December 2, 2022 – 5th Annual Crime, Justice and Equity Conference, Salt Lake Community College, South City Campus
5th Annual Crime, Justice and Equity Conference
Salt Lake Community College, South City Campus
Friday, December 2, 2022
Multi-Purpose Room 1st Floor
Room 1-030 and 1-032 (Next to the Peace and Justice Garden)
Free and Open to the Public
SCHEDULE
(Based on USA Mountain Time)
10:00am – 3:00pm
10:00am-10:10am – Welcoming and Introduction – Dr. Anthony J. Nocella II
10:10-11:15am – Session One – Room 1-030
Chairperson: Alondra Casaretto Barrera
1. Title: Derailed Futures
Aidan Reid
Biography: I am a student at Salt Lake Community College, I am currently majoring in business here at SLCC. I intend to complete my associates here at SLCC then go on to get my bachelors at the University of Utah. I grew up in Layton, Utah, I was involved from an early age in mathematics learning to use numbers effectively from a young age. I enjoy spending my free time with my family and my pets, outside or playing a sport like basketball or baseball.
Abstract: Youth are locked up and kept in prisons now more than ever. Majority do not commit
violent crimes against society that demand lengthy sentencing. Our system needs to do more to rehabilitate these youth, develop the future of our nation, not hold them down. Laws enforced by federal and state, for those who are under the age of eighteen years old and commit a non-violent crime should not be required to be handed a minimum sentence. Instead punish them with community service to give back to the community that they live in while also rehabilitating themselves. We as a country value justice tightly, but there are children who make mistakes and one of those mistakes can and have gotten individuals caught up in the prison system for life. It ends careers before they can even start, relationships before they even meet, and takes their youth right from under them.
2. Title: Extremism
Zarrish Mir
Biography: My name is Zarrish Mir. I am doing my major in criminal justice at Salt Lake
Community College after my two years of degree, I want to transfer to Utah Valley University to
complete my four years of bachelor degree. I was born in New Jersey, moved to Pakistan with
my family and lived there for 17 years and Then I moved back to United States again in 2020.
My goal for my life is to become my family’s first ever judge. Apart from education my free
time hobbies includes singing, painting, dancing, swimming and watching a lots of crime
documentaries.
Abstract: This critical thinking paper is about one of the major problems going around the world that is “Extremism”. One of the most infamous extremist group in history of United States was the Ku Klux Klan which mainly targeted black people and also Jewish and gay community. Extremism is essentially a political term which determines the activities that are not in accordance with norms of the state, are fully intolerant toward others. It is influenced by the prevailing political culture, the system of values, ideology, political goals, personal
characteristics and experiences, ethnocentrism, and many others. Early prevention of violent extremism and radicalization is not achievable by the state and security services alone. Families and community leaders are best positioned to identify early those at risk of radicalization and helping them move in a different direction by promoting values of peace and respect for diversity and non-violence. And also by respecting each other’s culture and religious beliefs without bringing down each other, respecting everyone’s religious beliefs instead of disrespecting and dishonoring them.
3. Title: Hate Crime against Mexican during the Trump Administration
Jose Colmenero
Biography: Jose Colmenero is an 18-year-old student from Utah. He is currently on a path towards politics. His goal is to be able to work as a congress person. He plans by staying in a path that will open his social network. He believes other people are his strongest companions. During his free time, he enjoys snowboarding. As well, he strength trains and hanging time with family and friends.
Abstract: here was huge debate whether former President Donald J. Trump would make America Great Again. As any other president he had his pros and cons. He had many impactful takes during his 4-year run such as tax relief, unemployment being its lowest in a century, and pushing covid vaccines to all Americans. On the other hand, he was against liberal views mainly with immigration. This includes but is not limited to; decreasing DACA funds to help undocumented people who were brought to the United States against their will, as well a zero-tolerance policy, which separated children from parents, and finally a controversial insurrection at the Capitol. These are only a few to name but we will primarily focus on his immigration policies and the effects it caused.
4. Title: Discrimination Against Unsheltered People
Isaac Raymond
Biography: Isaac Raymond is a part-time college student born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Skyline High School in 2021. He has had a negative experience involving an unsheltered person but has also recently had an enlightening and positive one as well. He is currently taking general education classes and wants to major in communications. He then hopes to transfer and graduate from The University of Utah. He enjoys lifting weights, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.
