Cecil student’s research to be presented at national conference
Published on September 21, 2021
NORTH EAST, Md. – The Cecil College Department of Social Science will be represented for the first time at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) Conference later this fall in Chicago by a recent graduate from the criminal justice program. Mariana Espinosa’s research poster will be part of the annual exhibition of the ASC’s engagement in research, teaching, and practice to foster criminological scholarship and serve as a forum for disseminating criminological knowledge.
“Being accepted to present at the national conference is a monumental moment in a young person’s career,” said Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Ashley L. Fundack, Ph.D. “Mariana’s poster was selected from several hundred submissions in varying criminal justice topics. It is an honor to present your work and represent your college at the conference.”
ASC membership consists of students, practitioners, and academicians from a multitude of fields of criminal justice and criminology.
Espinosa’s research on the disproportionate housing of sex offenders within neighborhoods suffering from high unemployment and poverty levels along with lower economic opportunities caught the attention of officials when it was shared with law enforcement agencies in Maryland dealing with sexual assault-related crimes. Her research highlighted the problem of “keeping sex offenders targeted to certain areas within poorer unstable neighborhoods increasing their chances of recidivism.”
“Having my work accepted for the National Criminal Justice Conference during my first years of college is a dream come true. This honor wouldn’t have happened if Dr. Fundack didn’t take me under her wing during my time at Cecil College. She is an amazing mentor,” said Espinosa.
Espinosa graduated from Cecil College in May with an associate degree in criminal justice. Currently enrolled at the University of Baltimore, she has her sights set on applying to the FBI upon graduation. An Elkton resident, this young woman’s tenacity and dedication have placed her on the pathway to being among the 13 percent of female FBI recruits.
She was drawn to her research project topic regarding the sex offenders registry during an internship with the Elkton Police Department. She discovered the level of sex offenses occurring in the community while working with the detectives.
“I knew cases like this occurred all over the world. However, seeing it in front of me and reading the ones from Elkton didn’t sit right with me. It’s a different feeling when you hear cases that happen around you, but when it’s in your hometown, I couldn’t believe it,” said Espinosa.
From her research, Espinosa underscores the lack of employment and housing opportunities for individuals on the sex offender registry when released back into society, pushing them to settle in neighborhoods suffering from high poverty and high unemployment. The lack of opportunities creates higher levels of recidivism for sex offenders within these disorganized communities, which can be found in Baltimore as well as in Cecil County.
“Searching on the registry, it was surprising to find in my hometown where the majority of sex offenders live. I was curious about the conditions of these neighborhoods to see if it proved my preconceptions. I went on a ride-along with an officer from EPD and learned a lot about these neighborhoods that emphasized the traits I discuss in my research,” said Espinosa.
Along with the aid of the Elkton Police Department, Espinosa was able to gather data from other Maryland law enforcement agencies. She utilized public information to cross-references her data, and with the assistance of Dr. Fundack, Espinosa was able to circumvent some of the bureaucracy.
The 2021 ASC Conference will be held November 17 – 20 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. This year’s theme is Science and Evidenced-Based Policy in a Fractured Era.