Building a criminal justice program as a multidimensional resource requires a broad sense of purpose, the involvement of faculty and staff from many disciplines, the cooperation and partnership of criminal justice practitioners, and the involvement of the community. This coalition of personnel and resources should assist students in understanding that criminal justice must be seen within its academic, professional, geographic, social, and cultural context. It should enrich public understanding of the criminal justice system and allow the college to serve the community in a significant manner. In short, a college criminal justice program should be understood as a continuing investment in the civic life of the community.