Abstract: People have been unsheltered in the United States before it was even founded in 1776. People have also been discriminatory aginst these people for a very long time. There are around half a million unsheltered people in the United States and people can feel threatened by these people because of their appearance, actions or preconceived notions about these misunderstood people. There have been over a thousand attacks against unsheltered people since 1999, this number includes murder, physichal and verbal assualt and rape. There is a constant increase in the number of unsheltered men, women and children being harassed and attacked. In many cases these people do not seek medical or law enforcement attention out of fear of retribution or lacking the means to do so.
5. Title: Racial discrimination and civil rights
Diego Esparzao
Biography: Diego Esparza (he/him) is currently a student at Salt Lake Community College and a
West High graduate of 2022. Esparza is in his first year of college and is planning on switching
his current business major to a political science major by the end of the semester. He hopes to
acquire this degree to become a public defender one day or possibly go into some form of being a defense attorney. Esparza is planning on transferring over to the University of Utah or possibly Arizona State University by fall of 2023, to continue his educational career. Outside of School Esparza is a crazy sports fan he has played baseball for 8 years and wrestled in High School, and hopes to continue paying and watching sports.
Abstract: In this paper the inner ideas and causes of racial discrimination will be explored and
carefully looked at in order to gage a better understanding of how we can end this social
problem. While analyzing why racism continues in America, it is important to look at the psyche of what makes people think this way, to understand that we must see examples of racial injustice in the past and present. The core of what will be discussed is hate, because all forms of prejudice stem from hate. This is why hate must be understood first.
6. Title: White Collar Crime
Sebastian Smith
Biography: Sebastian Smith is a student at SLCC. He moved this year from the Bay Area, where he grew up all of his life. He previously attended the Community College of Marin before transferring to Salt Lake Community College. He plans to transfer to a four year university to continue his education. He enjoys spending time with his family and working out in the gym.
Abstract: White collar crime is crime that typically goes under the radar, but still is extremely important. White-collar crime is a nonviolent crime of deceit or concealment to obtain or avoid losing money or to gain a personal or business advantage. While White Collar Crime is not violent, it can be just as harmful to those who are affected by it as a violent act would be. White Collar Crime can lead to psychological torture and finical issues. White collar criminals are typically not looked at as criminals, due to their crimes being non violent. However these crimes can be used to ruin the lives of poor individuals as a white collar crime could be a person commiting fraud using government resources meant for the less privileged. White Collar Crime is harmful and dangerous and leads to little punishment in comparison to other crimes of seemingly lesser magnitude. White collar crimes are deadly but are seemingly swept under the rug in society.
10 minutes of Q and A
10:10-11:15am – Session One – Room 1-032
Chairperson: Michael Droubay
1. Title:
Evelyn Diego
Biography:
Abstract:
2. Title: Human Trafficking
Andrea Ramirez Goncalvez
Biography: Sarah Ransome is one victim of sex trafficking world by Jeffery Epstin. Ransome was around her 20s when she met Epstin, she was recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell who was
acquainted with Epstin and helped him recruit many young women for him. Maxwell made a
false promise to Ransome about getting her into an elite design school and she became one of
many victims of Epstin. Ransome was 11 years old when she was first sexually assulated and she always believed that it was always her fault or she was the one to blame for everything, but that is not always the case, she learned from it and still is tring to make buondries for herself, but its hard for her to do so because of all the trauma.
Abstract: In the US their is a big situation about human trafficking espcially with women and
children. Human trafficking is when someone is selled off to a stranger to provide labor, services or sex acts. There are at least 7 in 10 victims that are women and girls (International Labour Organization and Walk Free Foundation, 2017). Which is something big because traffickers take people that are young or runaways people who are weak minded that’s why women and children are the biggest objectives to them. Normally families sell off their children because they do not have any money and selling children is worth a lot because there young and they dont know whats happening during those days, months or years, there are two cities in the US with the highest human trafficking problem and those are Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY these two cities have a lot of tourist for example Los Angeles has beaches, amusement park, stores large Hispanic community, and a hug coastlines. With both cites their is high chance that many people get kidnap or drugged to be human trafficking espcially someone who doesnt know English so well because they can ask help for directions but the traffickers can lie and say that theyll show them they are going to be drugged or kidnap taken somewhere where they will be rape by one or more person and abuse too. Knowing that the biggest cities in the US has the highest human trafficking is scary becuase woomen and children become human trafficking so much especially during at night because not many people are out and anyone can come and take you and no one would see it, in the US there is at least 14,500 to 17,000 of women and children who have or were part of the humn trafficking.
