The California Community College Chancellor’s Office has not approved a new Administration of Justice degree in over 40 years, until now.

Criminology and Legal Studies are two new degrees offered in the Justice Studies Department along with Law Enforcement.

“No other city college in the state has branched out since 1967,” said Anne Redding, co-chair of the Justice Studies department. “Since 1967 there has been only one justice administration degree in the state – law enforcement.”

People don’t realize that there are far more civilian employees in the criminal justice system than sworn officers, she said.

Co-chair Redding said she and co-chair Tom Mahoney strive to keep City College’s Justice Studies Department relevant to today’s world.

“This is not your grandfather’s criminal justice system,” she said. “Many people watch Law and Order and the 50 spinoffs. It taps into people’s natural interest in good and evil.”

Jennipher Lantzy, a newly declared Criminology major, said shows like Law and Order sparked her interest in the subject.

“I liked to argue when I was little, so I thought lawyer,” Lantzy said. “But criminology seemed interesting from the TV shows like Law and Order. Now I want to be a DA investigator or a coroner.”

Criminology major Emily Hansen said another crime-based show had a similar influence on her.

“I know [the TV show] Bones did have an affect on my decision,” Hansen said. “I like the psychology behind it. And I’m not squeamish.”

After getting a taste from television, many students go on to pursue classes such as Criminal Investigation, Forensics, Criminal Law, and The Study of Evil. Class offerings have jumped 25 percent in the past three years.

Redding said she and Mahoney compiled “very arduous paperwork” to prove to the Curriculum Committee and Chancellor’s Office that there will be jobs for these new degrees. The process took years, she said.

“The college and the community have been extremely supportive,” Redding said. “We collected 10 letters of support from local agencies, including a private attorney, district attorney, court, probation, and police. They all said, ‘Yes, we need students who are graduating.'”

The Bureau of Labor statistics show that growth in the next 10 years is extremely healthy, Redding said.

However, because of budget cuts, only 16 sections were offered in Spring 2010, while 22 sections were offered in Fall 2009.

The Justice Studies Department aims to add Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science to its degree options, but the current budget situation makes it unlikely in the near future, Redding said.

However, she added, “crime’s not going away.”