Description:  As the social climate within our communities continues to evolve and change, so do the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement in the State. Today, Arkansas law enforcement professionals are expected to perform a fuller gamut of services than ever before. In addition to their primary roles of protector and enforcer, they must also serve a variety of secondary roles—teacher, counselor, mentor, mediator, and advocate. Each role requires its own base of skills and knowledge, which is often best obtained through advanced training and education. The Criminal Justice Institute at the University of Arkansas System was created to ensure that law enforcement officers, supervisors, and executive level managers receive expert instruction, current and relevant information, and gain access to technological advances by providing management forensic, computer education, technical assistance, conducting practical research and evaluation; and acting as an information clearinghouse for Arkansas law enforcement officers.