Featuring Dr. Jason Karsky, professor of criminal justice at Wayne State.
Ask Dr. Jason Karsky why students should enroll in courses in Wayne State’s Criminal Justice Program, and his answer is straightforward. Karsky, a professor of criminal justice at Wayne State, is this week’s subject of the Faculty Spotlight Series.
“I believe we offer the best criminal justice program in the state,” said Karsky, who has been teaching at Wayne State since 1999. “We have created unique opportunities for our students that other institutions cannot provide. Our program features a CSI Laboratory and is the first in the nation to incorporate Leica 3D crime scene scanning technology into student learning. Our faculty members represent a wide variety of real-world experiences from law, forensic crime scene investigations, violence prevention, corrections, emergency management, and research in the field.”
Wayne State students have been benefitting from this experience for decades.
“We have graduates working at all levels of law enforcement, as well as in corrections, probation and parole, and court services,” said Karsky, who is a native of Jamestown, N.D. “Many of our alumni also serve in a variety of social service professions, including violence prevention, child protective services, youth services, and adult reintegration programs, among others.”
“Many of our graduates go on to protect and serve local communities across the country; this is truly the primary focus for many of them,” added Karsky. “Others set their sights on careers in law, as well as positions with federal agencies such as the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and ATF, or in federal probation and state-level law enforcement. Graduates also pursue specialized roles in forensics, crime scene investigations, and corporate or private security.”
Wayne State's criminal justice programs prepare students for careers in the fields of law enforcement, criminalistics, corrections, probation and parole, court services, asset protection, corporate and private security, and juvenile justice. Wayne State’s hands-on learning experiences go beyond the classroom.
Student clubs such as the Wayne State Criminal Justice Association (WSCJA) provide opportunities to tour correctional facilities, visit police departments, and observe parole board hearings and criminal trials. All these activities focus on service, development of leadership skills, and career opportunities in the criminal justice field.
The Criminal Justice Crime Scene Investigation Laboratory (commonly called “the CSI House”) is a state-of-the-art learning facility designed to immerse students in real-world criminal investigations in a controlled yet authentic environment. Primarily used by forensic studies and criminal investigations classes, this space allows students to practice crime scene photography, 3D mapping, and blood spatter analysis. They also collect physical evidence, including various bodily fluids and latent fingerprints.
Karsky serves as chair of the Criminal Justice Department. He is a member of the Service-Learning Advisory Committee and the Crisis Management Committee. Prior to Wayne State, Karsky worked with at-risk youth in various capacities in North Dakota and Minnesota.
Karsky is a past president of the Great Plains Sociological Association and a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He received the GPSA Excellence in Service Award at the 25th annual meeting in October 2011 in Spearfish, S.D. He received two Governor's Commendations for work with at-risk youth in Minnesota.
He is a past recipient of the George Rebensdorf Nebraska State College System Teaching Excellence Award and the State Nebraska Bank & Trust Teaching Excellence Award. Karsky is also president of the Wayne City Council and is a past chair of the Wayne Civil Service Commission.
Karsky's teaching interests include juvenile delinquency, community-based corrections, emergency management, and cybercrime. His research interests include social construction of reality, violent crime, and emergency management.
Karsky earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of North Dakota, his master’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University, and his Ph.D. in Sociology from South Dakota State University.
Fun Fact: “I’m currently the public address announcer for Wayne High Blue Devil baseball at Hank Overin Field in Wayne. I filled in once for someone, and I haven’t left the press box since!”