Membership is open to students with an interest in Criminal Justice, or professionals currently working in or retired from the Criminal Justice field. In order to be eligible as an "active" member, students must:

The purpose of this organization shall be to foster, promote, and maintain a relationship between the students of the Administration of Justice department and the Criminal Justice System. This relationship will develop programs offering cultural, social, and academic enrichment as part of the total experience of the college; and to the development of leadership, character, and judgment.

Chi Tau Epsilon was named by founding students who selected the Greek letters XTE, which stands for "Committed to Excellence". XTE is the Irvine Valley College Chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association-Lambda Alpha Epsilon (ACJA-LAE). ACJA-LAE is a national, fraternal organization made up of both collegiate and professional criminal justice in-service subchapters. The organization was founded in 1937 with the intent of dedication to the professionalism in the administration of justice and public safety.