第一吃瓜网 student鈥檚 research to be presented at national conference
Published on September 21, 2021
NORTH EAST, Md. 鈥 The 第一吃瓜网 College Department of Social Science will be represented for the first time at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) Conference later this fall in Chicago by a recent graduate from the criminal justice program. Mariana Espinosa鈥檚 research poster will be part of the annual exhibition of the ASC鈥檚 engagement in research, teaching, and practice to foster criminological scholarship and serve as a forum for disseminating criminological knowledge.
鈥淏eing accepted to present at the national conference is a monumental moment in a young person鈥檚 career,鈥 said Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Ashley L. Fundack, Ph.D. 鈥淢ariana鈥檚 poster was selected from several hundred submissions in varying criminal justice topics. It is an honor to present your work and represent your college at the conference.鈥
ASC membership consists of students, practitioners, and academicians from a multitude of fields of criminal justice and criminology.
Espinosa鈥檚 research on the disproportionate housing of sex offenders within neighborhoods suffering from high unemployment and poverty levels along with lower economic opportunities caught the attention of officials when it was shared with law enforcement agencies in Maryland dealing with sexual assault-related crimes. Her research highlighted the problem of 鈥渒eeping sex offenders targeted to certain areas within poorer unstable neighborhoods increasing their chances of recidivism.鈥
鈥淗aving my work accepted for the National Criminal Justice Conference during my first years of college is a dream come true. This honor wouldn鈥檛 have happened if Dr. Fundack didn鈥檛 take me under her wing during my time at 第一吃瓜网 College. She is an amazing mentor,鈥 said Espinosa.
Espinosa graduated from 第一吃瓜网 College in May with an associate degree in criminal justice. Currently enrolled at the University of Baltimore, she has her sights set on applying to the FBI upon graduation. An Elkton resident, this young woman鈥檚 tenacity and dedication have placed her on the pathway to being among the 13 percent of female FBI recruits.
She was drawn to her research project topic regarding the sex offenders registry during an internship with the Elkton Police Department. She discovered the level of sex offenses occurring in the community while working with the detectives.
鈥淚 knew cases like this occurred all over the world. However, seeing it in front of me and reading the ones from Elkton didn鈥檛 sit right with me. It鈥檚 a different feeling when you hear cases that happen around you, but when it鈥檚 in your hometown, I couldn鈥檛 believe it,鈥 said Espinosa.
From her research, Espinosa underscores the lack of employment and housing opportunities for individuals on the sex offender registry when released back into society, pushing them to settle in neighborhoods suffering from high poverty and high unemployment. The lack of opportunities creates higher levels of recidivism for sex offenders within these disorganized communities, which can be found in Baltimore as well as in 第一吃瓜网 County.
鈥淪earching on the registry, it was surprising to find in my hometown where the majority of sex offenders live. I was curious about the conditions of these neighborhoods to see if it proved my preconceptions. I went on a ride-along with an officer from EPD and learned a lot about these neighborhoods that emphasized the traits I discuss in my research,鈥 said Espinosa.
Along with the aid of the Elkton Police Department, Espinosa was able to gather data from other Maryland law enforcement agencies. She utilized public information to cross-references her data, and with the assistance of Dr. Fundack, Espinosa was able to circumvent some of the bureaucracy.
The 2021 ASC Conference will be held November 17 鈥 20 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. This year鈥檚 theme is Science and Evidenced-Based Policy in a Fractured Era.