3. Title: How Unsheltered People are Effected on Utah’s Streets
Axinia Quinones
Biography: Axinia Rose Quinones is a nineteen year old college student at Salt Lake Community College majoring in Geology and eventually wants to get into the field of Geophysics. She was born and raised in Midvale Utah and in her freetime she likes to analyze rocks, play instruments such as the bass and guitar, go to the gym, and play videogames. Axinia Attended Camille Casteel High School, Bingham High School, and Valley High school where she was the yearbook president and the Student body president her senior year of high school where she was also on the honor roll.
Abstract: Unsheltered people are perceived as scary, bad, lazy, or unhygienic people who live on the streets being seen as an eye sore. These people are more than just that and then need help to become something more. Is it wrong to help people in need just because they are perceived as less than most people. They are people with families and feeling to who face day to day struggles and more such as discrimination, poverty, violence, substance abuse, and problems with the city and authories. Unsheltered people are being treated horrendously by authorities and the city by being humiliated with no camping signs posted in downtown Salt Lake City, having the sidewalk they sit on near donation centers sprayed down with water so they have to move, and having the only home they have along with their belongings ripped away from them in a matter of seconds because it is seen as garbage. Solutions to fixing this would be giving these people easy access to resources. For example providing transportation from them to St.Vincents and back to the shelter, or creating more programs to help them get back on their feet so that they can be a
contributing factor to society again.
4. Title:
Marianne Aguero
Biography: Marianne Agüero is a first year student at Salt Lake Community College, she is in the process of obtaining a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and she hopes to become a civil rights lawyer, she grew up in Chile and has become more involved in being an active member of the community by running the Women’s March this past October and by being a member of the Criminology group at her college, in her free time she enjoys spending time with husband and pets and finding new ways to help her community.
Abstract: The United States calls itself the land of the free, meanwhile we hold over 1.8 million
people in our prisons and jails across the nation, a high amount of the people incarcerated have been going in and out of the system since they were children, since the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy these numbers have only risen. This paper will go into depth on the multiple perspectives of what is causing this issue, and a further look into the demographic of students who are mainly affected by the implementation of this policy, while looking at research done throughout the country, and comparing this data to the students that are not as affected by the policy, we can infer why this policy was created and the effects it will continue to have on marginalized communities. By creating a never-ending cycle of going in and out of prisons, the system is making it extremely difficult for certain students to have a choice at life that does not end with them being incarcerated.
5. Title: Is Defunding The Police Good Or Bad
Spencer Sua
Biography: Spencer Su’a is a 31-year-old college student from Washington State. He was born in American Samoa and moved to the states in December of 2000 at the age of 8. So he grew up mostly here in the states. Graduated from Clover Park High and now deciding to come back to school to study Criminal Justice and Cybersecurity. Currently enrolled here at Salt Lake
Community College and in his first semester of college. In addition, he works and studies full-
time, plays league volleyball during the week, and is currently involved in a school club. He
enjoys spending time with his wife and playing video games with his boys on the weekend.
Abstract: Often in the news police officers are getting ridiculed by the media, and the people they serve, when they get blamed for mishandling certain situations. They respond to any situation from domestic violence to burglary and many more. Few situations where they come across dealing with special needs victims not knowing what to do or whom to talk to. Most times that these situations happen many have dealt with them appropriately. That is why defunding the police is something we cannot afford as a city or country. If that happens who will come to your aid when you are in need? Who will protect the community and keep the peace in our city? Many of us are so quick to point fingers when something goes wrong and not look at how to solve the problem. Granted there are some bad apples out there in the police department, but we can not condemn the rest based on one bad apple. Crimes are happening everywhere around the world and the first line of defense we have is the law enforcement officers. If we defund the police, crimes will go up and leaving our citizens vulnerable and exposed to being victimized by those who commit crimes. People will not feel safe in their communities due to less law enforcement protecting our streets and schools.
10 minutes of Q and A
11:15am – 11:20am – Break
11:20pm – 12:25pm Session One – Room 1-030
Chairperson: Kirsten Leiva
1. Title: The Troubled Teen Industry
Ashleigh Barrie
Biography: Ashleigh Barrie is a 35-year-old psychology major at Salt Lake Community College.
