Criminal Justice Alum Leads Research at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center

Vanessa Patino Lydia, Ph.D., graduate of NSU’s Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice (FCE&SCJ) is the Vice President of Research and Planning at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center in Jacksonville.

She is the Principal Investigator on the latest research, Sounding the Alarm: Criminalization of Black Girls in Florida released on March 11, 2021. The research highlights the inequitable treatment of over 3,000 Black girls entering the juvenile justice system. Black girls account for 21% of the general population but represent HALF of the girls in the juvenile justice system. They are overrepresented in rates of suspension, arrest, and incarceration. The deeper analyses illustrates how schools are a major entry point in arrest trends and provides evidence that adultification bias and harsh punishment of Black girls exists.  This report highlights the Policy Center’s recommendations for immediate action including: Banning suspension for PK-3 students, setting limits on arrest for youth under the age of 12, Increasing funding for girl-centered and trauma-informed school mental health services, and Increasing the use of alternatives to arrest at school and in the community.

Vanessa has over 15 years’ experience in public policy research with a special focus on the impact of the juvenile justice system on girls’ trajectories and wellbeing. She has directed research initiatives on gender specific programming, girls/women pathways into the justice system, data trends, community needs assessments, and strategic planning. She earned her Ph.D. in criminal justice from FCE&SCJ in 2020.

The report on the criminalization of Black girls in Florida is issued by the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center- nonprofit that provides advocacy, research, training/technical assistance, and direct services to bring about unprecedented systemic reform for girls and young women in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice system.

To access the link to the full research report please visit https://www.seethegirl.org/sounding-the-alarm/