Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a law suit against Westwood College for what she calls deceptive practices. The lawsuit is based on student complaints that the school’s Criminal Justice Program was misleading about its accreditation. Madigan said Westwood left many students in debt.

“A year long investigation revealed that Westwood recruiters, administrators and faculty lied to prospective and enrolled students about almost every aspect of Westwood’s Criminal Justice Program - from its cost to its graduates’ career prospects,” Madigan said Wednesday.

Westwood is only accredited nationally, but not regionally. Some agencies like the Chicago Police Department require regionally accredited degrees.

Madigan said the lawsuit seeks to shut down the program and get a refund for the students.

In a statement, Westwood College said it has many graduates working in the criminal justice field throughout the state. It did not mention the school’s accreditation.