Eric F. Bronson, Roger Williams University dean of the School of Justice Studies as of July, worked as the director of criminal justice and an associate professor at Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas, since 2009. When he first arrived at Lamar, it had 166 students in its criminal justice programs. By fall 2016, those programs numbered 437 undergraduate students and 127 graduate students. He also served as vice chairman of Lamar’s Institutional Review Board and co-director of its Center for Death Penalty Studies.
Bronson graduated from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, with a doctorate in sociology, focusing on corrections, criminology/deviance and social control. Bronson also holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, focusing on penology/criminology, from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky.
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PBN: How much is the RWU School of Justice Studies focusing on cybersecurity given the growing number of cyberattacks we read about?
BRONSON: The School of Justice Studies recently updated its curriculum to meet National Security Administration guidelines to provide students with the best of all areas in the cyberworld. The NSA published a set of accreditation standards for four-year institutions that allow for review of programs and subsequent accreditation as a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. The program focuses on experiential, hands-on knowledge of computer technology, routers, switches and other technologies that form the basis of cybersecurity, plus basic study in computer science. The school exposes students to experts who offer real-life experiences, allowing them to develop techniques to fight against hackers and cyberattacks.
PBN: What role are criminal justice educators playing in addressing the nation’s opioid crisis?
BRONSON: Academics, along with the rest of society, are playing catch-up with the opioid crisis. We are lucky here in the School of Justice Studies to have the Institute of Justice Training and Research, where we are now developing training for criminal justice practitioners. The training will combine input from criminal justice scholars, criminal justice practitioners and medical experts, providing trainees with a well-rounded approach to the crisis.
PBN: What are the prospects for future employment opportunities in criminal justice and related fields?
BRONSON: Based on a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, criminal justice is one of the top five most promising fields for future employments. The sub-disciplines of cybercrime, network security and forensic investigation are growing exponentially and expected to grow even faster as society becomes more dependent on technology. Meanwhile, based on current trends, massive numbers of law enforcement and correctional officers will be retiring from their positions, and many police departments in major cities cannot hire recruits fast enough to keep up with the retirement of baby boomers.
PBN: What trends do you see shaping the future of criminology?
BRONSON: We expect to see mass movements of incarcerated individuals being released from correctional facilities. Academics need to explore ways to better assist these individuals upon re-entry into society. There will always be a strong need for research to inform policies relating to destructive drug uses/abuses in society. We also see shifts in the field to investigate cybercrime/network securities and biosocial relationships with criminal behavior.
PBN: What role does the RWU School of Justice Studies play in educating leaders in the region’s law enforcement agencies?
BRONSON: RWU educates criminal justice practitioners prior to and throughout their careers. When you combine the undergraduate and graduate degrees granted, plus training at the Justice System Training and Research Institute, you can understand that RWU is educating in Rhode Island law enforcement.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
