News
Wilder School to host ACJS Congressional “Ask a Criminologist” briefing
Please join the Crime & Justice Research Alliance (CJRA) and the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) for its fourth annual “Ask a Criminologist” congressional briefing hosted by the VCU Wilder School on Wednesday, October 21.
Please join the Crime & Justice Research Alliance (CJRA) and the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) for its fourth annual “Ask a Criminologist” congressional briefing hosted by the VCU Wilder School on Wednesday, October 21 at 3:00 p.m., EST. The briefing will explore “Police and Community Relations in a time of Crisis and Unrest” and will include leading criminology experts from around the country. ACJS congressional briefings provide an opportunity for congressional staff and key stakeholders to engage directly with the experts conducting research on a range of public safety and justice system topics.
The event, held via Zoom, will focus on the highly publicized deaths of community members, primarily Black men, during encounters with police which have generated national protests, unrest and political action. Legislation mandating civilian review boards, task forces reviewing police use of force policies, and calls to “defund” the police are now common. Federal legislation addressing a variety of policing topics and reforms is pending in Congress. Redefining encounters between police and residents could dramatically influence perceptions and trust in the police. Discussions on police practices, community relations, policy implications, and evidence-based strategies for improving police-community relations will be followed by a Q&A session.
Panelists will include Jennifer Cobbina, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Michigan State; Rod Brunson, Thomas O’Neill Chair of Criminology at Northeastern University; and Everette Penn, Professor of Criminal Justice at University of Houston Clear Lake and founder of the Teen and Public Service Center. The panel will be moderated by William V. Pelfrey, Jr., Professor of Criminal Justice in the Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University. Join the meeting here or view it live stream.