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Melanie Mogavero

Melanie Clark Mogavero, PhD

Associate Professor of Criminal Justice & Human Rights- Department Chair, Department of Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Sociology, and Human Rights
732-987-2389
E-MAIL ME

School:

Arts & Sciences

Department:

Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Sociology, & Human Rights

Office Location:

Jeffries Hall 127A

Office Hours:

Spring 2023 Office Hours: TTH 11am-1pm or by appt. Schedule Appointments During Regular Semesters by Clicking Here

Educational Background

  • Doctor of Philosophy – Criminal Justice – Rutgers, State University of New Jersey: Newark, NJ
  • Master of Arts – Forensic Psychology – Russell Sage College: Sage Graduate School: Albany, NY
  • Bachelor of Arts – Psychology – State University of New York at Albany: Albany, NY

Professional Experience

Academic Positions

  • Associate Professor, Feb 2022- present – Georgian Court University, Department of Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Sociology, and Human Rights
  • Department Chair, May 2022-present, Department of Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Sociology, and Human Rights
  • Assistant Professor, Aug 2015-Jan 2022- Georgian Court University, Department of Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Sociology, and Human Rights
  • Graduate Program Director, MA in Criminal Justice and Human Rights-  June 2019-May 2022 –  Georgian Court University, Department of Criminal Justice, Anthropology, Sociology, and Human Rights
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, 2014-2015 – the University of Bridgeport, Department of Criminal Justice and Human Security
  • Lecturer, 2008-2011 – Rutgers University, School of Criminal Justice
  • Adjunct Professor, 2008 – Ramapo State College of New Jersey, Department of Law and Society

Q: “What do you love most about teaching at GCU?”

A:

Students are GCU are indeed very special.  I find that they are very diverse and come from various backgrounds, which keeps class discussions interesting.  I learn from my students, sometimes as much as they learn from me…. But one thing I love most about teaching is watching students learn and grow.  There is probably nothing more rewarding to me than watching students succeed and reach or even exceed their potential.  I admit I do have high standards..but if standards are low, then students may never know what they can accomplish.  In the end, they are able to achieve what they never believed was possible.
 

Student Quote:

“Dr. Mogavero and the rest of the staff at GCU have been nothing but amazing, they pushed me to be the best student I could be. I highly recommend GCU and the entire Criminal Justice Department. I appreciate the doors the Criminal Justice Department has opened for me, their kindness, and hard work. I even interviewed for the FBI thanks to GCU!! I cannot thank Dr. Mogavero enough for pushing me to do my best.”   – C. Russo, Class of 2020

Research / Creativity Interest Area

 I am a criminologist and I conduct research to inform policy. 
My research is predominantly on autistic individuals in the criminal justice system, autism and sexuality, sexual offending, and sexual offender policy.   

Scholarship and Publications

Peer-reviewed Academic Journals:

  1. Shea, L. L., Cooper, D., Wilson, A. B., Hyatt, J., Msipa, D., Hofvander, B., Overland, S., Da Silva, W. C., Mogavero, M., Green, D., Wall, N., Lerner, M., Stahmer, A., Hooven, K., Bornman, J., Robinson, K., & Burke, J. (2024). A response to and caution of “Language is a critical mediator of autistic experiences within the criminal justice system.” Autism Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.3111
  2. Love, A. M. A., Gibbs, V., Cooper, D., Benevides, T. W., Mogavero, M. C., Basketbill, I. L., Shea, L. L. (2023). Creating the Global Criminal Justice Survey: A questionnaire designed to gather perspectives from autistic people and criminal justice professionals. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05835-1
  3. Mogavero, M.C., Hsu, K.H. & Bolger, P.C. (2022). A conjunctive analysis of false accusations, official misconduct, and race in violent and sexual exonerations cases. Behavioral Sciences & The Law, 40(6), 756-786. http://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2587
  4. Mogavero, M.C. (2020). An exploratory examination of intellectual disability and mental illness associated with alleged false confessions.  Behavioral Sciences & The Law, 38(4), 299-316. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2463
  5. Mogavero, M. C. & Hsu, K. H. (2020).  Dating and courtship behaviors among those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Sexuality and Disability, 38, 355-364.   https:/doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09565-8.
  6. Mogavero, M.C.  (2019).  What do criminal justice students know about autism?  An exploratory study among future professionals.  Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 34(4), 428-438. https:/doi.org/10.1007/s11896-018-9302-0
  7. Mogavero, M.C., & Hsu, K. H. (2018).  Sex offender mobility: An Application of crime pattern theory among child sex offenders.  Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 30(8), 908-931.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1079063217712219
  8. Mogavero, M. C. & Hsu, K. H.  (2018).  Autism Spectrum Disorder and harassment: An application of attribution theory.  International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 7, 260-274.  https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2018.07.19
  9. Mogavero, M.C., & Kennedy, L. W. (2017).  The social and geographic patterns of sexual offending: Is sex offender residence restriction legislation practical?  Victims & Offenders, 12(3): 401-433.  https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2015.1084962
  10. Mogavero, M.C. (2016).  Autism, sexual offending, and the criminal justice system.  Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behavior, 7(3), 116-126.  https://dio.org/10.1108/JIDOB-02-2016-0004.

