Kennedy Award
The Dr. Leslie W. Kennedy
MA Community Research Award
The Dr. Leslie W. Kennedy MA Community Research Award is named in honor of Professor Leslie W. Kennedy, Dean of the School of Criminal Justice from 1998 to 2008 and University Professor since 2009.
The award was established to celebrate Dr. Kennedy’s scholarship, teaching, and service to the School of Criminal Justice and his dedication to community-based research.
This award provides financial support to outstanding MA students who engage in community research as part of their master’s degree.
ABOUT DR. KENNEDY
Leslie W. Kennedy (PhD, University of Toronto) retired as University Professor at Rutgers University in the spring of 2023. He taught graduate-level courses at the School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) at Rutgers. He was the Dean of SCJ from 1998 to 2007. Dr. Kennedy’s current research in public security builds upon his previous work in event analysis, assessing the social contexts in which dangers in society are identified and deterred. He is the author or co-author of 20 books and over 70 research articles and chapters. He has published in major journals in criminology and criminal justice, including Criminology, Justice Quarterly, and Journal of Quantitative Criminology.
In his most recent research, he extends his interest in risk assessment, focusing on crime mapping and the development (with Joel Caplan) of risk terrain modeling (RTM) for use by public safety agencies in preventing crime. RTM is currently used around the world to help identify high risk locations and respond through problem solving designed to address local issues. The RTM research has been published in major criminology journals, has received awards from ACJS, the Rutgers Newark Chancellor’s office, and the International Association of Crime Analysts. This work has been recently extended to apply to innovations in data informed community engagement (DICE). This work has been implemented in the Newark Public Safety Collaborative, of which Dr. Kennedy is Co-Executive Director.
2024 WINNER
Dane Coleman
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Science – Fire Science
Hometown: Kearny, New Jersey
Currently: Pursuing Master of Arts in Criminal Justice at Rutgers-Newark
Goals: As a law enforcement professional and an individual passionate about academia, I aspire to earn my PhD and become a researcher to help bridge the gap between academia and law enforcement.
Research Proposal Abstract:
Comprehensive policy initiatives announced by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office aimed to limit when New Jersey Law Enforcement officers use force against civilians. This research proposal aims to analyze the use of force data reported by law enforcement officers in New Jersey. The project will investigate if an officer’s demographics, specifically age and sex, affect the rate officers use force. The study will also analyze if there is a relationship between police officer rates per capita and use of force rates. Lastly, the study will examine whether demographics or the rate of police officers per capita correlates to the injury rate of officers or subjects. This study will utilize the New Jersey Attorney General’s Use of Force and Police Demographics Data, complemented by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Justice Statics data; this research may provide valuable insights for legislators, police departments, and the community. The findings will attempt to enhance public trust and improve police practices through informed policy recommendations. This study will culminate in an academic paper aimed for publication and presentation at pertinent law enforcement conferences, facilitating dialogue on policing strategies and community relations.
past winners
2023 – Madison Baczuk