News

VVSRL Student chosen to participate in the 2023 National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Summer Research Institute

VVSRL students, Sheena Gilbert is among the 20 graduate students chosen for the 2023 National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Summer Research Institute. Sheena’s project will focus on adherence to the Indian Child Welfare Act in the removal and placement decisions for American Indian/Alaska Native children.

VVSRL Students chosen to present at 2023 NIJ Research Conference

VVSRL students, Sheena Gilbert and Caralin Branscum, were among the 25 graduate students chosen to present research at the 2023 National Institute of Justice Research Conference. Branscum will present research entitled, “Sexual Assault Kit Initiatives and the Importance of Forensic Testing: Looking Beyond Solving Sexual Assault Cases” (NIJ Award #2019-MU-MU-0095), while Gilbert will present “An Exploratory Investigation of the Role of Victim Advocacy in Supporting the Loved Ones of American Indian/Alaska Native Missing Persons (NIJ Award # 2019-75-CX-0014).

The Nebraska Victims Assistance Academy comes to UNO SCCJ

NEVAA is a 5-day, 40-hour training academy tailored to the needs of Nebraska victims and those who serve them. At the Academy, you’ll find comprehensive, academically based, fundamental education for all areas of victim advocacy. NEVAA 2022 will be held Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22 at UNO’s Dodge campus.

VVSRL Collaboration with Foster Care Review Office Finds Relationship between Out-of-Home Care and Missingness among Nebraska’s Youth

The joint report explores factors related to missingness (child is reported as a missing person or runaway) among Nebraska’s children in out-of-home care placements across child welfare and youth justice systems.

VVSRL faculty member joins Editorial Board of Women and Criminal Justice

Leah Butler, Ph.D. joins the editorial board for the journal, Women and Criminal Justice. Women and Criminal Justice presents scholarship that critically examines the issues of crime, victimization and the criminal justice system as they pertain to differences among females and males, or as they pertain to the social and cultural construction of gender.

VVSRL faculty member appointed as Associate Editor of Victims & Offenders

Tara Richards, Ph.D. joins the editorial board for the journal, Victims & Offenders, the official journal of the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Victimology. Victims & Offenders is a premier forum for the dissemination of new research, policies, and practices related to both victimization and offending throughout the life course.

VVSRL faculty member awarded National Science Foundation Funds

Leah Butler, Ph.D. has been awarded a FIRST Award from Nebraska’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). As part of the Award activities, Dr. Butler will conduct multiple national surveys that will serve as the basis for launching the Crime and Justice Public Opinion Lab (CJPOL) in the SCCJ.

VVSRL faculty member named American Society of Criminology Division of Victimology Faculty Researcher of the Year

Tara Richards, Ph.D. was named Faculty Researcher of the Year by the Division of Victimology (DOV). The DOV Faculty Researcher of the Year award is awarded to a scholar who has made a significant contribution in the area of victimology in the past two years.

VVSRL team awarded new National Institute of Justice grant to support the development of a campus strengths and needs assessment for Nebraska Indian Community College

This National Institute of Justice funded project (15PNIJ-21-GG-02809-RESS) supports a new partnership between Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC) and UNO researcher Tara Richards, Ph.D. (PI) and doctoral student research assistant Sheena Gilbert as well as Emily Wright, Ph.D. (Co-I, Urban Institute). The project focuses on better understanding gender-based violence at tribal colleges and universities, and addressing violence and victimization using culturally-centered strategies.

VVSRL team awarded a new Office on Violence Against Women grant to complete an evaluability assessment for Seattle Municipal Court’s Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP)

This Office on Violence Against Women funded project (15JOVW-21-GG-02488-MUMU) supports a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of a novel approach to domestic violence intervention treatment in Seattle, Washington: The Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP). The project team includes Tara Richards, Ph.D. (PI) and Emily Wright, Ph.D. (Co-I) and doctoral research assistant, Alyssa Nystrom.

VVSRL faculty member chosen as Site Coach for Nebraska’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) project

Nebraska’s JRI project supports Nebraska Board of Parole’s (NBOP) work regarding best practices for victim services and victim engagement. In her role as site coach, Tara Richards, Ph.D. will serve as a subject matter expert in the areas of victimology and victim studies to support NBOP in their efforts.

VVSRL faculty member appointed to federal task force on violence and victimization among American Indian and Alaska Native women

Emily Wright, Ph.D. will serve on the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force on Research on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women (commonly referred to as the Section 904 Task Force). The Task Force is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and recommendations on the Department of Justice National Institute of Justice’s program of research on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Women. 

#NUforNE: Shifting the Focus from Crime Perpetrators to Crime Victims

UNO criminologists will develop a new Victimology and Victim Studies Research Lab focused on research related to crime victims and crime victimization. The lab’s work will inform policy and practice and help shape prevention and intervention efforts.