Sam Houston's criminal justice program was the dream of two visionary men, George J. Beto, former director of the Texas Department of Corrections, and Arleigh B Templeton, former president of Sam Houston State College. Together, their goal was to establish a program of excellence in criminal justice education, utilizing the Texas state prison system as a laboratory for research. The creation of the Criminal Justice Center is marked by the culmination of an era in which the idea of "theory into practice" is vigorously pursued. This idea was the defining credo of the College's founding director, George G. Killinger, and the foundation which the Center has built its curriculum and reputation as a leader in the field of criminal justice.

For a more detailed history click on a decade.