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 CJ program received Law Enforcement Assistance Administration funding in 1970 to offer 5 classes to 225 students interested in becoming law enforcement officers.  Dr. Graves expanded those initial classes to propose a Criminal Justice major and Baccalaureate degree program which was consistent with programs at other Universities.  In 1973, Dr. Graves received approval from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education that UTEP's CJ program met 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 earliest instructors and the courses they taught included:

• Honorable Sam Callan, 205th District Court of El Paso, taught Criminal Procedures and Evidence (CRIJ 3205).
• Honorable Edward Marguez, 65th District Court, taught Police Role in Crime and Delinquency (CRIJ 3303).
• Warden Riggsby, La Tuna Correctional Facility, taught Penology (CRIJ 3305).
• Chester McLaughlin, Chief Federal Probation Officer for West Texas, taught Probation and Parole (CRIJ 3306).
• Ernest A. Guinn Jr.,taught Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIJ 3101)  and Police Community Relations (CRIJ 3304)
• Dr. Joseph Graves taught Constitutional Law (POLS 3328) and Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement (CRIJ 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: The number of CJ majors (n=650) were some of the highest in the College at that time

2006: Dr. Fernando Rodriguez, Sociology Dept becomes CJ program director 2006-2011

2012: Criminal Justice becomes an independent department.

          Dr. Mary Cuadrado becomes Department Chair, 2012-2016.

          Homeland Security classes in CJ are added to the newly formed INSS minor program

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

2016:  Dr. Leanne Alarid becomes department chair, from 2016-2022

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

2019:  The Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice degree is approved by the Board of Regents.

          Fall: The National Security Studies Institute faculty and all its degree programs (BASS, DSS, and INSS)

          are merged under the Department of Criminal Justice. 

2022: Dr. Egbert Zavala becomes department chair.

2023: (May 1): Texas High Education Coordinating Board approves department name change to Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies.