Brett Garland Archives - Reynolds College Blog

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice enjoys record enrollment for Fall 2025

August 28, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ) set an opening day enrollment record for new bachelor degree-seeking majors for the Fall 2025 semester.

“A total of 115 first-time new-in-college (FTNIC) and first-time transfer students joined us as criminology undergraduates,” said Dr. Brett Garland, director of CCJ. This number represented an increase of 21% over the corresponding 2024 numbers.

“Both new groups grew, but the most dramatic jump came from FTNIC students, rising nearly 30% to 80 students and surpassing our previous record of 67 set in 2015,” Garland said.

Expanded recruitment brings results

Flyer advertising an open house — Click on the image to download the CCJ 2025 Open House flyer.

CCJ recently expanded its recruitment efforts, including hosting a fall open house event and conducting a summer introductory crime scene investigation camp for high school students.

Garland added that the Office of Marketing and Communications has been especially helpful with the School’s video and social media campaigns.

Open House event scheduled for Oct. 6

According to Garland, the School’s fall open house is its “most visible initiative.” The event attracts approximately 200 prospective students, he said.

This year’s open house event is set for October 6.

Morning activities include meeting prosecutors, FBI agents and other criminal justice professionals, virtual reality simulations and opportunities to visit with students and professors about the program. Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the campus during the afternoon.

Now taking applications for CSI Camp 2025

February 6, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Back for its third year, Missouri State University’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) camp will host two full sessions during Summer 2025.

Incoming high school students — freshmen through seniors — are eligible to attend the program, which is sponsored by the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ).

The first camp is scheduled for June 9-12. The second camp will be held July 28-31.

Sessions run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Since CSI camp is a day camp only, the university does not offer nightly accommodations or transportation to MSU from hotels.

Camp tuition remains $275 per camper, the same as last year. Tuition fees include a camp t-shirt and daily lunch.

Each camp can accept up to 40 students.

Sandel and Brewington attend ALERRT conference

February 3, 2025 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Dr. William Sandel, associate professor and assistant director of Partnerships and Outreach in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ), and Cody Brewington, director of MSU’s Public Safety Training Center, recently spoke at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) conference Dec. 2-5, 2024, in San Marcos, Texas.

Sandel said he and Brewington received a special invitation to discuss the success of their Missouri active shooter training program. They spoke in front of law enforcement, fire, emergency management and school officials from across the country, according to CCJ School Director Dr. Brett Garland.

“Cody and I were honored to be invited to represent Missouri,” Sandel said. Only three other states — Virginia, Iowa and Maryland — were invited to the conference, he added.

MSU’s training program partners with the Missouri Office of Homeland Security, according to Sandel and Brewington. The program has received nearly $400,000 in external funding, Garland noted.

Mock Trial season off to great start

December 9, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Mock Trial season is off to a great start.

That’s according to Dr. Jennifer LaPrade, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice and head coach of the Mock Trial team.

“We have a talented, bright, hard-working group of students on the team who are growing by leaps and bounds every week,” she said. “We are having a lot of fun this season.”

Already notching up the wins

During the recent Bear Brawl Classic, held on the MSU campus Nov. 1-3, the Mock Trial team not only played tournament hosts, they also got to hone their competitive skills.

They also notched up a few wins.

Junior criminology and criminal justice major Zackary Collison won top honors for outstanding witness. He received a perfect 20/20 for his role as a defense witness.

Meanwhile, Josh Roberts, also a junior criminology and criminal justice major, won an outstanding witness honor. Delilah Boggs, a junior political science and philosophy major, won an outstanding attorney honor.

Success at UMKC

Group of smiling students holding trophies — Placing third at the UMKC Mock Trial tournament were Zackary Collison, Layna Mangiapanello, Kenta Otani, Kathryn Wagner, Josh Roberts, Hannah Killion and Ben Huinda.

At the UMKC tournament held Nov. 22-24, Mock Trial members added more wins to their already successful start.

In the overall competition, one of MSU’s two Mock Trial teams placed third out of a total of 26 teams.

In addition, two team members won individual awards at the UMKC event. Sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Masey Washington won an Outstanding Attorney award, and junior math/math education double major Layna Mangiapanello won an Outstanding Witness award.

“It is incredible to witness what Mock Trial has become at Missouri State in such a short time,” said Dr. Brett Garland, head of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Prior to Dr. LaPrade’s arrival in 2020, there was nothing like it on campus. Going into its fifth year, our Mock Trial team is now regionally and nationally recognized as an up-and-comer, competing neck-and-neck with some of the best in the country.”

Bear Brawl Classic shines light on Mock Trial program

November 15, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Mock Trial teams from across the country descended on the Missouri State University campus Nov. 1-3, 2024, to compete in the annual Bear Brawl Classic Mock Trial tournament.

The Bear Brawl Classic is one of many invitational tournaments across the nation that utilize American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) rules and case materials.

MSU’s Mock Trial team not only hosted the event but also competed along with eight other schools. Those schools were Bellarmine University, Hendrix College, Rhodes College, Saint Louis University, University of Central Missouri, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri-Kansas City and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Representatives from MSU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice organized the tournament. These included Mock Trial coordinators Dr. Jennifer LaPrade and Dr. Jordan Riddell, MSU alum and founding team member Chris Johnson and graduate assistant Samantha Trowbridge.

“The preparation for a tournament like this is a big lift and very time consuming,” said Dr. Brett Garland, head of the criminology and criminal justice school. “Drs. LaPrade and Riddell and our Mock Trial team members deserve a lot of praise for organizing and facilitating this event. I’m personally very proud of them all.”

MSU’s Mock Trial team will next compete at University of Missouri-Kansas City Nov. 22-24.

Tournament winners

Rhodes College took first place in this year’s Bear Brawl Classic. St. Louis University placed second, and University of Nebraska-Lincoln placed third.

Bellarmine University won the Spirit of AMTA award, given to the team that best exemplifies the ideals of honesty, civility and fair play. University of Nebraska-Lincoln received an Honorable Mention.

Top honors for Collison

MSU also garnered some impressive wins during the event.

Junior criminology and criminal justice major Zackary Collison won top honors for outstanding witness, receiving a perfect 20/20 for his role as a defense witness.

“This is my first-ever perfect rank, so I was extremely excited,” Collison said.

Collison started the season playing both a witness and an attorney, but said he will play character witnesses for the remainder of the competitive season.