At North Carolina Wesleyan University, criminal justice students are getting an opportunity that goes far beyond the classroom: working directly with an actual cold case provided by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
Dr. Jay Fortenberry, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, leads the course, which is offered each fall and is limited to 15 students to provide an in-depth, hands-on experience.
How the Class Works
Students work with the SBI’s Cold Case Unit and the originating local agency throughout the semester. After signing confidentiality agreements, students receive access to case reports and documentation. The current case includes more than 1,500 pages of investigative material, including interviews, crime scene photographs and laboratory reports.
Each student is assigned different sections of the investigation and works to identify potential leads. As a class, students then come together to analyze the information, brainstorm investigative possibilities and develop recommendations.
At the conclusion of the course, students present their findings and recommendations to the SBI and local agencies, with the hope that their work can contribute to the successful clearance of the case.
Exclusive Experience
“This course gives our students the opportunity to apply what they are learning in a very real-world setting,” Fortenberry said. “They are working with actual investigative materials, collaborating as a team and seeing how the different pieces of an investigation come together.”
This is the third time NC Wesleyan has offered the course, and Fortenberry plans to continue offering it every fall.
The course is currently offered exclusively in a traditional, face-to-face format because of the confidential nature of the case materials. The limited enrollment also allows students to engage closely with the investigation and with one another throughout the semester.
For NC Wesleyan students, the experience offers a unique look at what it means to put criminal justice knowledge into practice, while potentially making a meaningful contribution to an ongoing investigation.