Book Chapters:

  1. Mogavero, M.C., Finrich, A., Patel, R., & Etzi, S. (In Press). Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Sexual Offending, In Best Practices in Sexual Offender Assessment and Management (Eds.),   Tully, R. & Bohall, G. Springer Publishers.
  2. Mogavero, M.C.  (2017).  “Teddy Roosevelt’s Fight against Police Corruption,” In The Use and Abuse of Police Power in America: Historical Milestones and Current Controversies. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC/CLIO.

Encyclopedia Entries:

  1. Mogavero, M.C. (2021). “Passing the Trash,” In Sexual Harassment and Misconduct: An Encyclopedia.  Santa Barbara, CA: ABC/CLIO.
  2. Mogavero, M.C. (2021). “Affirmative Consent Laws,” In Sexual Harassment and Misconduct: An Encyclopedia.  Santa Barbara, CA: ABC/CLIO.
  3. Mogavero, M.C.  (2019).  “Female Sexual Predators,” In The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Women and Crime. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Professional Conferences:

  1. Mogavero, M. C., Shea, L., Cooper, D., Love, A., Gibbs, V., Benevides, T., Basketbill., I., Hooven, K. (2023). Criminal Justice Professionals’ Autism Knowledge and Perceptions of Confidence when Interacting with Autistic Individuals. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 2023 Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Nov. 17. https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/asc/asc23
  2. Mogavero, M. C. & Hsu, K. H. (2023). “Tik Tok you don’t stop”: Social Media Consumption and Criminal Justice Students’ Perceptions of Police. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 2023 Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Nov. 15. https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/asc/asc23
  3. Mogavero, M. C., Hsu, K. H., & Bolger, P. C. (2022). A conjunctive analysis of official misconduct, false accusations, and race in violent and sexual exoneration cases. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 2022 Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA Nov. 16. https://asc41.com/events/2022-asc-annual-meeting/
  4. Gibbs, V., Love, A. M, Benevides, T. W., Mogavero M. C., Hooven, K. and Basketbill, I.(2022). Global Criminal Justice Survey: Initial Scale Development and Validation. Identifying Interdisciplinary and International Approaches to Address Inequities in the Criminal Justice System Contact Among Autistic Individuals May 12, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.  INSAR 2022, Austin, TX. May 11-14, https://www.autism-insar.org/page/2022AnnMtg.
  5. Mogavero, M. C. (2021). Autism, sexual offending, and the criminal justice system. Sexuality in Neurodivergent Individuals.  Sept. 1, 2021. The University at Salford, Manchester, UK. https://www.salford.ac.uk/news/event-sexuality-neurodivergent-individuals
  6. Mogavero, M. C. (2020). Taking stock of wrongful convictions: A Conjunctive Analysis of The National Registry of Exonerations.  Paper Accepted at the American Society of Criminology 76th Annual Meeting, Washington D.C. (meeting canceled due to COVID-19). https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/asc/asc20/
  7. Mogavero, M. C. (2019). An exploratory examination of cognitive ability and other legal and extra-legal risk factors associated with false confessions. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 75th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/asc/asc19/
  8. Mogavero, M.C. & Hsu, K. H. (2018).  Autism and persistent courtship: A test of attribution theory.  Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 74th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA. https://asc41.com/events/2018-asc-annual-meeting/
  9. Mogavero, M.C. & Hsu, K. H. (2017).  Attribution model of stalking and autism spectrum disorder.  Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 73rd Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. https://asc41.com/events/2017-asc-annual-meeting/
  10. Hsu, K. H. & Mogavero, M. C. (2017). Persistent dating and courtship behaviors among those on the autism spectrum.   Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 73rd Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. https://asc41.com/events/2017-asc-annual-meeting/
  11. Mogavero, M. C. (2016).  A comparison of the Sexually Violent Predator Acts: New Jersey and Florida. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 72nd Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. https://asc41.com/events/2016-asc-annual-meeting/
  12. Mogavero, M. C. (2015).  The social and geographic patterns of sexual offending: Questioning the practicality of residence restriction legislation. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology 71st Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. https://asc41.com/events/2015-asc-annual-meeting/

Book Reviews:

  1. Mogavero, M. C. (2022, June). [Review of the book Law and Neurodiversity: Youth with Autism and the Juvenile Justice Systems in Canada and the United States by D. L. Baker, L. A. Drapela, & W. Littlefield] Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.
  2. Mogavero, M.C. (2020, March). [Review of the book The Psychology of False Confessions: Forty Years of Science and Practice, by G.H. Gudjonsson].  Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.
  3. Mogavero, M.C. (2018, January).  [Review of the book Contemporary Issues in Victimology: Identifying Patterns and Trends, edited by C. M. Hilinsji-Rosick and D. R. Lee]. Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.
  4. Mogavero, M.C. (2017, January).  [Review of the book Implied Consent and Sexual Assault: Intimate Relationships, Autonomy, and Voice, by M. Plaxton].  Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.
  5. Mogavero, M.C. (2016, September).  [Review of the book Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Beyond Victims and Villains, by A. Lutnick].  Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.
  6. Mogavero, M.C. (2016, January).  [Review of the book In Cold Storage: Murder and Sex on the Plains, by J. W. Hewitt].  Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.
  7. Mogavero, M. C. (2016, January).  [Review of the book The Common Language of Homicide and Suicide: Evidence of the Value of Durkheim’s Typologies, by J. M. Bozeman].  Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books.