This is a significant cause to her, as she is a survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry. She spent 19 months in two different programs, a wilderness program followed by an all-girls therapeutic
boarding school. She left her boarding school after she turned 18, then spent the next decade
struggling with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from her experiences before committing herself to start healing from the trauma of the Troubled Teen Industry.
Abstract: Although the Troubled Teen Industry was first developed during the 1960s, it is still
thriving today, at the expense of the mental health of youth in crisis. This industry collects at
least $23 billion annually from Medicare and Medicaid alone. The programs that operate as part of the Troubled Teen Industry use deceptive marketing and a lack of legal oversight to convince parents to send their kids to these programs. The vast majority of former students, survivors report various forms of abuse within these programs, disguised as therapy. Troubled Teen Industry programs often cause more damage to children than the trauma they entered the industry with.
2. Title: Democracy or Greed: How Industry Influences Criminal Law and Policy
Madelyn Bokovoy
Biography: Madelyn Bokovoy is a college freshman, currently studying Criminal Justice at Salt Lake Community College. Bokovoy has had a strong passion for political activism ever since growing up in the socially progressive, east coast state Massachusetts. Consistently seeing wealth, gender, racial, and much more inequality awakened a lifelong mission in her to promote social equity and equal justice under the law. Although still open to potential career paths, Bokovoy plans to study political science in graduate school and afterward, defend marginalized groups—either through writing journal articles or creating legislation in political office. Outside all of that though, she spends her days reading, writing, creating art, and practicing mindfulness through yoga.
Abstract: How is legislation, and specifically criminal legislation, created in the U.S? Most
Americans assume that in this democratic republic, law is the result of a necessary need or want. Society calls for an issue to be addressed and elected government officials represent the people by finding solutions. What happens with decision making behind closed doors, however? And can society trust these elected individuals to speak for them? For years, outside influence and corporate lobbying have been major issues in American politics. The country’s determination for economic innovation has created a kind of “profit monster,” where instead of creating policy for the good of society, government officials create action based on the possibility of personal gain. Recent evidence connecting officials and criminal legislation to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) validates this fear. ALEC is a tax-exempt, political organization made up of big corporations and legislators, all seeking to influence policy making. From the American Corrections Association pushing the expansion of private prisons; to the National Rifle Association opposing higher background checks with firearm legislation, ALEC gives corporations an opportunity to influence which laws are created, rejected, and passed. This profit dominance is massively destructive to democracy and justice in the U.S. If this country is to heal the economic corruption camouflaged inside its government, the general public must be aware, educated, and collectively organized. The American people give political officials their power, and the people can take it back.
3. Title: Rehabilitation Over Incarceration
Roxy Buhler
Biography: Roxy or Olli Buhler is an 18-year-old college student, currently studying secondary
education at Salt Lake Community College. They grew up in Salt Lake and graduated from
Olympus High School with a renewed passion for learning. From a young age, Roxy knew that
they wanted to help others and change lives. The thought of being the one at the front of the
classroom always sounded exciting, and since graduation, it has been their biggest dream to
teach history the right way and aid adolescences in understanding their own brains through
psychology. Roxy believes that everyone can earn a second chance, and that we can always
work towards being better to each other and our environment.
Abstract: Ever since the beginning, the United States prison system has been flawed and corrupted. Americans committing non-violent crimes and suffering with mental illness are being thrown into jail and prison as a Band-aid solution to the real issues. Communities and individuals can have the chance to be better and heal by integrating solutions that get to the source of convictions.
4. Title: Racism and the School to Prison Pipeline
Jordan Bunderson
Biography: Richard Jordan Bunderson is a student at Salt Lake Community College, currently majoring in sociology. His goal is to transfer from Salt Lake Community College and achieve a master’s degree in sociology to become a therapist. Richard has spent the past eleven years living in his hometown, Bountiful Utah, where he graduated from Bountiful High School in 2022. In his free time, he enjoys writing poetry and taking time to himself to relax.
Abstract: The school-to-prison pipeline is a real issue in public schools today. Public schools have integrated the zero-tolerance policy for disciplining students which is highly focused on
punishment rather than restoration. This means that anyone who misbehaves within school walls is punished with decided punishments with little to no room for discretion. The school-to-prison pipeline is the concept that marginalized students are targeted by this zero-tolerance system and indirectly pushed into incarceration and the criminal justice system. Marginalized students – especially black students – are statistically more likely to be targeted by those enforcing this system, most often resource officers, or school police. Not being given any chance to make things right, those students face suspension, expulsion, or even direct incarceration. Those enforcing the zero-tolerance policies completely ignore the circumstances that the offender may be in that might have an influence their behavior, such as poverty, domestic abuse at home, or disabilities. This eliminates discretion and allows for no rehabilitation opportunities. There is hope that the school-to-prison pipeline can be dissolved in time by introducing restorative discipline policies and with the help of school counselors, teachers, and nurses.
