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Department of Justice Studies

The Department of Justice Studies is home to two distinct undergraduate programs: the Bachelor of Human Justice, and the Bachelor of Arts in Police Studies. These innovative programs prepare students for a wide variety of careers in the justice field.

Justice Studies' courses draw upon various academic disciplines such as anthropology, criminology, economics, geography, history, law, psychology, religious studies, and sociology integrating criminal, restorative and legal justice, and importantly social justice and human rights.

Justice Studies students have the opportunity to prepare for justice careers as pre-service professionals applying their knowledge, skills and attitudes at community, provincial, national and international levels with police services, restorative justice programs, correctional facilities, probation and parole services, human rights organizations, social services, and advocacy organizations with government and community-based organizations. This aspect of our programs emphasizes the value of integrating theory in practice and through learning by doing.

Human Justice students complete two practicum placements in justice organizations where they gain valuable professional knowledge, skills and attitudes that will afford them a solid foundation in their chosen justice careers.

During the final year of the Police Studies program, Professional Track students seek competitive admission to become a police officer and complete a one-year program of police college and on-the-job training, while Academic Track students complete additional university courses and a police-oriented practicum experiential learning placement.

UR Restorative Justice Club

Per their mission statement, the UR Restorative Justice Club "aims to promote the principles and values of Restorative Justice through processes, including dialogue, campaigns, circles, conferences, education, outreach, and research with academics, community members, practitioners, post-secondary volunteers, and skilled facilitators."

Future events can be found via their Instagram page.

Contact Us

Department of Justice Studies

University of Regina
Classroom Building, CL 343
3737 Wascana Parkway
Regina, SK  S4S 0A2

Administrative Assistant

Corie Smith
Phone: 306-585-4779

Department Head

Stuart Wilson

Associate Department Head

James Gacek

Practicum Coordinator

David Flomo

Announcements and Events

Justice Scales

Justice Studies Research Presentation October 31

 

The Department of Justice Studies is pleased to invite members of the University of Regina community to the following lecture.

Date: Thursday October 31 2024

Time: 1430-1545

Location: Education Building, Room 314

 Speaker: Dr Ashley Hewitt

 Lecture: The Role of Environmental Criminology in Sexual Crime Patterns: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Environmental criminology emphasizes the role that both space and time play in the etiology of crime. Seldom has this perspective been applied to the study of sexual violence. This research presentation provides an overview of multiple international studies on the spatial and temporal patterns of sexual crimes. Findings indicate that there are distinct trends underlying this type of violence. The implications of this work for criminological theory and criminal justice practice will be discussed. Directions for future research will also be provided.

Bio:

Ashley Nicole Hewitt (she/her) completed a Ph.D. and Master of Arts in Criminology at Simon Fraser University. Over the past decade, Dr. Hewitt has amassed an extensive portfolio of research. She is currently a Director of Applied Research and Development with the Government of Saskatchewan. Prior to this, she was an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University. Using both spatial and quantitative methodologies, her research applies theories of environmental criminology to better understand the crime commission and decision-making processes of violent offenders. Dr. Hewitt has taught and mentored students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has also received several awards for her contributions to university research, teaching, and service.

This research presentation is being held as part of faculty recruitment in the Department of Justice Studies. Faculty, students and staff are invited and welcome to attend.

justice scales

Justice Studies Research Presentation November 6

 

The Department of Justice Studies is pleased to invite members of the University of Regina community to the following lecture.

Date:  November 6, 2024

Time: 1430-1545

Location: La Cite – CT 215

 Speaker: Dr Jessica Templeman

Lecture: Removing Criminalized Migrants: Sentencing, Inadmissibility, and Race

 The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act authorizes the removal of permanent residents and foreign nationals for serious criminality where they are convicted of offences carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years or more, or where sentenced to more than 6 months incarceration. With the enactment of the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, permanent residents retain the right to appeal their removal but only if sentenced to less than six months imprisonment. Sentencing is, as a result, critical for determinations on removal in the immigration system and access to due process protections. My research broadly explores the establishment, evolution, and effects of these interconnections between the immigration and criminal systems in Canada. In this presentation, I draw from my doctoral project to trace the effects of decision making on sentence, exposing how the repetition of racist ideas in criminal courts functions to justify the application of sanctions that support the removal of racialized migrants. I contend that the immigration and criminal systems in Canada co-operate to support the exclusion and expulsion of racialized migrants from the nation.

