William H. McDonald, department chair of the Criminal justice degree program at a US college is pioneering the first ever online degree program for criminal justice professionals

The American Criminal Justice system will move into cyberspace later this year, with the introduction of the first-ever, entirely online Bachelor's degree program in Criminal Justice.

The program, which is to be approved by the New York State Education Department, will be offered by Monroe College in The Bronx and New Rochelle beginning with the start of its Spring Semester on April 28th.

This new online program is based on the "post 9/11 New York City experience" and was developed with the working, experienced criminal justice professional in mind. The entirely web based degree program is designed to suit criminal justice professionals who have previously been unable to pursue higher education according to William H. McDonald, Ph.D., department chair.

"Because of the shift-work nature of this profession, being able to show up to class on a specific day at a specific time, for a consistent 15-week semester may be impossible. But being able to take classes online, any day of the week, any time of day, but still within a specific semester time-frame now only requires motivation, primarily," Mr McDonald said in a statement released today.

"This is significant for police officers and other people working in the criminal justice profession worldwide. Eighty per cent of police departments in the United States have a staff of fewer than 35 people. They have neither the manpower nor the resources and experience to prepare for the post 9/11 world of criminal justice.”

“Unfortunately, the reality of terrorist attacks, gangs and increasingly larger prison populations are no longer isolated to major markets such as New York City,” he added.

The online program is a development of the traditional on campus degree program in Criminal justice, which has been available at Monroe College since 2003. Mr McDonald, who has nearly 40 years experience as a law enforcement professional has assembled an instructional staff of current and retired law-enforcement and other criminal justice professionals. It includes a former sergeant in New York City Police Department Counter Terrorism Division, an active police commissioner with experience in counter terrorism, intelligence, and organized crime, and a Deputy New York State Attorney General.