5. Title: Abortion, and Womens Rights to Have One
Ava Oshea
Biography: Ava Rose O’Shea is an 18 year old student from Utah. She has lived in the United States her whole life and has not moved out of state. After graduating from skyline Highschool Ava is currently exploring what she wants to major in. This is her first year studying at Salt Lake
Community college. She has a part time job, and loves surrounding herself with friends and
family. Although she thrives off of being social, she will shut down without her alone time.
Abstract: Abortin, and wether abortion should be a right for women has been a topic not only talked about, but fought about. The idea that women now do not have the right to an abortion has changed lives for the worse, and women have not been afraid to speak out and fight for their rights back. Pregnancy, and sex has now become something feared and avoided, which it shouldnt be. Not only the lives of women are affected, but the lives of these babies being born is. A great amount of these babies that are being forced to be born, will fall into the loop of foster care. This is because these women are being forced against their will to have a child, don’t want to have that child for a reason, weather it be the fact that they are not ready to support a child, or they physically cannot support this child due to money, housing, mental state, and so much more. Although those reasons are great explanations to why women should have that choice in the first place, there should not even have to be a given reason to the fact that women should have this simple choice and right over their own bodys.
10 minutes of Q and A
11:20pm – 12:25pm Session Two – Room 1-032
Chairperson: Keila Jauregui
1. Title:
Dillon Fang
Biography:
Abstract:
2. Title: Decriminalizing Marijuana and The Affected Marginalized Groups
Cristian Jimenes
Biography: Cristian Garcia Jimenes is an 18-year-old college student from Salt Lake City, Utah, but rooted in Mexico. He was born in Salt Lake City and has lived on the same outskirts of downtown Salt Lake City for 18 years. After graduating high school from Highland High, he attended Salt Lake Community College majoring in music. He has been working since the age of 14 and is currently a full-student and worker alike. Outside of work and school, the other two hobbies consuming his time are working on cars and his guitar. Helping those who need help whenever he can, is what he loves to do.
Abstract: Marijuana has been viewed negatively by American society for as long as the plant
gained more popularity. In more recent times marijuana has been criminalized by The War on
Drugs introduced by Ronald Reagan in 1982, but this allowed for marginalized groups to be
vulnerable and susceptible to drug convictions and attacks. While statistics state that the rate for drug possession convictions is steadily decreasing, the sentencing around multiple states has been near static. Many of these views were established due to the ideas of puritanical Christians and not consuming alcohol and the other surrounding substances. John Ehrlichman, a member of Nixon’s political campaign, stated that The War on Drugs was made to disrupt the targeted communities. This has a leeway into mass incarceration, being that most convictions are caused by these drug possessions. Just less than a quarter of these convictions were adult black men despite these black men making up less than 14% of the U.S population.
3. Title: Private Prison
Bryant Gonzalez Guzman
Biography:
Abstract:
4. Title: Reversing the Stigma Regarding Psychedelics
Dante Guardi
Biography: Dante Guardi is a 19-year-old college student studying journalism from Huntington Beach, California. After living in California for 19 years, he decided to move to Utah after receiving a job opportunity from CBS Sports, with the goal of becoming a college football sportscaster after receiving his degree. Growing up, Dante was a solid student, taking an interest in writing, while also being involved in golf and basketball outside of the classroom. In his free time, Dante enjoys traveling with his family, watching football, hanging out with friends and playing golf.
Abstract: I am greatly concerned. There is nothing smart. There is nothing grown up or sophisticated in taking an LSD trip at all, they are just being complete fools. Anyone who would engage in this or indulge in this is just a plain fool” (Shroomeryslearyfan)! Former President of the United States Ronald Reagan said while speaking about psychedelic use in America, primarily by hippies. In 1970, psychedelics were rescheduled as schedule one drugs and many other drugs were also criminalized, which led to the downfall of their use in the United States, a decision motivated by classism, and the government’s disapproval of the hippie culture. Contrary to what the government misinformed the public in the 20th century, a type of psychedelic called psilocybin mushrooms have taken the medical world by storm. Today, psilocybin mushrooms’ main use is in labs, as students and scientists are doing nonstop research on them. Many of these studies are supporting psilocybin mushrooms, believing they will transform the way doctors and medical experts treat depression. With positive information regarding the medical use of psilocybin mushrooms, there have already been laws passed, starting what will be a long, uphill battle to legalize them, and correcting what was the unfair and wrong decision to make them illegal.
