Department History

The Department of Criminal Justice at The University of Texas at El Paso traces its history to the early 1970s. Founded by Dr. Joseph B. Graves, Professor in the Department of Political Science, the program paralleled similar programs under development at other U.S. universities by providing federally funded training for law enforcement officers. Although the degree had not yet been established, 225 students were enrolled in five classes.  In 1973, Dr. Graves received approval from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, acknowledging that the university program had met the state standards. The first class to graduate with their bachelors’ degree in criminal justice was in May 1974. Educators and judges who held extensive knowledge in the field taught the courses. Some of the more notable instructors and the courses they taught include:

• Honorable Sam Callan, 205th District Court of El Paso, taught Criminal Procedures and Evidence (Criminal Justice 3205).
• Honorable Edward Marguez, 65th District Court, taught Police Role in Crime and Delinquency (Criminal Justice 3303).
• Warden Riggsby, La Tuna Correctional Facility, taught Penology (Criminal Justice 3305).
• Chester McLaughlin, Chief Federal Probation Officer for West Texas, taught Probation and Parole (Criminal Justice 3306).
• Ernest A. Guinn Jr.,taught Introduction to Criminal Justice (Criminal Justice 3101)  and Police Community Relations (Criminal Justice 3304)
• Dr. Joseph Graves taught Constitutional Law (POLS 3328) and Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement (Criminal Justice 3200).
  

  TIMELINE OF NOTABLE EVENTS

  1970-1973: UTEP applies for federal funding through the Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP)

  1971: B.A. in Law Enforcement degree proposed through LEEP (proposal denied)

  1972:  UTEP Dept. of Political Science agrees to sponsor five CJ courses

  1973   (April 19): B.S. in Criminal Justice approved by UT Board of Regents

             (October 31): B.S. in Criminal Justice approved by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

             CJ Degree program administered under the Dept. of Political Science

            Dr. Joseph Graves Becomes the first CJ program director

  1974:  (May) First CJ degree graduating class

  1975: (Fall) 275 CJ majors, two full-time and five part-time faculty

  1978: (Fall) 569 CJ majors, three full-time and six part-time faculty

            Department of Criminal Justice established as an independent department at UTEP

  1979: Five graduate CJ classes added to the catalog under the MPA degree program

  1981: LEEP/LEAA funding ends in FY 1981-1982

  1982: The Department of CJ is administratively restructured as a program under the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (where the program remained for 30 years)

  1986: Minor in Criminal Justice is approved

  1987: Bachelor of Science degree is replaced by a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice; 425 majors in CJ program

  1990: CJ program was restructured with joint appointments (most faculty had tenure homes outside CJ)

  1992: Dr. Roy Malpass (Psychology Dept) becomes CJ program director until 2005

  1994: 650 CJ majors

  2006: Dr. Fernando Rodriguez (Sociology Dept) becomes CJ program director until 2011

  2012: Homeland Security class curriculum leaves CJ and is added to the INSS program

            Criminal Justice was established as an independent department at UTEP, with Dr. Mary Cuadrado as the first female chair.

  2014:  Criminal Justice becomes UTEP's first 100% online degree program for undergraduate majors

  2016: Dr. Leanne Alarid becomes department chair

  2017: The Department of CJ moves its location from the Liberal Arts Building to its newly renovated space in Education Building, Suite 111

  2018: A Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice is currently being proposed.  It has NOT YET been approved.