About me
I am an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice & Criminology at Sam Houston State University. I completed my Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Policy at Northeastern University in 2020. I also have an LLM from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington DC and a B.A., LLB degree from Gujarat National Law University, India.
My current research interests lie at the intersection of law and social science. Most of my work has examined aspects of discretionary release practices in the form of parole decision-making as they impact different incarcerated populations including juvenile lifers and the elderly. I have also worked on studies looking at how sentencing and correctional policies impact youth in the criminal legal system. Another research interest involves testing criminological theories through a cross-comparative lens.
My work has been published in leading academic journals including Crime & Delinquency, The British Journal of Criminology, Criminal Justice & Behavior, Journal of Crime & Justice, among others. I am also the author of In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life: Legal Representation and Juvenile Criminal Justice, published in 2022.
I teach courses on juvenile justice and juvenile delinquency; criminal law; and elective topics such as human trafficking. I work with both graduate and undergraduate students on a range of research projects. Mentorship is the best part of my job! If you are a student looking at graduate school or thinking about law school, email me with your questions. If you want to learn more about research, reach out to inquire about opportunities for collaboration.
In my free time, I enjoy reading fiction and non-fiction (follow me on goodreads!) , traveling, and watching movies. I also like to do easy DIY projects around my house with my husband’s help and importantly– when my dog, Kirby allows me!
