Criminal Justice

Boise State University Criminal Justice Program Anti-racism Statement

There is no place for the racial injustices that have historically and continuously plagued Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC). Boise State University’s Criminal Justice Program actively stands against racism and oppression in any form. Racism has always been present in our society. It did not end with the abolishment of slavery or Jim Crow-era segregation of Black citizens or treaties with Indigenous peoples; it was infused into all of our systems and institutions. As a program that is housed within one of these institutions (academia) and studies another (the criminal justice system), we acknowledge our multiple responsibilities to students and communities to engage in anti-racist work. And yet, as faculty who are predominantly White and hold privileged places in our communities, we understand the importance of our own individual and group anti-racism education.

Our program has been integral in the education of criminal justice professionals both within and outside of the state of Idaho. We play a pivotal role in equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to avoid perpetuating discriminatory actions against marginalized and oppressed communities, particularly Black citizens, who are not only disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system, but are dying because of the actions of some in the criminal justice system. We are committed to education that addresses this devastating reality. Towards that end, this fall, the Criminal Justice Program will:

• convene listening sessions with our students and alumni from marginalized communities to better understand their experiences in our classrooms and address their concerns; and
• work with students and community stakeholders to review our policies, practices, and curriculum to ensure we are not complicit in furthering racism and oppression within our communities.

As researchers, our role extends outside of our classrooms as well. The Criminal Justice Program has long served the state of Idaho as a resource for evidence-based policies and practices. We readily accept these responsibilities and welcome the opportunity to work with criminal justice and broader community organizations in creating a truly equal and just society. It is past time for us as educators, researchers, and citizens to actively engage in dialogue and action to end racism and oppression. Therefore, when we reconvene this fall, the Criminal Justice Program will:

• form a diverse working group of people within and outside of the University to identify areas where we can utilize our knowledge and skills to assist in eliminating policies and practices that have disproportionately impacted BIPOC and other marginalized communities through systemic, institutionalized, and individual racism and oppression.

The task ahead of us is substantial. It will not be easy to dismantle racism in our communities and institutions, but as citizens we have no choice. We must act. Too many lives have been lost and many others harmed. The listening sessions, outreach, and working groups described above are just the beginning. Feedback from those efforts will be used to navigate future steps toward fighting for a more just and equal society.