The HBCU Criminal Justice Collective (The Collective) is a national network uniting Historically Black Colleges and Universities with criminal justice programs to advance education, research, and leadership. We bring together faculty, students, alumni, and partners to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and tackle the most pressing issues in justice today. Through conferences, workshops, research initiatives, and community engagement, we create meaningful opportunities for growth, innovation, and cross-campus collaboration.

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By celebrating the rich legacy of HBCUs and empowering our members, we are shaping a future where justice is fair, inclusive, and rooted in community. Together, we are building a movement that inspires change and champions justice for all.

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The Collective is the culmination of vision, scholarship, and collaboration that began decades ago. Its roots trace back to the 1970s when several HBCU CJ programs began. In 2010, funding was sought for strengthening HBCU CJ administrators, faculty, and graduate students. This evolved into the development of the HBCU Criminal Justice Consortium. The Consortium would form years later.

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National organizations, seeing the need for promoting and enhancing HBCUs, joined to assist the Consortium. A broader mission developed to enhance all students, faculty, and communities in and around HBCUs as related to criminal justice. Funding was obtained from the MacArthur Foundation, and the HBCU CJ Collective was officially formed in May 2025.