Darton State College
Home » Programs » Social Science » Criminal Justice
Omega Xi Theta
Students majoring in criminal justice, or related fields, will want to join Omega Xi Theta, Darton’s Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association, Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE). We promote awareness of criminal justice issues, sponsor seminars and debates on contemporary topics, provide service to the community, participate in professional workshops, and develop valuable contacts with leaders in the criminal justice community. We also gain practical experience through visits to jails, prisons, courtrooms, and other criminal justice facilities. In the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2005, our organization sponsored a field trip to Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, which houses convicts on “death row.”
At the present time, there are 182 active subordinate chapters of ACJA-LAE throughout the United States. Most of them are located in colleges and universities that offer criminal justice programs of study. We have become one of only six subordinate chapters in higher education located throughout the State of Georgia, and we are the only Chapter in Albany.
In addition, as a member, you may attend national and regional conferences sponsored by ACJA-LAE where you will meet criminal justice students from across the country and compete against them in events such as mock crime scene investigation, physical agility, and firearms skill. This spring, the national conference will be held in Memphis, Tennessee. The national association also offers scholarships, sponsors student paper competitions, and recognizes members for outstanding scholastic achievement.
The association is structured on a regional basis nationwide. Each Region is coordinated by a Regional President, who oversees the chapter activities and coordinates with the National headquarters. The Omega Xi Theta Chapter is within Region 5, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.
The association is dedicated to the furtherance of professional standards of criminal justice; the fostering of assistance and understanding between members; and the promotion of greater public understanding of the problems and objectives of those agencies devoted to the administration of criminal justice.
The official objectives of the association are:
- To improve criminal justice through educational activities.
- Foster professionalism in criminal justice fields.
- Promote professional, academic, and public awareness of criminal justice issues.
- Encourage the establishment and expansion of higher education and professional training in criminal justice.
- Provide a unified voice for professionals in, and students of, criminal justice.
- Promote high standards of ethical conduct, professional training, and higher education within the criminal justice field.
The Greek letter “Lambda” is the first letter of the Greek word “Lambano” which means “to detect and apprehend.” “Alpha” is the first letter of the Greek word “Anakrinen” meaning to “adjudicate.” “Epsilon” is the first letter of the Greek word “Exorthoun” which translated means “to rehabilitate.” The three letters taken together are representative of the primary functions of the criminal justice system: to detect, to adjudicate, and to rehabilitate.
To join this organization, contact faculty advisor, Manswell T. Peterson Sr., by email at manswell.peterson@darton.edu or by phone at 317-6809
Program Contact: Manswell T. Peterson Sr.
Content Contact: Gene Behal (web representative)
The Darton State College web site is maintained by the Technology Services Division.
