UAFS Department of Criminal Justice

04/26/2026

Congratulations to UAFS Criminal Justice alumna Jaryn Restine for receiving the 2026 Academic Excellence Award in Criminal Justice! The Academic Excellence Awards are presented each year to graduating students who have attained outstanding scholastic achievement in their program of study.

During her time at UAFS, Jaryn was an outstanding student and leader both inside and outside the classroom. She served as the Criminal Justice Club President and was instrumental in organizing events that revitalized the club. Jaryn was always first to volunteer for campus and departmental events. She consistently demonstrated honesty, integrity, and a strong work ethic. We know she will find great success in everything she pursues and wish her the very best.

Pictured here is Jaryn with her nominator, Dr. Rice.

02/03/2026

ATTENTION ALL CJ ALUMNI!

On February 26, the Criminal Justice Department will host our first-ever Alumni Reunion!

Join us during Homecoming 2026 for a relaxed evening with adult beverages and food. Reconnect with fellow alumni, faculty and staff, and celebrate our Criminal Justice community.

After the reunion, we’ll walk together to the men’s basketball game in the Stubblefield Center, where Criminal Justice alumni will be recognized.

DATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
TIME: 6:00–8:00 P.M.
LOCATION: Echols Conference Center

Please help spread the word by sharing this post with fellow CJ alumni.

Register here (it's free!):

If you're a Fort Smith Jr. College, Westark, or UAFS alum – join me at this year's Homecoming!

05/01/2024

Some pictures from the UAFS Department of Criminal Justice's human trafficking symposium. Total attendance count was 444!

04/20/2024

Hey guys! Here is one of our Department's news interviews from yesterday's event. The human trafficking experts that flew in from around the country said our event trumped similar ones they've attended in LA, Dallas, etc. They said they'd come back in a heartbeat. The public session had over 380 attendees. A huge thanks to everyone who attended and the experts who made this possible!

04/15/2024

Join us!

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking’s Blue Campaign, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the UAFS Criminal Justice Department invite you to join a no-cost, one

04/13/2024

https://uafs.edu/news/2024/human-trafficking-symposium.php

UAFS, in partnership with the United States Department of Homeland Security's Center for Countering Human Trafficking, Homeland Security Investigations, and the UAFS Department of Criminal Justice will host a symposium titled "Human Trafficking: Hear, Learn, Share" on Thursday, April 18.

04/12/2024

What: HUMAN TRAFFICKING (HT) SYMPOSIUM
Who: HT experts from across the country, the Arkansas AG, survivors of HT who will share their stories
Where: West Ark Church, 900 N. Waldron Rd., Fort Smith
When: APRIL 18, 1:00-4:30

Did I mention there will be food?
Spread the word to friends, colleagues, family, etc. Please register using the QR code on the flyer.

04/04/2024

Greetings!

The United States Department of Homeland Security's Center for Countering Human Trafficking's Blue Campaign, Homeland Security Investigations, and the UAFS Department of Criminal Justice are hosting a no-cost, one day symposium about human trafficking. The event will include human trafficking experts from across the country and feature a human trafficking survivor who will share her story. Also in attendance will be Tim Griffin, Attorney General for the State of Arkansas, and Clay Folkes, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, APRIL 18th and is divided into two sessions. The morning session, scheduled from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, is for law enforcement only. Its goal is to educate law enforcement about human trafficking and share best practices for combatting it. The morning session will take place at the U.S. Marshals Museum (789 Riverfront Dr., Fort Smith). Law enforcement will earn 3.25 CLEST hours for attending.

The afternoon session, scheduled from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, is open to the UAFS community and the public at large. Its goal is to spread awareness of how this issue affects our community and beyond. The afternoon session will take place at the West Ark Church of Christ (900 N. Waldron Rd., Fort Smith).

Please see the attached flyers to register. The first flyer is for the afternoon session (open to the public). The second is for the morning session (law enforcement only). On each is a QR code for registration. Please feel free to forward the flyers as you see fit. For law enforcement officers planning on attending both sessions, please register for both.

A press release is coming soon. We hope to see you, your colleagues, friends, and loved ones at this unprecedented event for our region.

For questions, please contact Dr. Wuestewald at [email protected].

04/18/2023

Another successful CJ Symposium in the books! A special thank you to our keynote speaker, Mr. Matthew Eggert, along with all the agencies and universities that participated.

04/02/2023

Join us this Wednesday for our annual Criminal Justice Symposium!

03/25/2023

The Department extends a huge congratulations to Dr. Wes Milam who has successfully defended his dissertation! Way to go, Dr. Milam!