LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2026) — From the mental health impacts of incarceration to the challenges of policing during extreme weather, University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) criminal justice scholars are bringing new perspectives to some of the most pressing issues facing the justice system.
Faculty and student researchers will participate in the 2026 American Society of Criminology (ASC) Annual Meeting, Nov. 18-21, in Chicago, joining scholars, researchers and practitioners from across the country to share research and advance conversations shaping the future of criminal justice.
This year’s conference, themed “Criminology and Justice Policy,” brings together diverse perspectives on the relationship between research, public policy and the systems responsible for administering justice.
Representing UK Criminal Justice, faculty members Paul Bleakley, Victoria Collins, Amanda Farrell, Liz Utterback, Nicole McKenna, Stephanie Quiring, and Megan Trafford will contribute to presentations, panels and roundtable discussions spanning a broad range of contemporary and historical issues.
Their scholarship examines the intersection of mental health and the justice system, the experiences of incarcerated individuals, emergency response and public safety, and the influence of technology, media and culture on perceptions of crime and punishment, space expansionism and AI data centers. Additional discussions explore transformative justice, resistance, the criminalization of individuals with serious mental illness and opportunities to strengthen community-based responses.
The college’s contributions also include collaborative research involving UK students Emily Fanning and Kamrul Hasan, highlighting opportunities for emerging scholars to participate in research and engage with national academic conversations.
Together, these contributions reflect the breadth of UK Criminal Justice scholarship and the college’s commitment to advancing research that informs policy and deepens understanding of the challenges facing individuals and communities.
As the college continues to expand its criminal justice programs, faculty participation in national conferences provides opportunities to build research partnerships, exchange ideas and bring emerging scholarship back into the classroom, connecting students with the evolving conversations shaping their future professions.
The 2026 ASC Annual Meeting will be held Nov. 18-21 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. For more information, including the full conference program, visit the American Society of Criminology website.