Bio:

Jessica Templeman holds a Ph.D. in Socio-Legal Studies from York University. She held visiting scholar positions at Oxford University's Centre for Criminology and at the Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto during the completion of her doctoral degree. Her SSHRC funded doctoral project broadly examined the nature and effects of discretionary considerations of collateral consequences at sentencing in Ontario based courts. She is currently in the process of translating her dissertation into a book manuscript for UBC Press. Dr. Templeman now holds a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia. Her postdoctoral work examines decision making on removal based on criminality in the immigration system. 

This research presentation is being held as part of faculty recruitment in the Department of Justice Studies. Faculty, students and staff are invited and welcome to attend.

Alumni Award

2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

 

On behalf of the University of Regina and the University of Regina Alumni Association (URRA), the Dept. of Justice Studies is pleased to announce that an alumna is receiving an Alumni Crowning Achievement Award this year:

Ashley Major BHJ’12 is the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Award

 The Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards (ACAAs) are one of the highest honours the University of Regina bestows upon its alumni. The University established the ACAAs in 1992 to honour its extraordinary alumni for their outstanding achievements and innovation, commitment to excellence, community engagement and leadership, and impact on the social, cultural, and economic well-being of our communities.

FAQ: Prospective Students - Human Justice

What is a Bachelor of Human Justice degree?
The Bachelor of Human Justice (BHJ) is a 120-credit-hour degree with an applied professional focus. Students gain an in-depth understanding of justice related to criminal and social justice in both Canadian and international contexts.

Students will acquire skills in analytical and critical thinking and human service practices complementing their general university studies and the liberal arts.

The Introductory and Advanced Practica are features of the BHJ program; students earning academic credit acquiring professional experience. Courses in the BHJ program are offered by faculty and practicing professionals.

The BHJ program prepares students for post-graduate work in fields such as law, criminology, justice studies, social justice, and human rights.
What are some of the career paths with a Bachelor of Human Justice degree?
Human Justice undergraduates have found careers in: law enforcement; corrections; anti-poverty work; human rights; mental health and substance abuse; community development; and policy and research among other justice fields.

FAQ: Prospective Students - Police Studies

What is a Bachelor of Arts in Police Studies?
The BA in Police Studies is a four-year degree, recognized as the best educational preparation for a career in policing in Saskatchewan.
Why would I want to get a degree if I want to be a police officer?
Contemporary policing is becoming increasingly professional, and that means that educational preparation is becoming increasingly important. The BA in Police Studies provides an excellent foundation for a successful application, and for a successful career.
How do I know that this is the "best" education I can get?

The BA in Police Studies has been recognized as the “best” in formal agreements signed by the Saskatchewan Police Commission, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers – the whole policing community in Saskatchewan. It has also been recognized formally by other organizations, such as the RCMP/GRC and the Edmonton Police Service.

The degree was developed by the University of Regina in partnership with the Saskatchewan Police Commission, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers, and was specifically designed to meet the needs of modern police services. An Advisory Board that includes members from all those groups oversees the Program at all times, which guarantees that it will always be up to date, and offer the best education available.

What is the Police Studies Program like?
Students begin with three years of academic course work. They then apply for employment with a police service and, if successful, will attend the Saskatchewan Police College - which is located at the University of Regina. They are paid for this, and receive academic credit toward the degree. They complete the degree with a one-term internship with their police service.
What courses will I take?
There are some required courses, and other parts of the Program that give you the freedom to choose your own courses. You will learn about matters ranging from the place of law and policing in the contemporary world, to the diversity of Canadian society. If you want to learn more, you can go to the following website.
What if I'm not sure what I want to do?
The BA in Police Studies includes all the first year courses required in all Arts degrees - so it is easy to transfer to another major. Also, if you don't go to Police College after the third year, you can take one more year of courses and graduate with the BA in Justice Studies.
Is there anything else I can do with these courses?
These degrees (BA in Police Studies and BA in Justice Studies) are excellent preparation for a wide range of career paths. You might think about work in corrections, probation or parole, going to law school, or working in the rapidly growing field of investigations and security.
How do I enroll?
ll you do is apply for admission to the Faculty of Arts at the University of Regina. Once you are accepted you simply declare that your major is Police Studies. We have student counselors who will help you get into the right courses.
Is there anything else I should know?
You should know that the University of Regina will do whatever it can to make sure your studies go well, and to help you make a successful career. There are workshops to help you with things like writing papers or preparing job applications. There are career fairs on campus every year, just for Police Studies students, and other programs designed to guarantee that our students will have the best possible preparation for a career in policing. (And all these things are free!) We also have a graduate program, which is specially designed for people working in the policing field, and many other police-related activities, ranging from research with our police partners to international conferences.

E-mail the Department of Justice Studies

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