The Interdisciplinary Criminal Justice Coalition (ICJC) held its introductory meeting Friday at the Fogelman College of Business to outline its goals and mission for the semester.
The undergraduate and graduate-student-led organization was founded to provide a space for students interested in criminal justice to learn outside traditional classroom settings and focus on issues they want to address.
Second-year member Mia Chambers said her goal this semester is to “learn more about criminal justice issues and find new ways that we, as students, can make change and help.” The meeting’s discussion centered on methods of making change, such as researching cases and identifying ways to improve the justice system.
This semester, the organization will focus on community outreach for people reentering society, partnering with similar groups to share their message and organizing events of their own.
“We are hoping to organize several events this year pertaining to re-entry from prison and the challenges that come from that,” said Ruby Boisclair, Chair of the ICJC. “There isn’t enough support for those navigating re-entry to society from the justice system, and we want to provide that support for these folks.”
ICJC has an upcoming event in collaboration with Tennesseans for Alternative to the Death Penalty at Rhodes College on Sept. 30. Members will distribute information about their organization and support broader efforts to improve conditions for those affected by the justice system.
Reed Hinson can be contacted at rhinson1@memphis.edu.
