TAMIU Professor Presents, Provides Criminal Justice Expertise in Korea

A Texas A&M International University professor has just returned from a presentation in Seoul, Korea for the Korean Institute of Criminology.

Dr. Dean J. Champion, TAMIU professor of Criminal Justice, represented the United States at the Institute's "Corrections in the 21st Century: Problems and Prospects."

Sponsored by the South Korean Minister of Justice, the conference was triggered by a rapid rise in Korean inmate litigation in recent years, Dr. Champion explained.

"In recent years, Korean recidivism among probationers and former inmates has risen to levels rivaling the United States. About 65 percent of all convicted Korean offenders commit new offenses when release from correctional supervision. In 2001, Korea celebrated its 20th year of probation in the country," he said.

Champion joined the TAMIU faculty in 2000 and teaches in the areas of criminal courts, justice administration, research methods and corrections.

He is the author of over 30 textbooks and edited works, including the recently published Juvenile Justice System: Delinquency, Processing and the Law (Prentice Hall, 2004) and The Administration of Criminal Justice Systems: Structure, Function and Process (Prentice Hall, 2003).

Forthcoming works include Corrections in the United States: A Contemporary Perspective (4th ed.) and Probation, Parole and Community Corrections (5th ed.), scheduled for publication in March and May respectively of 2004.

Champion holds his Ph.D. in Sociology from Purdue University. He also holds B.S. and M.A. degree from Brigham Young University and is a graduate of the Nashville School of Law.

For additional information, contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326.2180.

University offices will close for the holidays Dec. 23 and reopen on Monday, Jan. 5.

Registration for the Spring Semester 2004 will be underway from Jan. 5 until General Registration on Friday, Jan. 16 in the Student Center from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Spring Semester classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Late registration will continue through 5 p.m., Jan. 26.

For more information, visit the University's web site at www.tamiu.edu