Crime, Deviance and Social Control
Available as a concentration
The crime, deviance and social control concentration guides students toward a deeper understanding of the behaviors designated by societies as deviant or criminal as well as methods used to manage those behaviors.
We regularly bring nationally recognized speakers to campus to discuss issues relating to law. Recent speakers range from retired U.S. Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor to author Piper Kerman, whose book "Orange is the New Black" chronicles the year she spent in a women's prison for drug trafficking.
Curriculum & Courses
Sample Course Offerings
SOCI 237: Deviant Behavior
SOCI 238: Juvenile Delinquency
SOCI 334: Criminology
Student Experiences
Students visit the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center
Experiential learning opportunities include trips to the regional jail and the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center and observing confidential proceedings in Juvenile Court.
Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program at Roanoke County Jail
Dr. Daisy Ball, assistant professor of criminal justice, launched an Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program class at Roanoke College. Inside-Out is a unique international educational program that brings traditional college students (“outsiders”) together for semester-long learning with incarcerated individuals (“insiders”). Roanoke College’s program is one of only a handful of Inside-Out programs in Virginia.
The Roanoke College/Roanoke County Jail course meets once a week, and all students who complete the course receive one course credit. Inside-Out’s mission is to foster social change through transformative education. The program exposes traditional college students to the realities of incarceration, while exposing inmates to academic content and pro-social interactions with college students.
“Involvement in the Inside-Out program is a highly educational and memorable experience for all involved,” Ball said. “ This program epitomizes Roanoke College’s commitment to both experiential learning and community involvement.”
Careers & Outcomes
RC Alumnus, FBI Agent, Earns “Top Cop” Honorable Mention
Stanley Meador ‘96, a criminal justice major at Roanoke, was recognized with a national tribute award for law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C.. After playing a key role in finding a child who had been abducted from her home, he received a National Association of Police Organization “Top Cop” Honorable Mention award. The six-year old girl was found alive by Meador and other FBI agents. Meador serves as the supervisory senior resident agent with the FBI in Wilmington.
Faculty
News
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The final interior beam of the center’s new building was put in place July 23.
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Catch up on the latest news from your talented faculty.
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The team competed in front of a panel of six judges in an event held at the Roanoke County Courthouse.
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Interested in learning more about mock trial? Join us in the informational meeting!
- Date:
- September 1, 2025
- Time:
- 6 p.m.
- Location:
West Hall 210
