Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Wilmington, N.C. - Students taking criminal justice classes this spring at University of North Carolina Wilmington were part of an international communication project. UNCW was one of seven universities participating in Communication Across the Atlantic," a Web-enhanced forum that allowed students from different countries to interact and discuss current topics in criminal justice.

Twelve students enrolled in Michael Maume's Honors CRJ 105 (Introduction to Criminal Justice) course and 24 from Kimberly Cook's CRJ 315 (Victimology) class met for twice weekly online exchanges with students in the United Kingdom. Maume, assistant professor of criminal justice, and Cook, professor and current chair of the UNCW Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice, describe the project as "invaluable from a culture standpoint," and said it went smoothly technology-wise. The main topics discussed between UNCW students and those in the UK were gun control, media and victimization, and racial and gender bias related to incarceration.

Cook stated that students in the USA were "stunned" to learn that the majority of police in the UK do not carry weapons on a regular basis. Maume reported that students from the UK were under the impressions that most Americans, not only law enforcement officials, "pack heat." Both professors found the conversations that resulted from this project enlightening. One finding that emerged was the opinions of students in the UK on the gun culture in America were based on media reports of violence, namely the Columbine case. In contrast, students here were not largely aware of the high-profile UK cases.

Currently, Maume is attempting to secure funding so the students can meet face-to-face. Further research and papers could result from this endeavor.

Cook has a Ph.D. in sociology with specialization in criminology, family, and social policy from the University of New Hampshire. She came to UNCW in July 2005 from the University of Southern Maine. Her areas of expertise include capital punishment, wrongful convictions, restorative justice, criminology and the feminist perspective on justice.

Maume has a Ph.D. in sociology from Louisiana State University. He has been at UNCW since 2001 and specializes in homicide studies, juvenile justice and justice across the life-course.

In addition to UNCW, institutions participating in the project include University of North Carolina-Pembroke, University of West Florida, York College of Pennsylvania, Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain, University of Brighton and University of Westminster in Britain. "Communication Across the Atlantic" was organized by Helen Jones from Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain.

For more information, Maume may be contacted at 910.962.7749 and Cook at 910.962.3785.

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