Suffolk University
Professors Carolyn Boyes-Watson and Erika Gebo from Suffolk University serve as Shannon CSI Research Partners for Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster. In the first year of the grant, they formed a Youth Gang Intelligence Working Group comprised of police officers, street outreach workers, and probation officers to assess the nature of gang and youth violence in the tri-city area. The researchers also surveyed community members such as guidance counselors, school principals, civic leaders, and social service agencies, conducted focus groups with Summer Up participants, and observed community forums to collect additional data about youth violence and community concerns. In one example of Suffolk’s action research model, community-based partners indicated that disciplinary problems were leading students away from classroom participation; in response, the research team devised a school discipline program to keep students engaged in learning. Suffolk also analyzed crime data to help law enforcement better direct suppression efforts and resources. In the second year of this research partnership, Suffolk’s Center for Restorative Justice will provide guidance for the school discipline pilot programs and conduct ongoing evaluation, as well as further assessment of police data.Contacts:
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Carolyn Boyes-Watson Director of the Center for Restorative Justice Suffolk University 73 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02108 E-Mail: cwatson@suffolk.edu Tel: 617.573.8085 |
Erika Gebo Assistant Professor Department of Sociology Suffolk University 8 Ashburton Pl. Boston, MA 02108 E-Mail: egebo@suffolk.edu Tel: 617.557.1594 |