Current Projects:

  • Under Contract with Springer Publishers: Mental Health, Neurodiversity, and Criminal Justice – A Guide for Students and Practitioners
  • Under Review: What do we know about autism and policing globally? Preliminary findings from an international effort to examine autism and the criminal justice system
In progress:
  • Criminal Justice Professionals’ Autism Knowledge and Perceptions of Confidence when Interacting with Autistic Individuals
  • “Tik Tok You Don’t Stop” Social Media Consumption and Criminal Justice Students’ Perceptions of Police

Additional Information

Courses Taught at GCU

Graduate
        • CJ511 Research Design
        • CJ510 Criminal Justice Research Methods
        • CJ565: Selected Topics: Sex Crimes
        • CJ565: Selected Topics: Independent Research
        • CJ520 Victimology
        • CJ590 Capstone
Undergraduate
        • CJ410 Independent Research in Criminal Justice
        • CJ401 Sex Crimes
        • CJ331 Research Methods in Criminal Justice
        • CJ353 Victimology
        • CJ320 Special Populations in the Criminal Justice System
        • WS311 Shaping Lives: Women and Gender
        • CJ231 Juvenile Justice
        • SO201 Social Statistics
        • CJ200 Theories of Crime
        • CJ111 The Criminal Justice System
        • CJ110 Writing in Criminal Justice
        • GEN101 Pathway to the Bridge

Service and Contributions to Georgian Court University

  • Department

    • Department Chair: Criminal Anthropology, Sociology, and Human Rights, May 2022- present
    • Graduate Program Director: MA Criminal Justice & Human Rights, June 2019- May 2022
    • Staff Assistant Search Committee: Social Work/Criminal Justice (Sum. 2019)
    • Faculty Search Committee, Chair: Criminal Justice (AY 2017-2018)
    • Supervised Graduate Research (SP19; SP20-FA20)
    • Supervised Undergraduate Research Assistant (FA17; SP19)
    • Facilitated a Criminal Justice Club trip to the Burlington Prison Museum (May 2017)

  • School

    • Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee- Committee Chair (AY 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020; 2020-2021) and Secretary (AY 2015-2016)
    • Faculty Search Committee: History & Politics (AY 2019-2020)
    • Faculty Search Committee: Integrative Health (AY 2018-2019)
    • Faculty Search Committee: Exercise Science (AY 2016-2017)

  • University

    • Institutional Effectiveness Committee (AY 2022-2023)
    • Student Concerns Committee (AY 2018-2019; 2019-2020; 2020-2021, 2021-2022)
    • Student Retention Committee (AY 2019-2020; 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)
    • Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly- Representative for the Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee (AY 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020; 2020-2021)
    • Preferred Name Change Policy Task Force (AY 2019-2020)
    • General Education Curriculum Committee (AY 2016-2017, 2017-2018; 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023)
    • Strategic Compass Committee: Intellectual Experiences (AY 2016-2017)
 

Non-academic Positions

        • Medicaid Service Coordinator – Alternative Living Group: Schenectady, NY

          • https://alginc.org/
          • Assessed the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities and assisted in the development of their Individualized Service Plan (ISP), conducted to the standards of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD; formally OMRDD), and the United States Government Medicaid program.

        • Intensive Case Manager – St. Catherine’s Center for Children: Albany, NY

          • https://www.st-cath.org/
          • Assessed the needs of parents and/or their children with special needs receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the development of their Individualized Service Plan (ISP), with a focus on self-sufficiency
          • Advocated and Collaborated ISPs with the New York State Department of Social Services and New York State Child Protective Services

        • Teacher Assistant – St. Colman’s School: Watervliet, NY

        • http://www.stcolmans.com/
          • Taught a variety of academics to children ages 6-14 with Autism Spectrum Disorder according to their Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Student Research

        • Internship/Practicum
          • Psychologist Intern, under the supervision of Dr. Paul Shapiro – Capital District Psychiatric Center, Albany, NY
          • Group Therapy, Individual Counseling, Psychological Assessments
        • Undergraduate Research 
          • Psychology Research Assistant, under the supervision of Dr. James Tedeschi – State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY

Media Contributions

Social Media:

LinkedIn

Facebook

ResearchGate

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