Dr. Charles L. Newman, age 92 of Louisville, Kentucky passed away Wednesday, September 4, 2019. Noted criminologist and author, former University of Louisville professor, devoted husband of Della Scott Newman, member of Southeast Christian Church. Boxing as a sparring partner for Frank Sinatra in his youth, and service in the Pacific during World War 2 contributed to his grit and determination through almost 93 years, including his final battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott Newman of Louisville.
He was a former Professor at University of Louisville, the Pennsylvania State University, Florida State University, University of Texas, Arlington, University of North Dakota and others, former President, Administration of Justice Services Inc, Louisville, KY., fellow and former President of the American Society of Criminology, former Director of the Dallas County Jail, Dallas TX and El Paso, Texas Jail. Charles was a member, Southeast Christian Church where he served as an usher for many years. He also assisted at Lifebridge, the Church's urban outreach program, and was a member of the Harmony Adult Bible Fellowship.
After spending his early years in Montreal Canada, Charles Newman returned to the U.S. to attend New York University and then enlisted in the Army in 1943, serving as a medic during World War 2 in the Pacific on Saipan and Guam. After discharge in November, 1946 he completed Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees at New York University in Correctional Administration. Following graduation he taught at Fairleigh Dickinson College and then was a field director with the American Red Cross in Rhode Island and then at Fort Knox, KY. He was then invited to teach at the University of North Dakota, where he introduced a criminology course. He also served as a consultant to help relocate Native American children from the reservation school to surrounding communities due to closing of the Fort Bethold Reservation to make way for the Garrison Dam project.
In 1955, he went to Florida State University where helped establish a Corrections degree program. In 1959, he returned to Kentucky, joining the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work , where he introduced a specialty in Correctional Social Work. He served on Kentucky Commissions relating to the Criminal Justice System, and helped to organize the KY Council on Crime and Delinquency. He also organized and directed National Institutes on Probation and Parole Supervision at the U of L. In 1966, he was invited to the Pennsylvania State University to design and create a curriculum in Law Enforcement and Corrections. He also established the Police Executive Training Program for senior local and state law enforcement officials. He also established and directed the National Jail Resources Institute. He continued these activities until retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1977. In 1978 he was invited as a visiting professor at the University of Texas, Arlington, which set the stage for his activities of the next several decades. He was asked by Judge Sarah Hughes to monitor and consult with the Dallas County, TX jails, which were under Federal Court Jurisdiction. The next year Judge Hughes ordered that he take over as Director of the jail system, which he did until it was released from Federal oversight in 1980. During his tenure operations were reorganized, a number of inmate training programs were introduced and a new facility for low risk prisoners was opened. From there he went to El Paso, TX, where he reorganized jail operations, expanded inmate housing and assisted in planning a new jail. In 1985, he returned to Louisville, where he created a national criminal justice planning and consulting business, which provided assistance to county and state governments on planning, and to architects on cost effective jail design, which led to the construction of modern jails across the country. He also served as an expert witness in Federal and State Courts. He wrote, edited and contributed to 19 books and numerous articles and research reports. He created and edited the Journal Criminologica, for the American Society of Criminology, of which he later served as President. The journal was later renamed, CRIMINOLOGY, and he returned as editor.
Dr Newman received numerous awards for his research and scholarship, including Fellow of the American Society for the advancement of Science, Fellow of the American Society of Criminology and Western Society of Criminology, and NYU Trustees award for scholarship. He is listed in Who's Who in America, American Authors, American Men of Science, among others and was a Kentucky Colonel.
Dr. Newman is survived by Della Scott Newman, his wife and best friend for 58 years; sons, Mark (Kathleen McNulty) of Chevy Chase, MD and Lowell (Julie Boone) of Stanardsville, VA; 10 grandchildren include Jeremy, Michael, Carrie; Eric (Leopoldine), Amanda Blair (Kevin), Peter (Lindsay Shorr), Vanessa (fiancé Max Fried), Fiona; Victoria Seed (Nick) and Grant (Katie); 20 great grandchildren including Haley May and Savvy Bella of Louisville; Ethan and Lucas Blair of Denver, Co., Cecily, Quincy, Clinton and Liberty of London, UK, Lisa, Mary, Giovanna, Molly, Steven and Erica of Cotonou, Benin, Robert, Caroline and Catriona of the UK and Thomas of Springfield, MA.; In-laws, nieces and nephews include Terry Dawson (James – deceased), Debby Hope (Rick), Jason and Eric; Jill Leonhardt (Rusty), Tyler, Andrew and Jennifer; Mark Patrick Roney (Linda), Alan and Jeff; Sharon Huff (Shirley) and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be 4 to 6 pm on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals and Receptions, East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive, Louisville, KY (in Middletown), with a celebration of Mr. Newman's life to follow at 6 pm there.
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