. Special Agent positions in the Offices of the Inspector General and law enforcement agencies do not have some of the “blood and gore” that local and state law enforcement people confront, with the exception of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The advantage of the Criminal Justice and Security Management (CJSM) degree is that it opens your options to the private and the public sector. To be a supervisor of security, you will need some entry level experience, or come from a law enforcement agency.

When I say entry level, I do not necessarily mean a security guard, although many security positions pay more than what you might be currently making. Starting from the ground level as a security guard, unless the salary is higher than your current salary, is not the best move for advancement. Loss prevention investigators or a support position with a security division might be a better start.

If you’re currently in law enforcement, you cannot assume that moving into a private sector management position will be easy, because you lack the terminology and culture of private security (“Talk the talk, and walk the walk”). The CJSM degree will help you with that.

To help you get started in your job search, check out some of these resources:

• Drug Enforcement Administration
• State and Federal Police Careers
• Federal Jobs Locator
• Corrections and Probations Jobs
• Loss Prevention Jobs

If there are other good places to start, please feel free to comment and share.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/djackmanson/3870849170/

In the Fall of 2009 Saint Louis University’s School for Professional Studies initiated a unique degree called Criminal Justice and Security Management. The degree is unique in that the knowledge from the course offerings bridges two formerly distinct disciplines, the private and public security sectors, giving student strengths that historically have been weaknesses in a singular sector.

Students choose a track in criminal justice, security management, or security management technology to complete the degree, although the major courses are a combination of both fields. This degree provides a student with more professional options. Students who already have a degree and are seeking other career or promotional opportunities may obtain an 18-hour certificate in any of the three tracks.

What are the differences between the two fields? Criminal justice does not have the same “bottom line” as security management. The former’s bottom line is measured in service, law and order. The latter’s bottom line items are revenue and the shareholder satisfaction. Hence, the priorities of each sector are different.

In criminal justice, due process, rule of law and obedience to the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, along with thorough, fair investigations, are priorities.

In the corporate security world, risk and liability, protection of corporate assets, to include data and reputation, and human resource and legal issues in organizations are priorities.

If an employee was found bilking a company of hundreds of thousands of dollars, a law enforcement official would investigate and bring criminal charges. The security officer would be confronted by a chief executive officer (CEO), who would first determine how knowledge of the criminal activity might affect the shareholders and the reputation of the company; if it is detrimental to the company to prosecute, the CEO might just fire the employee and hope the whole incident goes away.

The criminal justice field’s strengths are comprehension
of the law, the criminal process, and the investigation of a crime. Private security understands crime prevention, risk management and cyber security.

The Criminal Justice and Security Management Program builds on the strengths of each side of the security house. When a student takes the major courses of the degree, he or she understands the reasons why people commit crime, the administration of the criminal justice system and corporate security, the principles of security, crime prevention and loss prevention, the safety sciences, constitutional and criminal law, evidence, and criminal investigations.

If a student chooses the security management technology emphasis or certificate, the student will still have a combination of law enforcement and private security knowledge. The coursework is steeped in basic computer understanding, such as networking, data analysis and design, and information systems and technology. The courses also cover areas that are essential to both sides of the security house: information systems security, computer crime investigations, and computer forensics.

The security management technology track meets two needs of the criminal justice and security management field.

First, in the private sector the information technology (IT) and security folks often conflict. When the security professional sees a need to investigate a company policy violation, the investigator often does not know how to access the computer. The IT people have the expertise to find the information, but do not know how to investigate the violation.

Second, in the law enforcement realm, officers tend to shy away from investigations that deal with computers because they do not understand how to work a computer crime (similar to the IT people), or how to get into the computer.

The security management technology track remedies both concerns. Knowing this information allows the security professionals to work closely with their IT counterparts, and the law enforcement official to move forward confidently in cyber crime investigations.

Photo Credit: http://www.123rf.com