Criminal justice: A diverse and multidisciplinary field of study

Criminal Justice has developed over a history of nearly four decades. It originated in the U.S. and has now spread to many other countries around the world. This paper examines the historical development and current status of criminal justice programs in the U.S. by reviewing publications that focus on evaluations of such programs at college and university levels. The paper is aimed at developing a general understanding of criminal justice as an academic discipline and its program content, curriculums, and future prospect.