|
Marijuana Legalization Consequences for Community Corrections Agencies
SESSION INFO
Monday, August 28, 2023
3:45 PM - 5:15 PM
Session Type: Workshop
As states pass laws making both medical and recreational marijuana possession and use legal, little is collectively known about how community corrections agencies have responded through changes in policies, supervision practices, and training. Researchers have begun to examine effects of legalization for law enforcement agencies and courts (especially drug courts), but there is a distinct lack of research for community corrections agencies. APPA’s Research and Review Committee is surveying and interviewing community corrections officials across the US to examine responses to legalization (e.g., adjustments to supervision) and problems/questions encountered following legalization. In this workshop, we present a preliminary “state of the issue” summarizing the ways state, local, and tribal probation and parole agencies have responded to laws that make it legal to possess marijuana, and we ask participants to add to this conversation by discussing policies, practices, and training adjustments in their agencies.
|
|
|
SESSION PRESENTERS
Ms. Sarvenaz Keshavarz
Graduate Research Assistant, Central Connecticut State University
Sarvenaz Keshavarz is a student in the 5-year BA/MS program in Criminology & Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University and a research intern with the APPA Research and Review Committee. She is currently pursuing criminal justice field experience and eventually hopes to pursuing a career in academia as a researcher and professor. Besides marijuana legalization consequences, her research interests lie in the development of extremist ideologies and factors that can leave populations vulnerable to recruitment.
Dr. Kimberly S Meyer
Assistant Professor, Central Connecticut State University
Dr. Kimberly S. Meyer is an Assistant Professor at Central Connecticut State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminology, Law and Society from George Mason University, MPA (Master of Public Administration) from American University, and B.A. in Social Studies Education from Cardinal Stritch University. This background provides a unique perspective into policy and training issues surrounding and affecting our justice system. Dr. Meyer often conducts research alongside juvenile and adult probation agencies, with the goals of understanding client and worker experiences and improving outcomes for clients, practitioners, and agencies.
John Prevost, PhD
Researcher, Georgia State University
John P. Prevost received his PhD from Georgia State University and currently teaches there part-time, following a 32-year career with the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. During his time at the parole board, he held numerous positions including parole officer, chief parole officer, assistant director and spent many years involved in statistics, evaluation, planning, and research. Mr. Prevost’s research interests are in the realm of community corrections and include risk/needs assessment, improving the effectiveness of offender supervision and developing more effective offender specific programs that have a greater impact on recidivism.
Ms. Erin Thompson
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Central Connecticut State University
Erin Thompson is a student in the 5-year BA/MS program in Criminology & Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University and a research intern with the APPA Research and Review Committee. She is currently employed at GEM Manufacturing Co. in Waterbury, CT and aims to be further involved with criminal justice focused peers by being Vice-President of the Criminal Justice Club. Besides marijuana legalization consequences, her research interests include trauma informed care and dual-system youth involved with the foster care system. She plans to pursue a career in the Department of Children and Families in Connecticut.
|
|
|
|
|
|