Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

ALPR at ACJS: More Crime and Punishment in Denver

by Olivia Discon

After months of compiling data, conducting interviews, and researching, Professor Yawn, Chrissy, and I finally had the opportunity to present our work at the ACJS Conference in Denver, CO. This experience was unlike anything I’d encountered before, and presenting research at an academic conference as an undergraduate was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

So, what is our research about? In short, our group is examining the implementation of police technology in home-rule cities across Texas. Contrary to common perception, innovation in cities isn’t driven by a single department, organization, or state entity. Instead, it emerges from a complex interplay of governance. Our primary focus is on Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), which rapidly scan license plates to aid in crime prevention. From a policy perspective, ALPRs are particularly interesting because they raise important questions about efficiency, privacy, and local governance.

Professor Yawn, who chaired the panel, led the presentation. As the primary researcher on this project, he has created an incredible opportunity for Chrissy and me to contribute meaningfully to the work.

While we still have a way to go before we “reach saturation” in our research, presenting at ACJS and receiving feedback from an engaged audience was invaluable.

Chrissy, who spearheaded our quantitative data collection, presented the methodology and preliminary findings. She did an excellent job of breaking down the statistical nuances and translating them into clear, digestible insights for us common folk.

Our session also featured a presentation from Tiffin University (TU), where undergraduates Zaria Moore…

…and Lauren Swartzlander…

…shared their public health study on mental health and alternative treatments.

They pursued this research voluntarily with strong mentorship support from TU faculty.

After both presentations, we engaged in a Q&A session with the audience…

…whose thoughtful questions and feedback left us excited to refine and expand our work further.

Safety, Crime, and Health in Urban Spaces

After our presentation, we attended another fascinating session on urban crime patterns and community development. One standout presentation came from Lauren Perron of Temple University, who examined agency collaboration in response to opioid use disorder.

She explored how organizational structure, leadership, and policy decisions impact the outcomes of the opioid crisis, particularly in the context of steering committees.

My favorite presentation of the session was Broken Windows in the Age of Big Data, which focused on Graffiti-Free NYC, a program led by the New York Sanitation Department. The study examined the correlation between quality-of-life indicators—such as graffiti removal and cleanliness—and crime rates.

While perceptions of crime can be subjective, this research provided compelling data-driven correlations that reinforced the impact of environmental factors on urban safety.

Chrissy’s favorite session was Policing the Opioid Crisis, which analyzed police-led deflection programs in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

This case study, conducted by Professor Sean Verano and student Niki Poutre, explored the effectiveness of these programs in helping individuals struggling with addiction and how police officers ranked the anticipated success of different approaches.

One particularly striking finding was that while deflection programs increased the odds of relapse, they did not significantly impact fatal overdoses.

This session was our favorite of the conference—not just because we could finally relax after our own presentation, but because the discussions were incredibly thought-provoking. The insights we gained from these panels will undoubtedly inform our research moving forward.

Presenting at ACJS was a milestone experience, giving us the chance to engage with experts in the field, refine our work, and gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of crime, policing, and policy implementation.

Dinner at Le French

by Chrissy Biello

Feeling the weight lifted off our shoulders, we headed to Le French for dinner. Founded by Senegalese-French sisters Aminata Dia and Rougui Dia, Le French is known for its combination of many worldwide influences and modern French cuisine. As semifinalists for the James Beard Best Chef in the Mountain Region in 2024, the Dia sisters have brought their culinary expertise to the forefront, making this dining experience even more exciting.

Through LEAP, my peers and I have had the unique opportunity to dine at James Beard-nominated and award-winning restaurants, and this was another highly anticipated experience for Olivia and me. Having not eaten much due to nerves, we were more than ready to indulge in what promised to be a great meal after a long day.

With little experience in French cuisine, Olivia and I found many menu items intriguing. To sample a variety of dishes, Olivia opted for the prix fixe menu. For her starter, she chose French Onion Soup, a dish she had never tried before.

When it arrived, she was thrilled with her choice. Not only did she enjoy a new experience, but she also discovered a dish she truly liked.

Professor Yawn and Stephanie ordered the escargot as their appetizer, and they were equally pleased with their selection.

