UTC Department of Criminal Justice

10/25/2026

We had a great turn out on Thursday for our most recent speaker in our Helen Eigenberg Criminal Justice Speaker Series. Our speaker was Dr. Ráchael Powers. She is an associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. In this talk, Dr. Powers shared about her work on accessibility within the criminal justice system, highlighting how disability shapes victims’ help-seeking experiences and interactions with justice institutions. She also discussed public attitudes toward courtroom accommodations and what those perceptions reveal about broader challenges to achieving equitable access to justice.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UTC College of Arts and Sciences

10/23/2026

We spy some familiar faces! 💛💙

UTC College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

10/23/2026

10/23/2026

Look who made it on NewsChannel 9 (WTVC) and in a suit! After attending the groundbreaking, Dr. Dierenfeldt and Chancellor Bruce were sharing about the new Federal Courthouse and its connection to being able to teach UTC students. 💛💙

Full story here: https://newschannel9.com/news/local/gsa-details-plans-for-282m-chattanooga-federal-courthouse-that-will-include-student-space

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UTC College of Arts and Sciences

10/22/2026

Dr. Crittenden, MSCJ student and UTC Office of Title IX Compliance GA, Kaitlin Brown, Dr. Hancock, and Prof. Green took back the night last night at UTC Office of Title IX Compliance’s annual Take Back The Night event. They were able to share about the Criminal Justice program and hand out some crowd favorites, candy!! 🍭 💙💛 We were also glad to hear Michelle Howard from Partnership for Families, Children and Adults give the keynote speech for the event!

The University of Tennessee atUT Chattanooga UTC College of Arts and Sciences
UTC Graduate School

10/21/2026

MSCJ student, Kaitlin Brown, CJ undergraduate student, Kolbie Bobo, and Michelle Howard, HOPE Initiative Program Manager at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults attended the Hamilton County Health Department’s Healing through Art Event at Commonspirit Memorial Hospital on October 10th. They were able to share about all of the great work happening at Partnership and in our department. 💙💛

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UTC College of Arts and Sciences
UTC Graduate School

10/14/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Lutgen-Nieves, MSCJ student Kaitlin Brown, and their co-author, Dr. Petty on their recent publication, “’You Become Lost in Your Own Chaotic World:’ Incarcerated Women’s Perspectives on Their History of Substance Use” 🎉

Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 41 incarcerated women, this study explores how substance use progresses into more harmful patterns over time. We highlight the interconnected roles of trauma, coping, interpersonal relationships, and changing circumstances, emphasizing that women's experiences rarely follow a single, straightforward pathway. Their findings underscore the importance of listening to women's lived experiences and developing trauma-informed, gender-responsive approaches to prevention and treatment, both within correctional settings and beyond.

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/VPJHCDIYWU9THQQCEPCU/full?target=10.1080/01639625.2026.2747886

UTC College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UTC Graduate School

Women in local jails experience substantial substance use and mental health needs amid short stays and high turnover. Drawing on 41 semi-structured interviews with jailed women, this study uses ref...

10/13/2026

Eleven faculty and staff members from UTC, including our very own, Dr. Christina Policastro, have been selected to participate in the UT System’s 2027 Leadership Institute. Check out the details from campus weekly below:

The Leadership institute is a prestigious professional development program designed to strengthen leadership skills and foster collaboration across the UT System. The weeklong institute will take place in Chattanooga in March 2027, bringing together participants from across the UT System for collaborative learning, leadership development and opportunities to build connections with colleagues from other campuses and institutes. UTC’s 11 participants represent a broad cross-section of the University, including academic affairs, research, athletics, advancement, public safety, student services and campus operations.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
UTC Graduate School
UTC College of Arts and Sciences