Two outstanding PhD students from the Criminology and Criminal Justice program here in the School of EPPS, Robert Geibler and Samantha Manuel, were honored this year as recipients of the prestigious Criminology International Travel Award. The award provided them the opportunity to attend and present at the 24th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (Eurocrim 2024), which took place from September 11 to 14 in Bucharest, Romania.
The Eurocrim conference is renowned for gathering criminology experts and researchers from across Europe, providing a unique platform to share the latest research and exchange ideas. For Robert and Samantha, this was an invaluable opportunity to showcase their work on an international stage while also engaging with leading scholars.
Robert delivered a presentation on his research that was co-authored by Dr. Arthur Vasquez and Dr. Andrew Krajewski from the Criminology & Criminal Justice Program. Their research examines whether youths’ perceptions of the police increase their likelihood of joining a gang and how perceived protection from gangs influences this relationship. His findings suggest that youth who do not view the police as fair, courteous, or respectful are more likely to believe that gangs can offer them protection.
Samantha presented her work as part of a panel on Intergenerational Criminology. Her presentation was a secondary analysis of her qualitative study on the social bonds of adult survivors of childhood maltreatment, analyzed through the lens of general strain theory. The literature on childhood maltreatment suggests that those who experience trauma during youth are at greater risk of engaging in deviant or criminal behavior later in life. However, Samantha’s research focuses on survivors who, despite their traumatic experiences, do not engage in criminal or antisocial behavior but instead develop resilience. Her findings indicate that social bonds formed outside of home, often the source of trauma, act as protective factors.
Their participation in this conference reflects the high level of scholarship within the School of EPPS. Their contributions to the field of criminology not only highlight pressing issues in crime prevention but also demonstrate how research can provide critical insights into the social factors that influence criminal behavior.
Eurocrim2024 was an unreal experience. Had the time of my life connecting with colleagues, presenting research, and making friends along the way. Bucharest was a dream, and I had the time of my life. Thank you School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at UT Dallas and UTD Criminal justice for the opportunity.
I am incredibly grateful for this invaluable opportunity to broaden my understanding of criminological issues on an international scale, and I am excited to bring these new insights back home. I look forward to continuing to foster meaningful conversations and further research on intergenerational trauma and resilience.
Thank you again to the UTD Criminal justice Program and the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences at UT Dallas for making this possible for me. This has been a truly transformative experience!
