Criminal Justice Student Organization (CJSA)

CJSA is a student run organization that sponsors speakers and tours within the field of criminal justice. The organization promotes educational and social interaction among students interested in criminal justice topics. It also provides students with an opportunity to speak with professionals in different areas of interest.

Speakers

CJSA & APS sponsor 3-5 presentations a year on various CJ topics of interest. Recent topics include job opportunities, Charles Starkweather murders, K9 units in policing & corrections, polygraph testing, applying to law school, organized crime, arson, & more. Speakers from all areas of CJ are invited including local, state, & federal law enforcement, corrections, the courts & legal system, & diversion services to name a few.

Tours

CJSA & APS organize 1-2 tours a year to places like the Nebraska State Penitentiary, Lincoln Correctional Center, and the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab.

Projects and Activities

CJSA & APS participate in a variety of activities each year including Big Red Welcome and the UNL Career Fair where they sponsor a special career session focusing on criminal justice careers. They also participate in Project CLASS at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in recent years.

NU Directions

Volunteer Compliance Checks CJSA has been involved in various volunteer activities intended to benefit the UNL and surrounding Lincoln community. Most recently, approximately 15 CJSA members worked in conjunction with the NU Directions Project to determine if off sale businesses in the Lincoln community were checking IDs for college age people attempting to purchase alcoholic beverages. The larger goal of the NU Directions Project is to reduce binge drinking on campus.

UNL Career Fair

For the last several years, CJSA has organized a special "Careers in Criminal Justice" session at the annual spring UNL Career Fair held at the Student Union on the City Campus. A different theme is pursued each year to highlight different career avenues within the field of criminal justice.

Big Red Welcome

CJSA is an active participant in Big Red Welcome every August.

Social Activities

CJSA sponsors around 3 social activities each year including a "Back-to-School Hot Dog Social," a "Student-Professor Happy Hour," and "End of the Semester Parties." CJSA has also sponsored movie nights with pizza, which is always a lot of fun!

Project CLASS

At various times over the last several years, CJSA has been involved in Project CLASS, which is sponsored and organized by Nebraska State Penitentiary inmates. Project CLASS is intended to provide both inmates and students with a forum for discussing prison life and issues surrounding the experiences of inmates and corrections in general.

Volunteer Opportunities

CJSA & APS give back to the university and surrounding Lincoln community by participating in volunteer activities. CJSA & APS participate in the NU Directions Project by assisting with compliance checks at offsale facilities. NU Directions is geared toward reducing binge drinking on campus.