For our main courses, I ordered the Saumon Fumé Savory Crepe, Olivia got the Suprême de Poulet Sauce Champagne (chicken breast with champagne sauce), Professor Yawn chose the Colorado Bass et Plantains, and Stephanie decided on the French Onion Soup.

When our meals arrived, we were all delighted with our choices. In true LEAP fashion, we made sure to sample each other’s dishes. Every selection turned out to be excellent, giving us a variety of flavors to experience.

For dessert, Olivia had the Panna Cotta, a dish featuring hibiscus, citrus, and marmalade berries. This was another first for her. Additionally, we shared a crème brûlée as a table.

It was a day full of firsts, from trying great new foods to presenting at our first academic conference. Nevertheless, we are especially grateful for the guidance of Professor Yawn and Stephanie. Their insights and encouragement, even their lighthearted stories to ease our nerves, were invaluable and something we could not have found elsewhere.

The Yard Milkshake Bar

Later in the night, after doing some laundry, Olivia and I walked to The Yard Milkshake Bar for another sweet treat. I chose the Cookies and Cream Cheesecake milkshake, while Olivia went for the Cake Batter milkshake. Both were delicious and well worth the walk from our hotel.

With the stress behind us, we are excited to continue our trip, filled with fun, learning, and new experiences.

Crime & Punishment in Denver

by Olivia Discon

The ACJS Conference has officially begun! As we inch closer towards our presentation on Automated License Plate Reader technology (as it relates to the Criminal Justice world), the anticipation only continues to rise. This is our first time presenting on a panel at an academic conference–or any conference, for that matter! With that being said, we of course scoped out the space and enjoyed several sessions on day one.

Criminologists Converge

While hundreds of criminologists converged at the Sheraton in Denver, we split up a bit, maximizing the coverage of the conference and the sessions it offered. Collectively, we attended sessions on “Perceptions of Law Enforcement Technology,” where the standout presentation was “Support of BWCs by Type of Law Enforcement Agency,” by Dr. Mustafa Demir (John Jay);

“Rational Choice Theory and Crime: Emotions, Cognitions and Opportunity Structures,” which featured SHSU professors Timothy Barnam…

…and Shaina Herman;

…”Crime, Data, and Technology;” and the Presidential Panel: Key Strategies for Successful Academic-Practitioner Partnerships, the latter of which, we turn to next.

A Presidential Panel with the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University

The highlight of these sessions was unanimous among our group, which was the Presidential Panel from Sam Houston State University’s (SHSU) College of Criminal Justice. We were, of course, incredibly biased, but it was fascinating to see the various leaders within the college along with the diverse institutes they represent.

As noted by Dean Lyons, SHSU is uniquely positioned to serve as a leader in the criminal justice field, and the College has “its finger on the pulse” of criminal justice.

Whether it be forensic science, corrections, policing, criminal justice legislation, or sociological phenomena, SHSU remains a leader, a resource, and an asset to the state of Texas. Interestingly, the nationally recognized program is the reason I chose to attend college and, by extension, to major in criminal justice.

We had the opportunity to hear from John Ray, Executive Director of LEMIT;

…William Wells, Faculty Research Director of LEMIT; Christie Haney, Assistant Director of CEMIT; Michael Aspland, Executive Director of the Institute of Homeland Security;

Ryan Randa, Associate Professor; Doug Dretke, Director for the Office of Comparative and International Education and Leadership;

…Erin Orrick, Associate Dean for Programs and Assessment; and Dr. Bitna Kim, President of ACJS, professor at SHSU, and former doctoral candidate at SHSU!

Among the College of Criminal Justice at SHSU’s many accolades and amenities, what stuck out was its embodiment of a concept, noted by John Ray, as “pracademics”.

The relationship between academician and practitioner, as we devolve further into niches and silos, is more important than ever. I truly respect how SHSU has gone beyond what others simplify Huntsville to be–a “prison town” – and instead aim to drive crucial research and policy that impacts the state, our country, and impressively, the entire world as it relates to criminal justice.

It was a great opening to a first experience for us, made all the more comfortable and welcoming by being among friends and mentors.