5. Title: Human Trafficking in America
Tia Hammond
Biography: Tia Alex Hammond is a 23-year-old college student studying graphic design, who was raised by two immigrants from Palestine. Tia graduated from Corner Canyon high school in 2017 and began taking classes at Salt Lake Community College, in 2019 she stopped attending school and began working to save money to purchase a home. Once she achieved her goal, she returned to college to finish out her schooling, where she strives to stay on the right track and embrace the determination of success. In addition to schooling, Tia enjoys art in all forms, again she is a graphic designer but expands past the boundaries of electronic design by painting, woodworking, or sculpting. Currently, Tia recently started a job as a host and server at Tsunami, where she can work on her social skills and meet several connections for her future. One day Tia hopes to own her own business as well as property to have a farm and become 100% self-sustainable.
Abstract: There is an estimate of 24.9 million victims of human trafficking at any time, modern slavery regularly underrecognized in America. A wide range of legal and illegal businesses exploit human trafficking such as, in the commercial sex industry, factories, agriculture, hotels,
restaurants, marriage brokers and some adoption firms. Human trafficking affects women and
children 70% of the time while 90% of victims are taken into the sex industry. In the United
States in order to have a human trafficking violation there must be a, act, means, and purpose
which can help determine if it is forced labor, sex trafficking, or both. In 2019, Congress
amended the TVPA, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, to allow governments to perform
acts as traffickers, trafficking in government funded programs, forced labor in government
affiliated medical services, sexual slavery in government camps or the employment or
recruitment of child soldiers. At the heart of it all the traffickers aim to exploit their victim and
claim their profit, they will coerce, deceive, and manipulate to get what they want. Traffickers
can be strangers, colleagues, acquaintances or even family members. The Federal Bureau of
Investigation estimates over 100,000 children and young women are being trafficked in America today.
10 minutes of Q and A
12:20pm to 12:40pm – Room 1-030
Lunch – Pizza and there will be Vegan Options and Soda and Juice (For Free)
12:40pm to 12:50 – Awards – Room 1-030
Recognizing the Outstanding Criminal Justice Awards for Fall 2022
Chairpeople – Stephanie Hoffman, Cecile Delozier, and Anthony J. Nocella II
1. Outstanding Criminal Justice Faculty Award – David Robles
2. Outstanding Health and Wellbeing Achievement Award – Axinia Quinones
3. Outstanding Rise Up Achievement Award – Danielle Mohl
4. Outstanding Inclusivity and Equity Achievement Award – Marianne Aguero
5. Outstanding Service Achievement Award – Angela Cardenas
6. Outstanding Academic Achievement Award – Natasha Evette Sadler and Chase Messervy
Keynote 12:50pm to 1:25pm – Room 1-030
Chairperson: Angela Cardenas
Shawn Newell
Shawn Newell is the Vice President of Business Development at Industrial Supply Company where he has worked for the past 35 years. He serves as a community integrator working as the vice president of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, a former Commissioner on the Governor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission and is on the executive Board of the Utah Black Round Table. He heads the Utah Multicultural Civic Council, serves on the Board of the Utah Non-Profit Association and is a member of the Utah Manufacturer’s Association Board. Mr. Newell formerly served as Chair of the Workforce and Economic Development Advisory Board at Salt Lake Community College where he served as the Alumni Council President and a Trustee for the College. Shawn is a Civility Ambassador for World Civility through iChange Nations and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion task force for the Industrial Supply Association. Additionally, he serves on the Utah 3rd district Court Committee for Self-Represented Parties, Council on Diversity Affairs (CODA), as a former member of the Utah State Board of Education, a President’s Ambassador for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, Co-chair on the Salt lake Chamber Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force, Utah State Department of Workforce Services Board, recently joined the Board of the The Road home, Friends For Sight, The Utah State Bar Commission Board, the newly formed Utah Office of Innovation Task Force and currently on the Utah System of Higher Education Board. Shawn is a graduate of the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College and has a Masters of Management degree from the University of Phoenix. He holds an Executive leadership certification from the University of Utah School of Business and a Diversity and Inclusion certificate from Cornell University and a Leading with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Certificate from the University of Utah. In Shawn’s spare time he officiates youth sports and BBQs great grub. Mr. Newell is married, the father of three and has six grandchildren.
