Skip to Content

Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Welcome to Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University

ICCJ 2025/2026 Student Awards

ARAC Student Essay and Community Engagement awards

Criminology Electives

CCJ Approved Electives

Field Placement

Get Practical Experience

Honours Thesis

See opportunities for research

Program Summary

Why Criminology and Criminal Justice?

Most of us consume a high dose of the three traditional ‘Cs’ of criminology and criminal justice: crime, cops, and corrections. Fictional and news media coverage of criminalized individuals and criminal law actors and institutions are key components of our lives. Working towards greater justice requires time, energy, resources, commitment and imagination. Criminology and Criminal Justice examines what is socially constituted as crime, why and whether we should punish, the origins and function of police and prisons, and how to think outside the box of criminal justice. The field of Criminology is key to understanding and achieving a more just society while also preparing students to become thoughtful, engaged, and employable community members.

Explore ICCJ

The Evan Shipp Story

Sarah Scriver: Crawling Out of the Pits of Hell”: Exploring Indigenous Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth After Experiences of Incarceration

Research, Supervision, and Mentorship at the ICCJ

Policing Indigenous Movements

News

Dr. Stirrett Wins SSHRC Insight Award

Dr. Natasha Stirrett and co-applicant Karyn T.D. Recollet (University of Toronto) awarded SSHRC Insight Grant for their project Kinstillatory Methodologies: Enhancing Indigenous Networks Through More-than-human …

Dr. Karaian discusses new “Protecting Victims Act” with CFRA Talk Radio

Dr. Lara Karaian talks to CFRA Talk Radio about the Federal Government’s new “Protecting Victims Act” and its addition of deepfake pornography to existing Intimate Images provisions.  To …

Dr. Karaian discusses criminalization of youth who create deepfake pornography