Elizabeth Jeglic

Co-authored by Georgia Winters (Ph.D. '18, Psychology)

This book provides an in-depth overview of the current research on sexual grooming. It explores the process by which an individual seeking to commit a sexual offense skillfully manipulates a potential victim into situations in which abuse can be more readily committed, while simultaneously preventing disclosure and detection. This volume addresses this understudied phenomenon and comprehensively examines what is currently known about the construct. It provides a thorough introduction to the sexual grooming literature, focusing on the history of the term and how sexual grooming strategies have become more publicly recognized through high-profile cases, as well as those in child-serving organizations (e.g., Catholic Church, Boy Scouts of America). The book reviews the various proposed models of sexual grooming – including the Sexual Grooming Model (SGM) – that detail the overarching steps or stages involved in the process. It discusses attempts to define the construct of sexual grooming and addresses potential consequences of sexual grooming, emphasizing how victims, families, and communities at large may be affected.

Elizabeth Jeglic and Cynthia Calkins, Editors
Handbook of Issues in Criminal Justice Reform in the United States
(Springer, 2021)

This handbook provides a holistic and comprehensive examination of issues related to criminal justice reform in the United States from a multidisciplinary perspective. Divided into five key domains of reform in the criminal justice system, it analyzes:

- Policing

- Policy and sentencing

- Reentry

- Treatment

- Alternatives to incarceration

Each section provides a history and overview of the domain within the criminal justice system, followed by chapters discussing issues integral to reform. The volume emphasizes decreasing incarceration and minimizing racial, ethnic and economic inequalities. Each section ends with tangible recommendations, based on evidence-based approaches for reform.

Of interest to researchers, scholars, activists and policymakers, this unique volume offers a pathway for the future of criminal justice reform in the United States.

This book reviews how new and promising evidence-based interventions are being used with those involved in the criminal justice system.  While there has been an increased emphasis on evidence-based practice within forensic treatment, there remains a disjoint between what we know works and adapting these interventions to those involved in the criminal justice system.

This book seeks to bridge that gap by providing an overview of what we know works and how that information has been translated into offender treatment.  In addition, it highlights avenues where additional research is needed.

Jeglic is an assistant professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center.

Calkins is an assistant professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center.