1:25pm – 1:30pm – Break
1:25pm -2:40pm – Session Three – Room 1-030
Chairperson: Krystal Ginger and Ruth S. Uttu
1. Title: Decriminalization of Marijuana
Joseph Nelson
Biography: Joseph Nelson is an 18-year old college student at Salt Lake Community College. Joseph was born in Idaho, although he spent most of his childhood growing up in Longmont, Colorado. He moved to Kaysville, Utah halfway through his sophomore year of high school, and graduated at Farmington High School two years later. He is majoring in Music and hopes to go into UVU’s audio engineering program after his time at Salt Lake Community College.
Abstract: In the United States marijuana has had a long history and it’s criminalization has
disproportionately affected Black communities. Many cite health concerns as reasons for such
harsh laws, but many of these concerns are based on wrong information. The primary reason to move towards decriminalization of marijuana is to abolish laws that hurt Black communities. We can do this in three steps. First is descheduling marijuana under the controlled substances act. Second is to expunge past nonviolent marijuana convictions. The third and final step is social equity programs.
2. Title: Prison System and Traumatic Brain Injury
Lola Cowley
Biography: Lola Cowley is a student at Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City. They are
currently working towards getting a bachelor’s degree in either psychology or forensic science.
They are taking classes in criminal justice to further their education and continue down the road to becoming a scholar. Cowley is interested in focusing on how mental health affects
incarcerated individuals, and how we can better the treatment of them to decrease repeat
offenders. They have been looking into the rates of traumatic brain injuries in prison systems and how they affect the minds of incarcerated people.
Abstract: The following essay will cover the connection between traumatic brain injuries and the repetitive cycle of incarceration. This is not a commonly thought of correlation that we address, but today light will be shed on the prison system and symptoms of acquired and traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are incredibly common in the us, they are one of the leading causes in death. Having a Traumatic Brain Injuries can change a person completely, different behavioral changes could include higher reactivity, a change in demeanor, higher rates for mental illness. One of the biggest symptoms for brain injuries is having increased aggression. Traumatic brain injuries are incredible prevalent in our prison system, regardless of if they happen prior to incarceration or while incarcerated. Having a Traumatic brain injury could put you disproportionally at risk for engaging in risky or violent behavior, which could lead to a higher likelihood of arrest and incarceration. There is not too much research on the effects and correlations of traumatic brain injuries on incarcerated individuals, however the amount of research is starting to grow. Now we need methods of combating the cycles of incarceration and abuse, like implementing therapies or rehabilitating offenders.
3. Title:
Quinn Magrane
Biography:
Abstract:
4. Title: Racial Police Violence
Tatiana Ruesga
Biography: Tatiana Ruesga is finishing her first semester at Salt Lake Community college where she has chosen to major in Criminal Justice and in the future, she hopes to pursue a career in law enforcement so she can protect and serve her community. After becoming a police officer she would like to slowly move up to larger fields in the criminal justice system. Tatiana grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. When she is not busy reading books to improve her communication skills, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.
Abstract: The United States police force is responsible for at least 1,000 fatal shootings each year, with the majority of the victims being Black Americans. Police officers are the first ones you will come in contact with since they are the first ones at most of the crime scenes that occur. No matter the case, we rely on them to prevent and solve crimes that come their way. Even though they are not fully trained or knowledgeable about every problem that they encounter. We need to find a solution and better train our officers so that they can do their job to the best of their ability and to understand what’s most important and that is keeping our community safe regardless of color everyone needs to be treated as equals. Another social problem is militarized policing. Militarization plays a large role in today’s society and a lot of the time it leads to very violent situations with deadly outcomes. Officers take on the appearance and behavior of a soldier at war and are more likely to kill the civilians they are supposed to protect and serve. Police practices should seek to eliminate racial bias and disparate treatment of individuals and communities. Creating fair and effective policing practices will ensure equal justice for all races.
5. Title: Mass Incarceration and Different Alternatives
Aksel Sandoval
Biography: Aksel Sandoval is a student at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) in Salt Lake City,
Utah, currently majoring in Exercise Science/ Kinesiology. Aksel plans on continuing his
education at the University of Utah where he hopes to become an Athletic Trainer (AT).
