Center for the Study of Crime and Justice in the Black Community

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CRIME AND JUSTICE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES

CSCJBC Logo

History and Purpose
In 2007, the Center for the Study of Crime and Justice in Black Communities (CSCJBC) was established in the Department of Pan-African Studies (PAS) at the University of Louisville. CSCJBC develops and supports ongoing research projects that examine multifaceted and critical real-world issues involving crime and justice particularly among black populations. While crime is certainly a generalized American problem, statistics on violent crime, disproportionate incarceration, recidivism and other variables lead us to believe crime in black communities definitely has specialized aspects that warrant examination.

Founded in 1973, PAS is the only department of its kind in the state of Kentucky. It is one of less then 30 such departments in the country to offer the masters degree in the field. The multi-disciplinary nature of the Pan-African Studies faculty as well as its targeted historical mission to deal with problems of race make it uniquely qualified to deal with issues of crime and justice in black communities. CSCJBC is also in keeping with the University of Louisville's mission as a premier metropolitan research university that explores pressing problems of the community that houses it.

The Center produces research reports and papers on annually chosen topics, offer symposia, speakers, and create opportunities for university faculty, public officials, and community agencies to become partners in community planning and development of public policy initiatives that foster substantive change in the city of Louisville as well as the state of Kentucky and across the country.

Mission
The mission of CSCJBC is to promote research and teaching to the community of faculty, staff, and students at the University of Louisville as well as community members and officials who construct and pass public policy on issues related to crime among black populations. Through singular and collaborative efforts, CSCJBC exists to cultivate new perspectives and public policy initiatives which seek correctives to the issues chosen for exploration. The goals of CSCJBC reflect those promoted by the University of Louisville and the College of Arts and Sciences of enhancing research and scholarly activities with the aim of achieving national prominence, promoting intercultural understanding, and cultivating real-world change in ever-evolving communities.

Activities and Benefits
CSCJBC’s research includes, but is not limited to, the following targeted areas:

Violent and non-violent crime trends in black communities (nationally and internationally)
Education, poverty, employment/unemployment and crime
Disproportionate sentencing
Federal and state law changes and their impact (i.e. drug laws, three strikes, mandatory sentencing, etc.)
Popular culture and crime
Mental health and the justice system
Youth, crime and the juvenile justice system
Gender and crime
Prison privatization and its effects
Societal reintegration and recidivism

CSCBJC seeks to not only respond to continued public and media attention to violence in the local black community, but to also explore reasons behind it and offer correctives. So, while the name of the Center correctly speaks to an interest in crime, it is about much more. For instance, the Center’s research on education examines a number of factors not commonly studied. Is there a correlation between disproportionate special education tracking of black males and their later involvement in crime? How well are state delivery systems of criminal justice professionals in black communities working (i.e. how well are state university law schools doing in recruiting and graduating black law students who can represent the studied population, elevate to the bench, etc.)?

CSCJBC is an organic, targeted, clear, and committed long-term endeavor that helps to further the University’s goals of promoting cutting-edge research by the faculty, graduate students and undergraduates. It also hosts scholarly conferences, symposia, workshops and speakers, and issues annual papers and policy reports.

For more information contact:

Ricky L. Jones, Ph.D.,
Director, CSCJBC
ricky.jones@louisville.edu

Brian E. Edwards, J.D.,
Associate Director, CSCJBC
bcedwa01@gwise.louisville.edu

Phone: (502) 852-5985