Panels and Events
“Special interest’ panels are generally sponsored by the Criminal Justice Studies and Fire Science programs at least twice a year.
A special interest panel is presently planned for the Fall 2007 term
(October 17, 2007, to be entitled:
“Incarceration in America—An interdisciplinary examination
of the causes and effects of America’s staggering incarceration
rate.”
Panelists include:
M. Kay Harris, A.M. (Social Work), Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Temple University;
Donald F. Kline, Ph.D., Criminal Justice Director, Montgomery County Emergency Services;
Risa Vetri Ferman, Esq., 1st Assistant DA, Montgomery County;
Julio M. Algarin, Warden, Montgomery County Correctional Facility;
Michael F. Hamel, Chief, Montgomery County Adult Probation and Parole
Recent panels have been convened on:
“Law and Order … Preparing for
a Career in Law Enforcement.”
Panelists included:
John M. “Mike” Johnston, SSRA, FBI Ft. Washington;
Terrance Thompson, Chief of Police, Upper Dublin Township;
Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Traister, Pennsylvania State Police;
Zenny Martyniuk, Chief of Police, Bridgeport Borough;
Mark Flanders, Chief of Police, Borough of Pottstown;
Oscar Vance, Chief, Montgomery County Detectives;
William Kelly, Chief of Police, Abington Township
“Arson: An Exploration into the Motivation, Investigation,
and Prosecution of Fire-Setting Behavior.”
Panelists included:
Steven Latzer, Esq., Chief, Financial Crimes Unit, Montg. Cty. DA’s
Office;
Michael Moonblatt, Fire Marshal, Cheltenham Twp., Montgomery County;
Thomas J. Rooney, Special Agent, ATF&E, U.S. Department of Justice;
John R. Waters, Fire Marshal, Upper Merion Twp. Montgomery County;
George L. Wert, CFI, Lead Fire Investigator, Montg. Cty. DA’s
Office;
Dian L. Williams, Ph.D., President, Center for Arson Research
“The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and The Bill of Rights:
Reconciling Civil Liberties and Homeland Security in an Insecure Age.”
Panelists included:
Linda D. Hoffa, Esq., Assistant Chief, Criminal Division, Office of
the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;
John M. “Mike” Johnston, SSRA, FBI Fort Washington,
PA;
David DeSabatino, Esq., Executive Director, ACLU-PA;
Honorable Joseph A. Smyth, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
“The Battle Against Organized Crime … Yesterday,
Today, and Tomorrow”
Panelists included:
George Anastasia, Author and OC Writer for the
Philadelphia Inquirer;
John Terry, Senior Special Agent,
FBI, Supervisor of the FBI’s “Squad One” Organized
Crime Unit in Philadelphia;
Frank Friel, Author and past Chief of
the Organized Crime and Criminal Intelligence Unit, Philadelphia Police
Department;
Sean Patrick Griffin, Associate Professor of Administration
of Justice, Penn State University
“The State of Homeland Security: Two years after the
debacle, How safe are we?
Panelists included:
Dr. James Carafano, Senior Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation;
Hon. Bruce L. Castor, District Attorney, Montgomery County;
Dr. Joseph M. DiMino, Director of Public Health, Montgomery County;
James Golden, FSD, Transportation Security Admin., Phila. Ops.;
Congressman Joseph M. Hoeffel, (PA 13th District);
Kevin Smith, Bioterrorism Coordinator, Montgomery County;
Thomas Sullivan, Montgomery County Director of Public Safety
“Dead men DO tell tales …,” An exploration into
High-Profile Homicide Investigations and Prosecutions
Panelists included:
Dr. Halbert Fillinger, Montgomery County Coroner;
Risa Ferman, Esq., 1st Assistant District Attorney, Montgomery County;
Chief Oscar Vance, Montgomery County Detective Division
Every two years the College hosts its “Criminal Justice Career Day,” which most recently has attracted more than 60 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as representatives from the private security sector. This has grown into a regional event, attracting students from many other institutions.