Aksel was born and raised in Los Angeles, California to immigrant parents from Guatemala.
At a young age him and his family moved from California to Utah. During his free time,
Aksel enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is an avid sports fan.
Abstract: The Unites States criminalizes and incarcerates more of its own people that any other country in the history of the world. The system in place has long been of controversy for unfairly targeting people of color, specifically the Black community. Black people are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana use, and black males are often given longer
sentences for crimes than their white peers. Many of those who are incarcerated in the United
States, are incarcerated due to petty offenses. There is little, to no attempt to try and
rehabilitate these people. After individuals have gone through the prison system, they have a
tougher time adjusting to their new lives. Those with a criminal record have a harder time
finding a job, housing, and could be restricted from voting on top of other things. Mass
incarceration has ultimately no effect on violent crime or crime in general. Prison reform Is
needed now more than ever; other alternatives such as rehabilitation, house arrest, group
homes, drug court, parole, etc. are options and alternatives to the current system in place.
10 minutes of Q and A
1:25pm -2:40pm – Session Three – Room 1-032
Chairperson: Stephanie Hoffman
Group 1
Title: Lights, Camera, Murder: Does the “CSI Effect” Exist in the Digital Age?
Biographies: Park Conner and Daria Lappi are both criminal justice majors in their sophomore year at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). Daria intends to utilize her degree to become a fictional crime writer and is currently working on a manuscript of her first novel centered on a Medical Examiner who gets first-hand accounts from the spirits of the dead and uses them to solve crimes. She intends to transfer to either Weber State University or Utah State University to pursue a degree in English with a minor in Criminal Justice. Park plans on finishing his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at either Weber State or the University of Utah and then will apply to law school. He plans on pursuing a career as a public defender, because he feels that justice is not something that should be restricted to affluent parties.
Abstract: Can media make you a murderer? Probably not, but the authors sought to figure out if it might make you a more biased juror. The “CSI Effect” is the public’s unrealistic perception of what the forensic science field can accomplish. As we grow technologically forensic investigative and analytical expectations in the eyes of the public have been deemed potentially dangerous by multiple news sources. To assess the existence and extent of said effect, the authors elected to create a survey inspired by an inaugural study conducted by Judge Donald Shelton, Kim Young, and G. Barak. Their study surveyed 1,027 prospective jurors in Washtenaw County, Michigan in 2009 and found little link between criminal justice adjacent viewing and potential verdict determinations. The authors of this new study set out to either validate or disprove the original. A copy of the original survey was obtained from the Honorable Judge Shelton, and while the basic formatting and categories remained the same, certain sections were updated to reflect changes in programming as well as the aim of the new study. New questions were synthesized to assess how respondents consume true crime media and how accurate they deem those portrayals to be. In addition, participants were also provided with updated hypothetical scenarios. The results of said survey will be presented and discussed.
Group 2
Title: Fingerprint Powder Visualization Techniques: What Combinations Work Best or Should Be Left in the Dust
Biographies: Gabbie Lovato and Paige (Artie) Woodard are both criminal justice majors in their sophomore year at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). Artie aspires to become a Board-Certified Forensic Anthropologist and is currently researching transfer programs with body farms that will permit human decomposition studies. Gabbie is still exploring the broad range of criminal justice professions and hopes to narrow her focus as she completes more major elective courses. She looks forward to completing CJ 2500: Contemporary Violence next semester.
Abstract: In an effort to fill a research gap, an assessment of (10) commercially available fingerprint powders developed on (7) different colored/patterned surfaces were imaged with varying ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) wavelengths and filter combinations to validate current recommendations and determine if other viable options exist. Through this research the authors were able to utilize camera filters from Kolari and LifePixel that have yet to be analyzed in a forensic capacity for fingerprint powders, as well as a Dedolight alternate light source (ALS) kit that has yet to be formally validated in North America. When samples are exposed to different wavelengths of light and filter combinations one or more of the following reactions can be observed: absorption (darkens), reflection (lightens), transmission (disappears), and/or fluorescence (glows). After the presentation of their findings, attendees will find that commonly held beliefs about which filter, wavelength, and powder combinations are successful may have a larger spectrum of possibilities than originally thought.
10 minutes of Q and A
2:40pm – 2:45pm – Closing Comments
