Need

With its focus on the unique characteristics and opportunities of suburban communities and suburban criminal justice systems, the Center is the first of its kind in the nation.A sense of place, the connection between the social and the spatial order, has long been recognized as important in the field of criminal justice.More than a dozen federally funded rural centers and urban centers provide vital research, policy, technical assistance, and professional development services for criminal justice systems in their respective areas.However, there are none for “the middle landscape” where a majority of Americans now reside.The importance of this service gap is underscored by the fact that suburbs now generate substantial economic development.In addition, the “middle landscape” is not only the dominate population location, but this population base is increasingly diverse as black, Hispanic, Asian, and other minority groups seek a piece of the American dream in the suburbs.

While there is widespread stereotypical view of that all suburban communities are alike, in reality there are many different types of suburbs including those characterized as residential suburbs, industrial suburbs, ethnic suburbs, black suburbs, planned suburbs, railroad suburbs, automobile suburbs, and others.In addition, a multitude of suburbs are decentralized and range from inner ring suburbs to newer communities on the retreating edge of the rural frontier.Each of these towns and villages have their own criminal justice system which seeks to be an effective resource for these diverse communities.The Center for Suburban Criminal Justice will serve as a vital resource for all of these.