5-9-08
"Two Unforgettable Weeks"
Read about Erica Busard's experience as a study abroad student in Russia on
pp. 2-3 of the spring 2008 issue of INTER-NEWS, the newsletter of the Division of International Criminology of the American Society of Criminology.

In this same issue, on pp. 7-10, read about Associate Professor K. Michael Reynolds' experience as a Fulbright scholar at Russia's Volgograd Law Academy in the fall of 2007.

5-5-08
Megan Policastro: Raised More Than $20,000 for Charities While
at UCF

During her time at UCF, Megan Policastro, of Deltona, was a “fund-raising machine.” Her philanthropic efforts have raised more than $20,000 for charities, including the Children’s Miracle Network, American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

Policastro says it’s because she is “really passionate about raising money and awareness for these organizations.”

A legal studies major with a minor in political science, Policastro will go on to University of Florida Levin College of Law in the fall to pursue a career in environmental law and hopes to eventually land a job in Florida government.

Policastro graduated UCF as a Burnett Honors College student and the President’s Leadership Council chair. She was one of 11 undergraduates named to the Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious student award given by the university. She was selected the college's Founders' Day student for 2008.

Policastro plans to pursue a career in environmental law.

2-6-08
Bohm Receives National Professional Award
Robert Bohm, professor of criminal justice, is the 2008 recipient of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Bruce Smith Sr. Award. The honor is given to one individual each year "in recognition of outstanding contributions to criminal justice as an academic or professional endeavor."

1-2-08
UCF Professor Introduces Crime Analysis Mapping Techniques to Russia's Future Police Force
Associate Professor Mike Reynolds is working with the Volgograd Law Academy to introduce data-driven crime analysis mapping techniques.

December 2007
For the Record
Read the latest issue of the department's annual news publication.

11-21-07
Two UCF Teams Take Top Honors at Mock Trial Competitions
Two UCF Mock Trial Teams have won national competitions this month.

10-29-07
UCF Places in Southeastern Mock Trial Tournament
After three days and four rounds of grueling competition, the Mock Trial Team at UCF (Team 868) took second place at the Southeastern Mock Trial Tournament in late October, according to Margarita Koblasz, faculty coordinator for the team. The winning team members are Brenna Egan (captain), Tiffany Colbert, Sam Bird, Mike Quintero, Erica Emas, Jessica Kennedy, Andrew Doyle, Ben Abel and Genesh Chen-Shue. Colbert and Egan, along with Jordon Ostroff and Marcus Rein, also took awards for their individual performances.

10-18-07
Annual Auction for Amy Kuritar-Lohrmann Memorial Scholarship
7 p.m., FAIRWINDS Alumni Center

10-14-07
Second Fall 2007 Newsletter for Students
The department's newsletter provides information for students about scholarships, study abroad programs, internship opportunities and one-day seminars.

10-3-07
Legal and Criminal Justice Careers Symposium
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Career workshop for students
5:30 to 6 p.m.: Hors d'oeuvres and networking
6 to 8 p.m.: Symposium
FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, Orlando campus
The year's symposium will feature Richard Berry ('04), UCF police chief, as the keynote speaker.
Sponsored by the Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Alumni Chapter.

8-27-07
Fall One-Day Seminars Announced
Two daylong seminars will be offered by the department this fall. Both are designed for law enforcement and civilian personnel, including students. One credit hour and/or 0.8 CEU options are available for each seminar.

"Criminal Street Gangs" — 9-8-07, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., HPA I
This eight-hour course is an introduction to criminal street gangs. The speaker is Corporal Brent Harrison, a supervisor with the Orange County Sheriff's Office Gang Enforcement Unit.

"Electronic Control Weapons" — 11-10-07, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., HPA I
This eight-hour course will discuss facts vs. fiction about new weapons systems, including Electronic Control Weapons (ECWs) and TASERs, and use-of-force issues. The seminar will be led by Sgt. Paul "Spike" Hopkins and Capt. David Ogden of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

8-21-07
Bast Wins Ethics Award
Carol Bast, associate professor of legal studies, and Linda Samuels, professor of legal studies at George Mason University, received the Virginia Maurer Ethics Paper Award from the international Academy of Legal Studies in Business for their paper, "Plagiarism and Legal Scholarship in the Age of Information Sharing: The Need for 'Intellectual Honesty.'" The award recognizes excellence in legal scholarship, quality of writing and research, and readiness for publication.

Click here to learn more.

8-20-07
Fall 2007 Newsletter for Students
The department's newsletter provides information for students about scholarships, study abroad programs, internship opportunities and one-day seminars.

8-15-07
Langworthy Joins College Leadership
Professor Robert Langworthy has joined the college as chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies.

7-25-07
"FGCU looks to study arsenal of nonlethal weapons"
The News-Press also reports on the NIJ-funded study conducted by Charlie Mesloh (Public Affairs-Criminal Justice Track, '02) and Ross Wolf, assistant professor of criminal justice.

7-24-07
"Less Lethal Weapons"
Fort Myers News-Press Reporter Christine Lee interviews UCF alumnus Charlie Mesloh (Public Affairs-Criminal Justice Track, '02), associate professor and director of the Weapons and Equipment Research Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University, about less lethal and non-lethal weapons.

7-14-07
"Study: Cops held back on force — But restraint in recent years may have meant more injuries"
The Orlando Sentinel reports on a study conducted by Charlie Mesloh (Public Affairs-Criminal Justice Track, '02) and Ross Wolf, assistant professor of criminal justice, funded by a $99,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice. The grant title is "Less Lethal Weapon Effectiveness, Use of Force, and Suspect and Officer Injuries: A Five-Year Analysis."

Click here for a summary of the study by Wolf.