Laura Beckman, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Criminal Justice 

Education:  
PhD: Arizona State University
MA: Villanova University                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Teaching Interests: Criminological Theory; Courts & Sentencing; Community Corrections; Immigration & Criminal Justice; Mental Health

Research Interests: Race, Ethnicity, Immigration, and Justice; Sentencing; Juvenile Justice

Selected Publications/Research: 

Beckman, L., & Wang, X. (2022), Revisiting the Minority Threat Perspective: Examining the Main and Interactive Effects of Segregation on Sentencing Severity. Justice Quarterly, 39(4), 745-771.

Beckman, L., & Rodriguez, N. (2021). Race, Ethnicity, and Official Perceptions in the Juvenile Justice System: Extending the Role of Negative Attributional Stereotypes. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 48 (11), 1536-1556.

O’Neal, E.N., Beckman, L.O., & Spohn, C. (2019). The Sexual Stratification Hypothesis: Is the Decision to Arrest Influenced by the Victim/Suspect Racial/Ethnic Dyad? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 34(6), 1287-1310.

Why Did You Become a Criminal Justice Professor: 

I grew up in a household where both my parents were teachers and witnessed the impact that teaching can have on others. I have also long been intrigued with why people make the decisions that they do. Being a criminal justice professor seemed like the perfect combination of teaching and research in a field that can influence the fairness and impartiality of the administration of justice.