Last month, the Tiffin University School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences (CJSS) hosted its sixth Annual Research Conference and Competition. Both undergraduate and graduate students were invited to present their findings from a semester-long research project of their choosing, as well as compete for monetary prizes.
The winners of the undergraduate research competition were Alana Thornsberry and Miyo Fabregas for their presentation about legal knowledge and attitudes surrounding abortion. Kierstyn Jackson was recognized for having the best graduate student research paper, which was her master’s thesis on Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement officers.
Colton Price won in the category of “Best Undergraduate Presentation.” His work focused on the legal rights of students attending private colleges.
Lastly, Olcay Karatas was acknowledged for giving the best presentation made by a graduate student. Her work focused on the attitudes of American and international students toward sexting laws.
The presentations were followed by a luncheon and guest lecture by keynote speakers Kenneth Black and Jennifer Gillece Black, wardens for the Richland Correctional Institution and Lorain Correctional Institution, respectively. Kenneth and Jennifer are both alumni of Tiffin University and met while enrolled. They are also the only married wardens employed by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. The primary topic of their speech was the Ohio prison system’s focus on rehabilitation and reintegration to prevent repeat offenses. They also shared personal stories on how working various jobs in prisons throughout the state led to their becoming wardens. They described the history of the department and the integral role that research has played in the development of rehabilitation programs and overall quality of life for the more than 44,000 inmates in Ohio’s prisons.
For more information on the School of CJSS, visit tiffin.edu/academics/school-of-criminal-justice-social-sciences.