Things to Do in Denver When You’re a Day Ahead

Two LEAP Ambassadors, Chrissy Biello and Olivia Discon, are presenting at their first conference, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference in Denver, CO. There is a certain amount of dread associated with your first formal academic conference, and Biello and Discon are not immune from such anxieties. Fortunately, having arrived a day early to the conference–LEAP Ambassadors are punctual–they had a day to prepare and to explore the mile-high city, having as much food and fun as they could bear.

Coffee:

Being coffee fiends, we explored two coffee shops on our first day in Denver. The first, “Dandy Lion Coffee,” is a coffee and boutique plant shop. While we admit that we are not exactly world travelers, we suspect that this is not a common combination. But it works in this charming cafe, which is located in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver.

The shop’s plants are warm and colorful, and they add a vibrant, down-home quality that is reinforced by the friendly and professional staff.

The warm and welcoming ambiance had its desired effect. The store was filled with customers, some speaking with each other, some mixing in small groups, and others doing their own thing, but they all exuded a comfort borne of an environment that was cozy without being crowded.

While the shop was pleasing, we were there for the coffee. And it, too, delivered. With an enormously helpful and friendly barista named Taylor leading the way, we tried an “everything croissant,” which was excellent, and we sampled a chocolate croissant–which was excellent and chocolate.

The drip coffee was very good, and the iced vanilla latte, which is what the store is famous for, was very, very good.

This was the perfect pick-me-up spot for what would prove to be a long day. Also, please note that while the pronunciation of the cafe suggests a weed, the name of the coffee-plant shop is referring to a well-dressed king of the jungle–monocle and all.

Needing an afternoon burst of energy and a place to work, we also visited Novo Coffee, a third-wave coffee shop indigenous to Denver. We each enjoyed a vanilla latte and settled into a cozy and productive atmosphere, where the hum of conversations and the scent of freshly brewed coffee fueled our focus. Novo offered just the right balance—bustling enough to be lively but quiet enough to get some work done.

Food

After being on the road for a couple of days and eating like scavengers in a desert, we made the most of a city filled with restaurants. For lunch, we had Giordano’s Pizza, an Italian eatery on the famous 16th-Street (pedestrian) Mall in Denver.

With garlic bread and a “meat and more meat” pizza, we may have overdone it.

This did not, however, get in the way of us finishing the pizza and the bread sticks. And, in our defense, it did not get in the way of us also getting some work done and, several hours later, searching for a hearty dinner to bookend our day of culinary adventures.

Dinner took us to the world of Asian cuisine in the form of Chopstickers, where we sampled chicken potstickers, soup dumplings, and edamame. The food was excellent, though one of us (who shall remain nameless) had a slight mishap that led to an unfortunate spill. Let’s just say soup dumplings live up to their name. Still, no mess could ruin the experience, and we left satisfied, if slightly damp.

Exploration

With a conference presentation approaching (have we mentioned that?) and with us impersonating foodies, we didn’t have a whole lot of time for exploration. But we did manage to walk almost half-a-mile of the 16th-Street Mall, venture down many other streets, and see a bit of what Denver has to offer.

It is a very walkable city. Indeed, it’s downtown and capitol hill area have a 94 walkability score, and at least one publication ranks Denver second in walkability, trailing only New York City. Interestingly, this means we have walked the two most walkable cities in the United States in the past two months!

We also saw our share of critters. With a lot of food establishments and many pedestrians, there are also a lot of pigeons. Generally speaking, they are not scared of humans. We were also visited by some aggressive squirrels. One squirrel actually ran a circle around us, as if he was determined to singlehandedly surround us and demand food–despite already having a nut in his mouth!

By far the most interesting animal we encountered, however, was a blue bear.

As fearsome as he looks from below, he is rather tame and endearing. He simply wants to see what the humans are doing in the Colorado Convention Center.

The bear, a creation of the late artist (and art professor) Lawrence Argent, is titled “I See What You Mean” and was installed in Denver in 2005. Over the past two decades, he has become a symbol of Denver.

He certainly brought a smile to our faces, and with his whimsical blue color, curiosity, and potential for ferocity, he provided just the attitude we were looking for to approach our first-ever conference.

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