麻豆传媒

Maddy Mandeville 鈥�22 is dedicated to helping others. A criminal justice major, she is particularly interested in youth justice, and she believes adults can make a meaningful impact in kids鈥� lives.

Mandeville, who will accept her degree as part of the University鈥檚 Winter Commencement, and her classmates in her 鈥淓xploring Delinquency鈥� service learning class recently shared their passion for youth justice with the University community. The class hosted a networking event on campus that enabled students to connect with local leaders and professionals in the field of youth justice.

鈥淭his was important because not a lot of jobs are advertised in the field of youth justice,鈥� said Mandeville. 鈥淭his was a good way for students to see what their options are.鈥�

The event brought together professionals and experts of diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, including , the chief state鈥檚 attorney and an adjunct criminal justice professor at the University; , a pediatrician and postdoctoral fellow in the ; and Lorenzo Boyd, Ph.D., Stewart Professor in Criminal Justice and Community Policing at the University.

鈥楳y passion is for people鈥�

Students were seated at tables with youth justice professionals, and they had the opportunity to learn more about their work and ask questions. discussed her work and her outreach efforts, as well as the importance of balancing it with her family and her life outside of work.

鈥淢y passion is for people and the community,鈥� she said. 鈥淔inding balance is different for all of us. Balance is your peace.鈥�

The event enabled students and professionals to have in-depth discussions about youth justice with professionals, as they shared their own experiences, passions, and goals. William Carbone 鈥�74 MPA, executive director of the University鈥檚 and a criminal justice lecturer, discussed how his early experiences in the field shaped his beliefs and continue to inform his work.

鈥淢any kids are born into an environment where they don鈥檛 have support,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey are in homes that are very chaotic, and it鈥檚 a lot for them. I don鈥檛 believe in solitary confinement or restraints for kids.鈥�

鈥業 apply what I learned every day鈥�

After the roundtable discussions, each guest spoke to students as part of a panel discussion, sharing their advice for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field.

Veratisha Morey 鈥�13, a correctional counselor for the at the and a self-published author and editor, returned to her alma mater to be part of the event. She believes in the importance of education, saying it is critical to helping kids succeed and that it has been important in her own life.

鈥淛uveniles are not short adults,鈥� said Morey, who has also served as a juvenile detention officer for the and as a social worker and investigator for the Department of Children and Families. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 treat them the same as adults. Kids need role models. Kids in the juvenile justice system need help, and we need to be the help they need. What I learned in my classes at the University of New Haven makes sense, and I apply what I learned every day in my career.鈥�

鈥極ne of my favorite professors鈥�

Hosted by the 鈥淓xploring Delinquency鈥� class, the Tow Youth Justice Institute, and the , the event was planned by the seven students taking the course.

鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 about student empowerment,鈥� said Danielle Cooper, Ph.D., CPP, an associate professor and director of research for the Tow Youth Justice Institute and the students鈥� instructor. 鈥淭his event was a direct effort of the students, it was engaged service learning. This was what the students wanted to do, and it was their final public project and a great way to explore delinquency.鈥�

Mandeville, the soon-to-be criminal justice graduate, helped lead the panel discussion. She enjoyed being a part of the event, and she says this service learning class has been particularly impactful.

鈥淒r. Cooper is one of my favorite professors,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he dives into the curriculum, and she uses real-life stories. It was great to host this event. You can鈥檛 necessarily change an adult, but you can impact a kid鈥檚 life.鈥